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Basic ResidentialInstallation Guide

Table of ContentsIntroduction11. Important Safety and Installation Information22. Local and Regional Considerations33. System Overview44. Description55. Accessories126. System Design167. Pre-Wire218. Trim Out309. Documentation, Testing, and Troubleshooting4010. Warranty46Glossary47Appendix52

IntroductionMore than ever, today’s homeowners are confronted with an expanded range of technologies and choices— with some hard decisions as a result. The three standard television channels of the 1950’s and 60’s, forexample, have exploded into hundreds of digital cable and satellite choices. With Ethernet quickly replacingtraditional satellite and cable options, video on demand and streaming video have given us the ability towatch almost anything at any time. Additionally, the quality of the incoming audio/video signal has evolvedto the point where the luxury of a home theater is increasingly considered a standard feature.On top of all these new incoming home technologies, age-old needs such as security, convenience,and comfort are raising homeowner expectations in every area. Smarter lighting, better power quality,tracking energy efficiency, and more comprehensive home control are just some of the applicationsmaking the leap from luxury to everyday use.For more than 100 years, the name Leviton has been synonymous with quality in connectivity. Frommultimedia panels to surge-protected AC outlets, from three-way lighting to Cat 5e and Cat 6 cabling,Leviton’s highest level of products, skills, and resources are combined to make upgrading simpler andmore sensible.LEVITON.COM 800.824.30051

1. Important Safety and Installation InformationFor All Telecommunications ApplicationsThere are special safety considerations with telephone wiring that may be unknown by workers new to thisfield. The following guidelines should be followed closely to help avoid safety hazards, and ensure trouble-freeinstallations and high-quality telephone service.This publication cannot, however, cover every aspect of safe installation and connection of telephone wiring.The contractor must follow local code requirements, including Article 800 of the National Electrical Code, andall rules or suggestions of the local telephone company and/or governmental and other regulatory agencies.High-Voltage Safety Test:Experienced electrician's, at first contact,always assume that hazardous voltages mayexist in any wiring system.A safety check, using a known, reliable voltagemeasurement or detection device, should be madeimmediately before work is started and whenever work isresumed on any job.Heart Pacemakers:Never attempt repair, installation, or modificationof telephone equipment or wiring systems if youwear a pacemaker. Pacemakers can be disruptedby telephone-circuit voltages and ringing-cycle frequencies.Lightning and High-Voltage Danger:Most electrical injuries involving telephonewiring result from sudden, unexpected highvoltages on normally low-voltage wiring.Installers may relax their normal care when handlingtelephone wire because it is a low-voltage system.However, telephone wiring can carry hazardous highvoltages under certain unsafe conditions. Never installor connect telephone wiring during electrical storms.Improperly protected telephone wiring can carry a fatallightning surge for many miles. Lightning exposure canalso be a danger to telephone users. Therefore, jacksshould never be installed in a position that would allowtelephone use by a person while in a bathtub, hot tub, orswimming pool. All outside wiring must be equipped withproperly grounded and listed signal circuit protectors.These protectors must be installed in compliance withthe requirements of the local telephone company andapplicable codes. Do not remove or modify protectors orthe grounding wire placed by the telephone company.Connections to telephone company independent groundingsystems can be made only with the approval of the localtelephone company. Do not run open wiring betweenstructures where it may be exposed to lightning withoutproper protection. Avoid wiring in or near damp locations.2LEVITON.COM 800.824.3005Wire Separations:Telephone wiring systems must be installed tominimize the possibility of accidental contactwith hazardous power and lighting wiring. Neverplace telephone wiring near bare power wires or lightningrods, antennas, transformers, steam or hot water pipes, orheating ducts. Never place telephone wire in any conduit, box,channel, duct, or other enclosure containing power or lightingcircuits of any type. Always provide adequate separation oftelephone wiring and other electrical wiring according to code.When in doubt about separation distances, the “Rule of Sixes”can be used. This rule requires six feet of separation betweentelephone wiring and open, high-voltage wiring, lightninggrounding wire, or grounding rods. It requires six inches ofseparation from all other high-voltage wiring unless in conduit.Avoiding Shocks:Fifty (50) to sixty (60) volts DC is normallypresent on an idle tip-and-ring pair. Ninety(90) volt AC ringing current can deliver anuncomfortable shock under certain circumstances.Consequently, always use insulated tools and avoid allcontact with bare terminals and grounded surfaces.To avoid being shocked, always disconnect the dial-toneservice from the premise wiring while working. If youcannot disconnect, take the telephone handset (receiver)off hook. The DC level will drop and normally no AC ringingcurrent will be delivered (be sure to replace the handsetwhen work is completed).Metallic Surfaces: Special caution is required when runningtelephone wire on or near metallic siding. Always check forstray voltages present on any metallic surfaces.Cutting and Drilling: Always observe trade safety rulesfor concealed wiring. Be extremely careful not to cutthrough or drill into concealed wiring or pipes. Make a smallinspection opening before cutting or drilling.Splicing: Common wire-splicing techniques may cause thewire to break and result in poor circuit integrity. This cancause interference in the form of static and noise on the line.Clean Contacts: Dust or dirt can cause special problems ontelephone wiring contacts. Be sure all contacts are cleanand that all parts are installed correctly to protect themfrom dust and dirt.

2. Local and Regional ConsiderationsLocal Ordinances, Covenants, and Service Provider Coordination2.1 Local OrdinancesLocal ordinances require adherence to national and localelectrical codes when installing AC and, in many instances,low-voltage wiring and devices. Make sure you follow alllocal ordinances and codes according to the AuthorityHaving Jurisdiction (AHJ) when installing a LevitonConnected Home system. For example, this manual refersto the use of mud rings instead of electrical boxes forlow-voltage wallplate locations. Your local area may requireelectrical boxes and conduit for all low-voltage wiring.In these cases, be sure to substitute the appropriatetype and size of outlet boxes and conduit to comply withlocal ordinances. Remember to use boxes and conduit ofsufficient size to accommodate and meet the cable pull,cable fill, and cable service loop requirements listed inChapters 5 and 6 of this Installation Manual.2.2 Covenants and Builder ConsiderationsYour local community may have certain covenantsthat specify location of service entrance and/ordemarcation points for CATV, telephone, and otherspecial communications services. External jacks and TVantenna outlets also may be restricted. External satelliteantenna, TV antenna, and outdoor speaker locations maybe restricted, prohibited, or limited to certain locations inyour area.In addition to local covenants, your builder may havedesign requirements specifying the location of centralwiring locations (the location of the Leviton StructuredMedia enclosure within the home). Also, the builder mayspecify the number and location of various wallplates,telephone, data communications, and Community AntennaTelevision (CATV), Digital Satellite Service (DSS), ortelevision (TV) jacks.Be sure to check that your plans meet all local covenantsand builder specifications during the planning andinstallation of Leviton Connected Home systems.2.3 Service Provider CoordinationThe telephone, CATV, and other communications serviceproviders serving your site may have special requirementsand services that you should know about prior to planningand installing Leviton Connected Home systems.Be sure to check the availability of Integrated ServicesDigital Networks (ISDN) and Asynchronous DigitalSubscriber Line (ADSL or DSL) services from localtelephone service provider(s). Availability of theseservices will dictate the number of Cat 5e cables from thedemarcation point to the Structured Media enclosure, thetype of components in the enclosure, and certain wallplateconfigurations within the home. Your builder may specifycertain Leviton Connected Home packages based on theavailability of these services.Alarm security services may also have a servicedemarcation point, separate from normal telephoneservice. Please check with a local security servicesprovider to see if any such services will be offered.CATV may or may not be offered in your building area. Ifnot available immediately, CATV service is often added ata future date and the wiring plan should provide for CATVservice from a demarcation point into the house.Please check with the CATV provider to determine thenumber of service entrance cables you will need. Insome communities, two or more cables may be requiredto offer alternative CATV services, or to providean increased number of cable channels. You mustduplicate the number of required cables from the CATVdemarcation point to the SMC and to the CATV jacksin the home. Typically, the CATV provider will providea signal level of 0 dBmV to 15 dBmV. The signal levelat the demarcation point will dictate whether a videoamplifier is required prior to video splitters.If CATV is available, check to see if cable modems areavailable for high-speed Internet access. Some cablemodem providers want a direct run from the CATVdemarcation point to the location of the cable modem.A TV antenna and/or Direct Service Select (DSS) antennaand provision for DSS distribution throughout the homefrom the SMC is not just an alternative to CATV. Yourplanning and installation should include provisions forDSS even though CATV is available. Many homeownerswant either an alternative to CATV, or both CATV and DSSservices. HDTV reception may also need to be considered.The DSS antenna may require one, two, or four RG-6 quadshielded coax cables to the SMC, and from there to DSSreceiver locations. Most RG-6 quad-shield cables for videoand TV distribution within the home use a copper-cladsteel core to provide optimum video signal performanceand cable strength. However, for the coax cable thatconnects the satellite antenna to the satellite receiver,many DSS manufacturers recommend solid copper-coreRG-6 quad shield because the cable must carry power(voltage switching) to switch LNBs at the antenna. Makesure you understand the requirements for your installation.Also, a telephone jack is required at each DSS receiverlocation. An off-air TV antenna may require one or twocables to the SMC, and from there to TV locations. Whenplanning external antennae or satellite dishes, make sureto take all necessary grounding, mounting, and lightningprotection precautions that may be required in your region.LEVITON.COM 800.824.30053