|
Home Toys Article - February 2005 - [Home Page] |
HomeTech Hot Products Continuously Updated [Click Message To Learn More] |
|
Just What The Doctor Ordered We specifically pulled a Mini High Resolution RGBHV cable, an SVGA cable, an S-video cable and 2 cat 5 wires to the plasma location from the rack. This would allow us to handle just about any video signal now or in the future. |
Doc Greene |
|
Last spring an old customer, a prominent eye specialist called and told us he was remodeling his kitchen and would like something a little nicer than the old 1990 Sony 32 inch CRT.
So we sprang into action with a new design that would meet his criteria.
With these criteria in mind I set about choosing the equipment. We chose a Pioneer 43 inch plasma for 3 reasons. It is a solid performer and it has discreet IR input and power on and off commands.
We of course chose to put all of the equipment in a rack from our Canadian friends at http://www.avrak.com/. This rack makes everything very easy.
We pulled 2 cat 5 wires to each side of the window locations so we could control them no matter what side they decided to put the power and switching for window treatments on. We also pulled 2 cat 5 wires to the Lutron Lighting control panel. They wanted great sound and complete coverage so we set up a small 5.1 surround system over the dining area and a second set of stereo speakers in the kitchen area. This would give you great sound throughout the kitchen dining area but still allow very low volumes to be used. The ceilings were 10 feet high. We mounted the frames and installed the paint masks early on so the painters could paint them. We gave them the grills separately to be sprayed.
As is normal with this type of work we had to coordinate with multiple trades. I checked periodically on the progress over the next 3 months. The custom inlays on the floor took a long time to complete and this slowed down the project somewhat. Shannon came in finished the rack install and wiring. Then Levi came in and did the AMX programming. Finally I came in and added the networking to allow the AMX systems in the Theater and the Master Bedroom to communicate with the Kitchen. Now the system was nearing completion. Since the Lutron lighting was controlled by a Grafic eye, lighting control was a snap. We were able to use IR commands in the AMX to operate the 5 lighting scenes required. The curtain controls were Makita and also had simple IR control for open, stop and close commands. Everything on this job went very smoothly up until the last day. That is when we discovered that the drapery company had not provided a low voltage control option for the Sunshade. They mistakenly assumed that it would be high voltage controlled by an existing rocker switch on the wall. That switch however was now gone. To obtain a cleaner look the homeowner had replaced all of his old wall switches with the single Grafic eye. This plus the AMX touch panel made lighting control much easier and attractive. Since this job was in a high rise on the 7th floor and facing west, it was very important that this be remedied. The drapery company ordered me a control from the manufacturer that would operate with dry contact closure. This is perfect since we were using the AMX netlinx system. It was readily adaptable to this. Equipment List
|
|
Controlling
the Escient would be easy since it is RS 232 controllable. Since we
would be using it to switch all video this would be critical. 
My technicians Shannon and Felix pulled all the
wire to control the various components. We specifically pulled a Mini
High Resolution RGBHV cable, an SVGA cable, an S-video cable and 2 cat 5
wires to the plasma location from the rack. This would allow us to
handle just about any video signal now or in the future. 
We
used the Niles Advanced technology D6500 speakers, which have a tilting
rotating assembly. And the Denon 3805 for audio. 
