Power in the eves.

[Perfuseme]

I'm going to run power to the eves in the next couple weeks. I have already run the power to a covered box in the attic. I did this last year when I added a circuit in the garage with outlets and fan.

My primary purpose is to have a socket at each corner of the front of the house for Xmas lights and then a hard wired motion sensor on each side for security and in the rear for the dogs at night. I may also put a plug or 2 on the back porch for whatever may arise. There will be a switch in the garage to turn this all on and off.

My question is....can you guys think of anything else that I should wire while in this process, be it in the attic or in the eves??

 

[diggler306]

Lots of houses have recessed lighting in the soffits these days. If that's your thing, you could think about running a circuit/switch for that. Otherwise, just a few outlets for Christmas lights is good.

 

[87jeepwrangler]

My question is....can you guys think of anything else that I should wire while in this process, be it in the attic or in the eves??

cat-5 cable for IP cameras?

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

You don't indicate where you live.

If in a cold climate, put an outlet by each downspout so you can plug in a heat tape for the gutters and downspouts.

 

[DenisG]

Eaves?

 

[Streetbu]

If you have attic space that will be accessible, put a couple of outlets in the attic. Maybe even switched. Nice to have lighting up there when you're looking for something.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I am in the process of building a new home and my builder automatically put outlets in eves on both ends of house and outlets on front porch and all to switch in the front foyer for Xmas lights. Cool I thought.

 

[machine_punk]

Wire for security cameras? I've always thought about having one camera looking 'up' the street and one 'down' the street...just in case something happened in the neighborhood.

Kev

 

[Perfuseme]

i stand corrected...eaves....il go to the proofreading forums first. everyone else knew what i meant.

im in houston so while it is cold right now i shouldn't need any heat on the gutters.

thanks guys. some good ideas. i particularly like the idea of recessed lighting in the eaves. if that becomes the case il need switches for the plugs and the lighting as i wouldn't want all this on with the lights. security camera power is a good idea too, but i think most of the security camera systems i have looked at "so far" have their own power. plan on about a 6-7 camera set up. my biggest problem there is where to put the DVR. if its easy for a criminal to find then he can just take that with him. perhaps i need to revisit that.

 

[Falcon67]

I'd run Cat 5 and use PoE for any cameras. I'm thinking about LED spots in the eves - looking at regular LED small 2 or 3" cans with an eye toward changing the bulbs out for Phillips Hue pieces later on.

 

[dlaw]

I installed something similar several years ago specifically for Christmas lights. I went one step further and put mine on a timer. Works great for turning lights on/off automatically.

 

[woodzy]

I'm just about finished with my new house. I asked the builder if I could do all the electrical since my boys are electricians. I added soffit lights in every outside corners and one inside corner (12 in total). I also added 5 duplex outlets for lights (switched inside by front door with timer) and two of them were in the soffits. The builder only included 2 duplex outside but I ended up with 12. Also the 3 car garage only gets three duplex but again, I ended up with almost 20. It has 13' high ceilings so I ran a set around the top for Neon collection on two switches. Also, the new timers you program in your latitude and longitude and they know sunset & sunrise and you can use those for your on / off times.

I also added motion lights on three sides and have them switched in the event I don't want them to come on and also most of the new ones, if you switch off/on quick, they will come on and stay on in the event you want them to not use the motion detectors for like a party of just want them on for an extended time.

On a humorous note, I have three different switches for the MUD room light that are only about 4 foot apart (three different ways to enter MUD room). My kid said he can stand in the center and use one foot and both hands and hit all three switches at once if the door is open. I said, hey it is my house and if I want three switches - I will get three switches. Now that I'm done, there are three places that I wish I would have put more thought in to the light / switch placement. Oh well, some of that can be changed later if really needed but for now, I'll live with it.

I'm using all LED so the cost to operate them is cheap but he upfront cost is very expensive - I only hope they last as long as they claim.

 

[GN4WHLN]

A GFI and a timer for the lights (unless you just leave them on). You could wire a switch to bypass the motion detectors and turn the lights on. Mine will stay on if you on/off/on quickly, but I wired a bypass using a relay to bypass the detectors that is linked to a remote. That way, if something seems off outside at night, I can hit it and turn on all the outdoor security lights anywhere in the house. The switches for the outdoor lights are in the garage.

 

[Perfuseme]

That looks good woodzy!! I ran wire and put 3 outlets in on Saturday night and Sunday. One on each front corner and one in cieling of front porch. The way I do my Xmas lights this should allow all my lights and such to run from one switch. I have the switch for the recessed lighting dead ended in a junction box and likely do that next month. Il have to look into that switch for the recessed lighting!! Is it separate from the switch or is it the switch?

 

[6768rogues]

If I were living my life over, I would install large bright lights over my bedroom windows. Then when the alarm in the morning sounds, the lights could turn on making getting out of bed for work on dark winter mornings easier. I am now retired, so screw getting up before the sun is up.

 

[PT Doc]

I'm just about finished with my new house. I asked the builder if I could do all the electrical since my boys are electricians. I added soffit lights in every outside corners and one inside corner (12 in total). I also added 5 duplex outlets for lights (switched inside by front door with timer) and two of them were in the soffits. The builder only included 2 duplex outside but I ended up with 12. Also the 3 car garage only gets three duplex but again, I ended up with almost 20. It has 13' high ceilings so I ran a set around the top for Neon collection on two switches. Also, the new timers you program in your latitude and longitude and they know sunset & sunrise and you can use those for your on / off times.

I also added motion lights on three sides and have them switched in the event I don't want them to come on and also most of the new ones, if you switch off/on quick, they will come on and stay on in the event you want them to not use the motion detectors for like a party of just want them on for an extended time.

On a humorous note, I have three different switches for the MUD room light that are only about 4 foot apart (three different ways to enter MUD room). My kid said he can stand in the center and use one foot and both hands and hit all three switches at once if the door is open. I said, hey it is my house and if I want three switches - I will get three switches. Now that I'm done, there are three places that I wish I would have put more thought in to the light / switch placement. Oh well, some of that can be changed later if really needed but for now, I'll live with it.

I'm using all LED so the cost to operate them is cheap but he upfront cost is very expensive - I only hope they last as long as they claim.

Seems like your garage door would be a great application for a hi,lift setup with all the height you have.

 

[Perfuseme]

Looks like about 4 lights down each side of house with motion light halfway that pretty well covers the spectrum the windows are in. Likely will do 2-4 light in back along with motion light. These are only 8 watt cans with 50 watt equivalent and I can do up to 1800 watts on 20 amp circuit. The 3 plugs out front are negligible as they will likely ONLY be used for Xmas lights but not in conjunction with the security lighting. So even at 15 lights that's only 120 watts throw in the motion lights and there is plenty of juice left.

The programmable switches do not seem to also have dimmers nor is it clear how well LED lights work, particularly with this number of cans. Also the motion lights are gonna be on this string so I don't think a dimmer is a great option but the programmable (if LED comparable) is a solid choice. Might have to head over to the electrical threads for further advice.

I do have 2 fans on back porch but they are more decorative than performance but that what wife wanted. I wouldn't mind a cieling mounted shop fans at each corner to really cool it off and blow the Mosquitos out in the summer. Wife is against it tho.