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    Echo in the ceiling idea.

    So I was looking for some ideas to "rack" mount my google chrome casts and these images showed up on my google image search. It thought it was a clever idea to mount an Echo Dot in the ceiling.

    I believe all credit goes to: Andrew_Wrzesinski over at the smart things thread (https://community.smartthings.com/t/...ntial/24465/80)

    Edit: for here in Florida, I would have to have more protection for the back of the Echo in my 1 story house. I would also rather have a way to run the power to it safely, but either way, I thought it was clever and a great starting point
    Attached Files

    #2
    Looks nice! FYI there are dedicated mounts for the Echo and Dot out there, here's a link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4791219...ount-us-uk-and

    I haven't used one -planning to move- but will definitely use these in the new house.

    Terry

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      #3
      Originally posted by roussell View Post
      Looks nice! FYI there are dedicated mounts for the Echo and Dot out there, here's a link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4791219...ount-us-uk-and

      I haven't used one -planning to move- but will definitely use these in the new house.

      Terry
      Thanks I hadn't look for others because I wasn't actually looking to do this. I like that the one you linked to will work with the original Echo as well. My only concern is the power through the walls. Normally USB CAbles aren't rated for in wall use (though I will admit, I have a couple running through my attic for extending USB from the WiiU and from a computer to other destinations)

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        #4
        Very nice!
        HS4Pro on a Raspberry Pi4
        54 Z-Wave Nodes / 21 Zigbee Devices / 108 Events / 767 Devices
        Plugins: Z-Wave / Zigbee Plus / EasyTrigger / AK Weather / OMNI

        HSTouch Clients: 1 Android

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          #5
          It doesn't need to be a USB cable per se. You could run any low voltage wire rated for in wall use and terminate the ends with USB ends. All you need is the power correct?
          Originally posted by rprade
          There is no rhyme or reason to the anarchy a defective Z-Wave device can cause

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by S-F View Post
            It doesn't need to be a USB cable per se. You could run any low voltage wire rated for in wall use and terminate the ends with USB ends. All you need is the power correct?
            Yeah, I don't know why I was thinking USB. the Echos don't use usb for power. I'm still wondering what the fire rating is. Looks like above that the person removed the old work wings and put them on the drain.. I'm wondering if you could put the blue box up there and then make your own adapter using cat cable or something (think home made POE, but no Ethernet).

            Comment


              #7
              How does the Echo get power? Basically you can do just about anything with low voltage wiring except put it the same container (conduit, box, etc.) as high voltage. Of course you've gotta keep it away from wet things as well. Have you ever seen a low voltage inspection? Every one I've been on the inspector just kinda glances around for a second or two and says "well, everything looks good here. So..... Tell me more about your talking house?" or "I'm thinking about getting a new TV. What are your thoughts?" and so on.

              Also low voltage doesn't need to be contained in a box. Like for speaker and network drops it's usually just a "mud ring". Basically a box with no back and short depth sides. Think about the crazy things cable installers do. They run cable from the main box, out the wall, up the side of the house, back in through the wall somewhere else and then it just hangs there. No electrician could get away with that, but still! No inspectors are putting the screws to Comcast about it.
              Originally posted by rprade
              There is no rhyme or reason to the anarchy a defective Z-Wave device can cause

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by S-F View Post
                How does the Echo get power? Basically you can do just about anything with low voltage wiring except put it the same container (conduit, box, etc.) as high voltage. Of course you've gotta keep it away from wet things as well. Have you ever seen a low voltage inspection? Every one I've been on the inspector just kinda glances around for a second or two and says "well, everything looks good here. So..... Tell me more about your talking house?" or "I'm thinking about getting a new TV. What are your thoughts?" and so on.

                Also low voltage doesn't need to be contained in a box. Like for speaker and network drops it's usually just a "mud ring". Basically a box with no back and short depth sides. Think about the crazy things cable installers do. They run cable from the main box, out the wall, up the side of the house, back in through the wall somewhere else and then it just hangs there. No electrician could get away with that, but still! No inspectors are putting the screws to Comcast about it.
                Yeah, I was more concerned about the fire rating of the cable. The cl2/3 fire rating means if there is a fire, the fire won't travel along the cable itself. Most cables used on the interior of the house are not rated for this. All my speaker and Ethernet cables are rated this way. I have a few USB run (Because there is no other option), so I'm taking the risk anyways.

                Oh, and i've seen at least 1 bad inspection.... When I bought my house (I had yet to be in the attic), the guy went up there, looked around and said "it's good".... When I actually got to go up there, there was NO WAY he could have possibly taken a proper look. We ended up taking out 20 trash bags of stuff and then filled my brother's pickup truck bed (heaping) with the collapsed cardboard. The old owners were bad pack rats. Literally, empty shoe boxes and all!


                About the echo power cable, it's just a wall wart. For any length of run you would probably need to hack the cable apart. This is one reason I was thinking of the POE style run. Cut the cable, connect one side of the cat cable to the wall wart, connect the other to the plug that goes into the echo. Because I would have to have wire "connections" I would rather those be in a box and not exposed to the attic. The other reason I want it in a box of some kind is so I can air seal it. For the latter it could literally just be a small box made out of drywall and great stuff (as i know you know, since I consider you the king of such matters ).

                Comment


                  #9
                  So, I found this. I think it's a bit expensive for what it is, but it's an interesting idea for only running power to a USB device where the wires need to be in wall. This would allow one to technically meet codes. My only idea is that it would be nice if they included 2 keystones in the "kit" (the only way to buy it right now). I personally would rather just own the keystones and use my own power supplies (As I have a ton)

                  I realize this won't work with the echo, but we discussed running USB power in walls and this would definitely work.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by sirmeili View Post
                    So, I found this. I think it's a bit expensive for what it is, but it's an interesting idea for only running power to a USB device where the wires need to be in wall. This would allow one to technically meet codes. My only idea is that it would be nice if they included 2 keystones in the "kit" (the only way to buy it right now). I personally would rather just own the keystones and use my own power supplies (As I have a ton)

                    I realize this won't work with the echo, but we discussed running USB power in walls and this would definitely work.
                    Found this. Still a tad expensive if you ask me ($18), but I think this could work. I may try it out for my aotec motion sensor.

                    https://www.amazon.com/Calrad-72-125.../dp/B007PIQJIW

                    Comment


                      #11
                      You have me really thinking now.

                      BTW to clear up some confusion, the full Echo uses a normal plug, the DOT does use USB Mini plug to power it, so if you could get the 5 volts into a mini usb to your location, you are gold. They have many a solution to POE to a USB plug.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by waynehead99 View Post
                        You have me really thinking now.

                        BTW to clear up some confusion, the full Echo uses a normal plug, the DOT does use USB Mini plug to power it, so if you could get the 5 volts into a mini usb to your location, you are gold. They have many a solution to POE to a USB plug.
                        Darnit, I just checked and you are right. The dot does have USB

                        And I don't know why I didn't search for POE USB:

                        https://www.amazon.com/WS-POE-USB-Ki.../dp/B00AH5XCLC

                        (I only took a first glance, but seems almost exactly what I would need)

                        edit: and this looks interesting for short runs:

                        https://www.amazon.com/SinLoon-AF-RJ...&sortBy=recent

                        Comment


                          #13
                          I've installed a couple of Echo Dots on the ceiling, I ran CAT5 to the units with one end plugged directly into a POE switch and used the adaptor at the link below to convert the power(I didn't need the LAN passthru on the cable but they were cheap)

                          https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                          I also ran a second CAT5 to carry the audio back to my ceiling speakers amp ( I tried taking audio over the original CAT5 that also has the power but very poor quality audio).

                          https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                          I'll attach a couple of pictures.
                          Attached Files

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Simonk View Post
                            I've installed a couple of Echo Dots on the ceiling, I ran CAT5 to the units with one end plugged directly into a POE switch and used the adaptor at the link below to convert the power(I didn't need the LAN passthru on the cable but they were cheap)

                            https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                            I also ran a second CAT5 to carry the audio back to my ceiling speakers amp ( I tried taking audio over the original CAT5 that also has the power but very poor quality audio).

                            https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                            I'll attach a couple of pictures.
                            I really like how that looks. Thanks for sharing. Question on the cat5 to mini plug for audio. How is the sound quality? I have a cat5 cable I am using to extend from my HS server to my Russound unit that is on two separate floors and I just spliced into the cable and the quality is not that great. I am wondering if this would be better by removing the splice

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by waynehead99 View Post
                              I really like how that looks. Thanks for sharing. Question on the cat5 to mini plug for audio. How is the sound quality? I have a cat5 cable I am using to extend from my HS server to my Russound unit that is on two separate floors and I just spliced into the cable and the quality is not that great. I am wondering if this would be better by removing the splice
                              I'm no audiophile but it sounds good to me!

                              Comment

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