Wiring Your Digital Home For Dummies [Paperback]

Dennis C. Brewer (Author), Paul A. Brewer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2006

• Beef up your home's wiring infrastructure and control systems to accommodate the latest digital home products.
• Upgrade wiring in your existing home room-by-room, system-by-system or wire the home you're building.
• Learn wiring for the latest digital home technologies -- whole home audio, outdoor audio, VoIP, PA systems, security systems with Web cams, home theater, home networking, alarms, back-up systems, and more.
• Perfect whether you do your own electrical work or want to talk intelligently to an electrical contractor.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Enjoy your home more and boost its value

Get wired for sound, home theater, VoIP, whole house Internet access, and more

If you've ever started a sentence with "I wish my home was wired for . . . ", this book is for you! Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer, a builder, or someone who just wants to talk intelligently with your contractor, you'll find out how to plan, install, and connect the wiring that lets you fill your home with the latest, coolest technology.

The CD-ROM contains the full version of HALbasic 3.7 home automation software, a $39.95 value!

HALbasic 3.7 allows you to:

• Use voice activation to control home appliances
• Set up schedules for home lighting
• Control the thermostat from anywhere in the house

For details and complete system requirements, see the CD-ROM appendix.

Discover how to

• Design your home with the necessary wiring
• Meet code requirements
• Plan for remote controls and automatic timers
• Install fiber optics and a home network
• Be prepared with a backup power system
• Wire outdoor areas

About the Author

Dennis C. Brewer is a certified network engineer with more than 12 years of computer technology experience.

Paul A. Brewer is a veteran electrical engineer and licensed master electrician.

Product Details

• Paperback: 365 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (October 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047191830X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471918301
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dennis C. Brewer is a graduate of Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. His varied career path includes both military, government, and private sector experience.

His military service includes the U.S. Navy having attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer; Interior Communications Electrician with sea service on the USS Bristol and USS Prairie, and nearly six years as a Navy Recruiter for the Milwaukee Recruiting District stationed in Houghton, Michigan.

After serving in the Navy, he attended Michigan Tech and co-enrolled in the Senior Army Reserve Officer Training Course and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1981 in the Combat Engineer Branch, U.S. Army Reserve. The Governor of Michigan accepted his transfer request to serve the Michigan Military Establishment in the Michigan Army National Guard where he served honorably for twelve years in many engineer units and retired as a Captain in 1992.

His work experience highlights include loan officer, electrician, federal facilities management specialist, and information technology solutions specialist. Dennis retired from the State of Michigan; Department of Information Technology, Office of Enterprise Security in 2006 and returned to the Copper Country in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where he writes books and magazine articles and runs an independent consulting practice.

He and his wife Penny enjoy the Michigan outdoors and travel extensively in their class C motor home.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy the book, May 23, 2008

By 

Stanley J. Packer (Fruit Heights, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wiring Your Digital Home For Dummies (Paperback)

I agree with the other reviewer. This book covers too many topics that have nothing to do with a "digital home'. Sure a computer needs power but to have a lot of the book cover the layout of basic home wiring is too much. I wanted more detailed information on how to set up cat 5 or cat 6 connectors, or how to wire compression coax connectors, or how to choose cable, splitters etc, or specific information on how to control a light or outlet from the computer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wiring your digital home, October 27, 2009

By 

Michael J. Williams "Love Italy" (Colton, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wiring Your Digital Home For Dummies (Paperback)

It has already paid for itself. Since buying my big screen HDTV, I found that I needed to get a new satellite receiver that would require a phone connection in a room where there was no phone jack. The Satellite company did not tell me that you can buy an electronic device to send the phone signal through the electric lines. I am sure I will find other helpful information as well.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointed, October 31, 2006

By 

PhilS (WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wiring Your Digital Home For Dummies (Paperback)

I have been rewiring my 30 year old home over the last five years replacing all the phone and cable TV wiring and adding a computer network all to a central hub. I have read other For Dummies books on these subjects and they were rather good. These days I look for more information and I thought this new book would provide me with something I had not read of before. I would not buy this book if you have ever done anything on this subject yourself. For some strange reason about half of the book involves wiring for lights and outlets, which I have also done a lot myself, but in my opinion has nothing to do with having a digital home. I am still waiting for one book that tells it all on this subject.