We are building a new house and want to include an intercom system. Our architect is recommending a intercom used via the phone. Does anyone have any experience with this type of intercom set-up? Other recommendations? Manufacturers?
Your help is appreciated.
Tammi
Replies
I installed a Nutone. It was cheap and functioned ok. But, like everything Nutone makes it was ugly. Probably the ugliest thing in the house. I made a handmade patinated copper cover for the one at the front door and threw the plastic face away.
I'd love to see a picture of what you did.
We had an intercom system in this house when we bought it - 30 years old and so staticy it couldn't be used. It would have been nice if the one in the shop worked from the house, but as it was we just removed it. It too was ugly, and the main station got in the way of some other work.
I'll look for a picture. Last summer I lost my job and had to move, so I can't take a photo if I don't already have one. The new job is great, but I miss the dream house.
You will likely get less interference on the intercom if you use twisted shielded pair wiring instead of bell wire. The twisting and shielding minimize interference affecting the wiring. It won't alter any interference coming from the power supply, though. Such wiring is commonly available at an electrical supply house.
Here's all I could find. I blew up a picture of the front entrance. The picture is not good. The intercom cover is copper, patinated by an artist. It's a box, with cutouts in the front that match the window pattern on the front door right next to it. The top has a little "roof". The copper is brazed together. In real life the cover looks much better than the picture.
Intercoms can be fun. In the neighborhood no one else has one. One night I came home from work and the doorbell rang. When I went to the door, no one was there. So I went upstairs without turning on the light and peeked out a window. Sure enough, the two neighbor boys came sneeking slowly back up to the door. They were about 10 year old, and nervous. When they rang the bell again, instantly I shouted through the intercom, which they didn't know was there, "HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" They jumped a couple of feet, screamed and ran away. It was hilarious.
Thanks for the pic, and the suggestion on wiring. Unfortunately, 30 years ago they didn't put the intercom wiring in a chase, so rewiring would require drywall patching, something the intercom isn't worth to me in such a small home. Maybe when we build a house.