Yeah, running extra conduit is a lifesaver. I’ve seen folks try to save a few bucks by skipping it, but then they’re cursing when they want to add a camera or smart switch later. Honestly, it’s way easier to do it right the first time.
I totally get where you’re coming from about the extra conduit. It’s wild how quickly you end up wanting to add more gadgets and stuff—like, I swore I’d only put in a couple smart switches, but now there’s a whole list of “maybe one day” upgrades. Still, I keep wondering: does running extra conduit everywhere really make sense if you’re trying to keep things eco-friendly? I mean, more materials, more plastic, all that… Sometimes I catch myself second guessing whether future-proofing is always the greenest move.
Has anyone tried using those wireless battery-powered sensors instead of wiring everything up? I’ve seen some setups that skip a lot of the hardwiring and just stick sensors or cameras wherever you want, then swap out batteries every so often. Not sure if that’s actually better for the environment though—less conduit and wire, but way more batteries in the long run. Kind of feels like a trade-off either way.
Also, curious if anyone’s had luck running conduit in older houses without tearing up every wall. My place is ancient and I’m not about to start demo-ing plaster just to hide wires for a smart thermostat or whatever. There’s got to be a less invasive way, right? Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking...
Running conduit in an old house is a headache, honestly. My place was built in the 1920s and I wasn’t about to rip out original plaster just for a few wires. Ended up using surface-mount raceways—definitely not invisible, but way less destructive. As for wireless sensors, I’ve tried a few. They’re convenient, but swapping batteries gets old fast and I’m not convinced it’s any greener when you factor in all that battery waste. Sometimes it feels like there’s no perfect solution, just different compromises depending on what you care about most.
Surface-mount raceways are a lifesaver for old houses, I totally get that. I’ve tried tucking them along baseboards or painting them to match the wall—still not invisible, but less of an eyesore. About wireless sensors, I hear you on the battery waste. I started looking into low-power Zigbee stuff and rechargeable options, but it’s a bit of a rabbit hole. Have you ever tried running low-voltage wire behind crown molding or under floorboards? Curious if that’s any less hassle than raceways in your experience.
I’ve actually tried running low-voltage wire behind crown molding, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag. Here’s what I ran into:
- Crown molding: Hides the wire well, but corners and transitions are a pain. Cutting channels without damaging old plaster took forever.
- Under floorboards: Great if you’ve got access from a basement or crawlspace, but fishing wires through tight spots is no joke. Also, squeaky boards = more work.
- Raceway still wins for speed and reversibility, at least for me.
Did you run into any issues with signal loss or interference when you tucked Zigbee stuff behind trim? That’s my big worry with going “invisible.”