After neglecting to post the last few days, here are some of the odds and ends I’ve been working on:
1. Installed a new home run to the router from the basement. There already was a CAT5E run down there from the main network plate beside the router but I figured I could upgrade it to CAT6 with the extra wire I had. Long story, one mistake and a long drill bit later…we have CAT6 to the basement.
2. Installed the conduit from the AV room to the pillar. I ended up using that tough pond PVC since I found that 2” EMT secured it well.
3. Installed the screw surface for the projector which should make it much easier to hang once the drywall is up. Won’t need to find a stud because it’ll all be wood. (Can’t find a picture of that, but I’ll get one up next time)
4. Ran some additional EMT for the network wires which I ended up replacing with the “lost in the mail” orange split tube.
It was about this time when the wife yelled down for me to “fix the dryer.” Needless to say, upstairs I went. On my way up I thought to myself, “I bet the control board went out now that this thing is 13 years old.” I was really hoping I was wrong but after I pulled it out and saw the typical electronic burn marks, I knew I’d be out $250. So 1 Amazon purchase later and I got back to work. The new board should be in later this week, so I’ll try to remember to keep you posted on that.
5. Installed fire blocking….everywhere lol. Well not everywhere, but at least every 10’ horizontally. I already installed vertical fire blocking as part of my framing, so I didn’t need to worry about that. So how did I install the horizontal fire block? I used 3/4” plywood in all areas with gaps on horizontal runs of the wall. I filled in any gaps with fire block foam and that’s about it. While I did that, I went through all the vertical holes I made as well as the holes at the horizontal fire block locations and filled them with the fire block foam as well. To finish off the fire blocking, I needed to figure out how to fire block inside the soffit/bulkhead. I ended up using rock wool batt insulation which is approved per code. And boy was that fun….not. I decided to use that because it is what I’ll be using for my exterior wall insulation, so I wouldn’t be wasting any of the left overs.
6. Repurposed the EMT as behind wall conduit for the wires I’m running from the ceiling projector conduit. There will be an 8” access panel on the ceiling of the AV room to access those conduit runs. I also secured all of the wires roughly where they will live once the insulation and drywall is up.
7. Used the extra conduit to install a conduit from where the TV will be at my desk to the floor level outlet area.
8. Started running stripping and crimping the grounds for the electrical boxes. The inspector said he wants to see the grounds crimped, so crimped they will be.
I think that pretty much catches me up. The HVAC guy will be here Friday to install the return and two supply’s and we’ll be just about ready to call the inspector. Just need to finish up these ground wire crimps and double check everything first.
I almost forgot the parts that arrived in the mail or were picked up at the store include: bulbs, switches, outlets, outlet covers, breakers (WAY OVERPRICED BTW), HDMI and RG6/RCA keystones, etc.
Fagnani Family 