My Man Cave Remodel (4 Viewers)

[ReeseChip]

Nice, I like the Man Cave sign that is shown on the bottom of that page. Lots of cool lit up signs you can buy.

 

[Tommy]

Thanks. Busy day today. Will be running all the data, cable, phone, and speaker wires today. I also decided to install another circuit in the office. I didn't realize my All In One Laser printer was an amp hog. Easy to do now while the walls and ceiling are open.

 

[ReeseChip]

That's a lot of power for a printer lol. Low voltage, fun fun. I hate making up cat 5 cables.

 

[Tommy]

Got the light for the poker table.



Sent from my Galaxy S4

UPDATE: I did not use this light. When with another recessed light.

 

[CdnBeerLover]

That's a lot of power for a printer lol. Love voltage, fun fun. I hate making up cat 5 cables.

If my walls / ceilings were open, I'd run Cat6 to future proof it a bit. Despite improvements in wireless, nothing beats a wired connection. And if you are planning to run ethernet, Cat6 makes sense to me, especially for streaming media in home theatre setups.

Of course, I'm a bit of a nut. There are 8 PC's in this house right now, plus a few gadgets. Most are older, but still functional machines, and I hate throwing out functional machines. I could really use a few wired drops on each floor...

 

[Tommy]

If my walls / ceilings were open, I'd run Cat6 to future proof it a bit. Despite improvements in wireless, nothing beats a wired connection. And if you are planning to run ethernet, Cat6 makes sense to me, especially for streaming media in home theatre setups.

Of course, I'm a bit of a nut. There are 8 PC's in this house right now, plus a few gadgets. Most are older, but still functional machines, and I hate throwing out functional machines. I could really use a few wired drops on each floor...

Absolutely!



Putting this behind the my A/V equipment.



Started moving the RG6-QS over to the new water meter closet.



Going to be putting the FIOS router, 24 port switch, and 24 port patch panel in there too.

Behind the A/V equiptment is getting 4 CAT6 jacks. (maybe one extra too)

1) TV (for updates)
2) A/V Receiver
3) Game Console
4) Game Console

Office is also getting 4 CAT6 jacks.

1) Laser Printer
2) Label Printer
3) PC 1
4) PC 2

Then the rest of the house.

1) Living room TV
2) Bedroom 1
3) Bedroom 2
4) Bedroom 3
5) Behind thermostat (for future use)
6) Behind Kitchen Frig (for future use)

 

[ReeseChip]

Damn Tommy, gonna have quite the networking closet haha. Totally forgot they had Cat 6 now. Shows how long its been since I pulled data cables.

 

[Tommy]

Damn Tommy, gonna have quite the networking closet haha. Totally forgot they had Cat 6 now. Shows how long its been since I pulled data cables.

Yeah, They even have CAT 7 now too. I hope I can fit it all in there. The depth of that closet is just 14".

 

[Tommy]

I am going to have another 4 runs down that same joist. I am going to add another set of stackers. Those wires will be closed in so I didn't get to crazy getting the romex perfect.

The pic below is another area of the basement that will not be a finished area.

View attachment 364

Looks good man. Nice spacing = )

This is what is looks like now. LOL Stackers are great!. This joist is the main route back to the panel.

 

[ReeseChip]

Very nice. What I like about those is if you need to get rid of a wire you just gotta pop the clips and get it outta there instead of removing and then banging in new staples.

 

[Tommy]

Very nice. What I like about those is if you need to get rid of a wire you just gotta pop the clips and get it outta there instead of removing and then banging in new staples.

Right plus by code I think you are only allow to have 2 NM cables max under one staple. Much easier and cleaner this way IMO. Running it this way also takes care of any bundling and de-rating issues.

 

[Tommy]

Ran all the data wires to the office on Monday afternoon. Also ran RG-6QS and CAT 6 to the bedrooms above the the office before insulating the office ceiling with unfaced R19 for sound dampening. Was going to use Roxul Safe and Sound but from what I read, the difference is minimal but the savings using fiberglass is substantial.






Tuesday we started to hang drywall in the office. Got the ceiling, interior back wall and the wall between the office and the bathroom done. The $100 drywall lift is such a great help!

 

[ReeseChip]

Looking good man. Quality work! I'm impressed.

 

[p5woody]

Yep, looking good. When your done you can come do mine

 

[Tommy]

Looking good man. Quality work! I'm impressed.

Thanks. Everything is screwed and glued.

Yep, looking good. When your done you can come do mine

Ha, I don't think I will attempt another major project like this for a long time! I definitely under estimated the time it would take to complete.

 

[ReeseChip]

lol woody

 

[Tommy]

This is all I did today... punch down the cat 6, put a fitting on the RG6 and installed the new wall plate in the bedroom I left about 14" of slack for each cable in the wall cavity.

 

[ReeseChip]

I left about 14" of slack for each cable in the wall cavity.

Atta boy

 

[Tommy]

Atta boy

LOL

Did a little insulating in the office today. I hate working with fiberglass.

 

[ReeseChip]

Fiberglass is the worst. The last time I played with that crap I had fiberglass splinters in my hand for weeks it seemed. Gloves are a must.

 

[Tommy]

Some updates of the office, mini hallway, closet, and bathroom. Had to take the old curtains down (they were old and hideous anyway) so we made these temp window coverings with some scraps. Will be using mini blinds when its all finished.

FYI: Nothing is sanded yet, and some areas will need another coat too









Water meter closet. Top part will get a wall rack for router, patch panel, and Fios modem. There is a receptacle in there on the left but you cannot see it in this pic. The hole you see just below the coiled wires is where an 6" x 8" access panel will go for one of the two main water shut offs.


Bathroom vent/heater/light combo unit.


Some other pics...


Here you see the back wall of the bathroom and around the furnace. All walls and ceilings are being insulated for sound dampening. Those small pieces of rock in the center and on the right side are just temp to gauge the space for running the sheet through in the corners.


Temp switches wired up to get the cans working. Will be using Lutron CL dimmers through out. Also bought a cheap 16 pak of 60w bulbs for $5 bucks to use as temp lighting.

 

[Tommy]

Test fitting the Legrand HT1000

4

 

[Mr. Cheese]

Looks like its coming along nicely! Can't wait to see pictures when its all done Tommy!

 

[Tommy]

Yeah.. I am hoping to have everything ready for paint by Dec.

 

[Tommy]

Home Depot had the HALO LED kits on sale today. Their online price was 20% off (save $10 each). I printed it out and brought it to the store along with a Lowes 10% off coupon.

They adjusted the price and matched the competitor coupon too. I picked up 17 kits, normally $849.49, after the price match and coupon discount, it was $611.55 out the door. (no sales tax in DE)

 

[BUBBLE]

Nice score

 

[Tommy]

Thanks. I am having some problems with the LEDs and the dimmers. There is a slight buzz at any level of brightness.

The LEDs are dimmable and on the Lutron Maestro CL Dimmer compatible bulb list so I do not know why they are doing it. Some bulbs are a little louder than others. I am not sure what I am going to do yet. I would hate to use incandescent bulbs as they generate a lot of heat.

 

[Tommy]

I ordered some CREE brand BR30 LED bulbs (they don't make BR40s yet) to test, and I also picked up some Utilitech LED bulbs that had 5 star reviews. Going to try them tonight to see of they buzz. If they don't them I will return the HALO "all in one" LEDs and pick up trim/baffle kits and use the other bulbs. In the then end it's still cheaper than the $40 HALOs. Bulb and trim/baffle kit total less than $30 for each can.

 

[Tommy]

I rewired the poker room light switch from a 3 way to a 4 way. I found myself wanting to turn the poker room lights off from the switches located in the middle. Pretty easy to do it now since the walls and ceiling are still open. The wife says I will have to add a switch control diagram at the bottom of the steps. LOL

The poker room and main lights in TV room will on Lutron CL Maestro Multi Location dimmers. (Basically 1 master dimmer and 2 companion dimmers for each 4 way circuit) Will be able to dim lights from A, B or C locations.



A
At the bottom of the basement steps there are 3 switches:

1) basement stairs lights (3 way sw circuit)
2) poker room (4 way sw circuit - On Lutron Dimmer)
3) TV room main lights (Perimeter lighting) (4 way sw circuit - On Lutron Dimmer)

B
In the center there are 4 switches:

1) poker room (4-way)
2) TV room main lights (Perimeter lighting) (4-way)
3) TV room secondary lights (lights above seating)
4) TV room aux lights (controls 2 lights above TV and AV gear. Will normally be off)

C
Switches where mini hallway begins in TV room:

1) hallway light
2) TV room main lights (Perimeter lighting) (4-way)
3) poker room (4-way)

 

[Tommy]

These CREE LED bulbs are working great. No buzzing and dimming range is excellent. They come in 4 packs.