How to Install a Wireless Home Intercom System
Getting Started
The more popular home intercom brands available today include Aiphone, Leviton, Nutone, Osco, Panasonic, RCA, Svat, TekTone, Viking InterWorks, and Westinghouse.
Regardless of which brand you purchase, a typical basic home intercom system consists of the same general units including:
– The master station
– Remote substations
– Outdoor substation
– Outdoor video station (optional)
Installing a Wired Intercom System
There are several valid reasons to use a wired intercom system rather than a wireless one. Wired systems communicate via a “hard wired” network where there is very little quality loss and very little noise interference. Wireless systems can be adversely affected by devices such as a microwave oven other wireless devices operating inside or outside the home.
The first step to install a standard system consisting of a central master station, four substations and an outdoor substation, is to carefully plan where each station will be placed.
Draw All Wall Templates
Tools Needed: Carpenter’s pencil, drill with Ã?¼” butterfly bit, and a jigsaw.
Locate the room where you plan to install the master station. Choose an inner wall of the room to install the station. This is important because exterior walls are filled with insulation and make wiring very difficult.
1. Find the studs: When you locate the wall where you want to install the unit, use an electronic stud-finder to locate where two studs are located inside the wall. Always be careful when you are selecting where to place the unit that you are aware of where all electrical wiring and piping is located behind the drywall.
2. Trace the opening: Once you’ve located the wall studs, trace the hole that you’ll need to cut in order to install the unit. If a template was sent with the unit, simply place the template up on the wall and trace around the edges with a pencil. If there is no template, then place the part of the unit that will be inserted into the wall up against the wall. Trace around it with a pencil. **Note: Always make sure to place a small level on top of the unit to make sure that the hole is square and level.
3. Cut the drywall: Once you’ve drawn the outline where the unit will be installed, you’re ready to cut the installation hole. The secret to cutting a clean hole is to first drill a hole inside each of the four corners of the square you’ve just drawn. Once this is done, insert the blade of your jigsaw into one hole, line up the cutting edge with the line you’ve raced, and then cut the drywall carefully along these lines with the jigsaw.
4. Repeat for all units: In the other rooms where the substations and outdoor unit will be located, repeat the process above. Once each hole is cut, make sure the units fit well, but don’t install them permanently yet. In every case, try to make sure the units are installed on an inner wall where there are the fewest wires and pipes. Keep in mind that all wiring will be run down the wall, between these studs, and into the basement.
Run the Wires
Tools Needed: Intercom multi-conductor cable (100 ft rolls), electrician’s “fish” tape for pulling wires through walls, drill with Ã?½” and 1″ butterfly bits.
This is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming part of installing a home intercom system. However following a standard process and making sure to label all wires will safe you a great deal of time. Consult the wiring diagram that came with the system you purchased to make sure what wires connect each unit, and where the power for each unit comes from. Typically only the master station is powered by home wiring, but if substations are, as well, you will need to take that into consideration when you run your wiring.
In this section you will be running intercom cable through your house walls. Intercom cable is typically a multi-conductor cable that looks a lot like a phone wire. You will likely need to purchase a large roll of this wire at your local hardware store in 50 or 100 ft rolls.
1. Run wire into basement: Go down into the basement and locate spot between the studs where your hole is located. Drill a Ã?½” hole through the floor plate and centered between the studs. Push the metal fish-tape up into the hole until it can’t go any further. Go upstairs and check the drywall hole, the fish tape will likely be sticking out or visible in the wall. With electrical tape, securely attach one end of the intercom cable to the end of the fish tape. Go back downstairs and pull the fish tape back down into the basement, and the intercom cable will come along with it.
2. Run wire to master station: Using wire staples, run the intercom wire over to the location under the master station. Using a Ã?¾” or 1″ butterfly bit, drill a hole into the floor plate between the studs. This time, from the master station hole upstairs, push the fish tape down into the hole and into the basement. Attach the cable and then pull it up through the hole. Make sure to label this wire “station #1”, or “dining room”.
3. Wire remaining stations: Using the same technique above with the fish tape, run wires from each substation either into the basement or into the attic and then over to the master station hole.
Wire the System
Finally, now that all of the communication wires are run between all of the subsystems and the master station, you can wire all ends of the cable and wire power as needed.
1. Wire substation communications: At each substation, connect the communication wires to the terminals on the unit as indicated. These are typically three wires, color-coded and labeled beside the terminal screws on the unit. Once you’re done connecting these wires, mount the unit into the hole as directed in the manufacturer’s instructions, and attached the trim provided by the manufacturer, which covers up the edges of the hole that you cut.
2. Wire master station communications: At the master station, connect the communication wires from each substation to the terminals indicated on the back of the master station.
3. Connect household power to master station: To supply household power to the master station, you will need to either tap off of an existing circuit in your power panel, or install a new circuit breaker. The power line will be run up the same hole in the floor plate from the basement as the communication wires and wired to the 120vac power port on the back of the master station. Finally, if the master station powers each substation (and not individual batteries), connect those wires as well.
**Important safety: If you are unfamiliar with electrical wiring, hire an electrician to do this part of the wiring for you. If you do intend to do the wiring yourself, make sure the main power on the circuit box is turned off and all electrical power throughout the house is de-energized.
4. Mount the master station: Finally, once all wiring to the master station is completed, mount the master station to the wall, preferably attached to the wall studs. Trim molding either supplied by the manufacturer, or purchased, should be installed to cover up the edges of the hole.
Energize household electrical power again, and turn on all station units. Test each substation to make sure that communication between the substation, master station, and between substations work.
Using a Wireless Intercom
While installing a wireless intercom system may introduce a certain amount of electrical noise to the system, the labor it saves not having to run wires through the house is significant. Additionally, wireless intercom systems often expand into impressive wireless security systems that typically include impressive home security technology including:
1. Driveway motion sensors
2. Security cameras
3. Motion sensors throughout the property
4. Window and door security sensors
5. Telephone integration
6. Home lighting system integration
7. Computer/internet integration
The steps required to mount wireless intercom stations into a wall are similar to the steps for a wires system, except typically the only wiring necessary is electrical power to the base unit, unless it is battery operated.
Enjoying Security and Peace of Mind
Having the ability to quickly talk to your children or spouse regardless of where they are in the house can be wonderfully convenient. Additionally, the security offered by being able to talk to visitors before they enter the house can provide peace of mind for homeowners.
Installing a home intercom system may require some work, but it’s a fairly simple project that any homeowner should be able to accomplish within a single weekend.
