TV Calibration Package

When looking at televisions in a retail environment, they are not calibrated for optimal viewing; They are calibrated to trick you into buying it.

Manufacturers of TVs and projectors want to show the consumer the brightest image, with the most “pop.” In almost all TVs, this sadly means the TV in the store and what you bring home will not reveal proper shadow detail and the color balance will be too blue, adjusted for a less-than-optimal higher Kelvin rating. This is also known as red push.

Therefore, many TV sets may need to to be calibrated for home viewing once the set is taken home. An analogy would be like bringing home an air conditioner without setting the thermostat.

In a retail environment, the key, at least in the minds of many manufacturers, is to get their sets recognized more so than all the others in competition with it. To do that, they television must be brighter, and flashier than all the others and because the manufacturer does not know which boxed set will be used as a floor model, they are all set the same way. This may look impressive in the store, but is not the optimal way to watch television at home.

Therefore, TV calibration becomes a necessary function, at least for some televisions. For some general fine-tuning, the new television owner may be able handle basic color adjustment and resolution calibration without professional help. This type of TV calibration requires accessing the main menu and adjusting brightness, color balance, sharpness and other such things. It is recommended not to begin a TV calibration until the television has been on at least 30 minutes to ensure it is properly warmed up. What do the pros do? Many of the steps required to properly calibrate your TV require accessing the display’s internal service menu and measuring the image with test equipment–two reasons why the service calls for a trained professional. We strongly advise against tampering with the internal service menu unless you know what you’re doing.

Why get a professional calibration?

‘If you want to see the movie the way the film makers intended it to look in the video realm… then proper calibration is needed.’ – THX

Some of the main reasons to properly calibrate TVs and monitors include extending the life of your monitor and reducing energy consumption.

• Show full detail in the darkest and brightest parts of all scenes
• Display is properly matched to your video system and viewing environment
• See a sharper focused, full resolution image
• Maintain accurate color balance at all picture light levels
• Produce a full range of accurate colors, including flesh tones, grass, sky and sports teams
• Have a cinema theater “film look”
• Minimize picture artifacts (distortions)
• Easier on your eyes and reduce headaches
• Display lasts longer than display with factory default settings
• Save on energy costs.

What ? Save energy costs? How can that be?

• Since manufactures don’t know which product will be on display and which will be sold; the product leaves the factory with an overly bright ‘torch mode’ setting.
• This configuration makes the product look better in-store and helps get it sold.
• Once it’s in your home, you need to properly adjust the display for your viewing environment.
• The result of a correct calibration is a better quality picture and a lower electrical bill.
• Some studies have shown a savings of $100 per year per display are achievable.

Benefits of a professional calibration include:

• Eager to educate & involve you in the calibration process
• Lab-quality test equipment is used for pattern signal generation & readings/data collection
• Sophisticated calibration software is used for data capture, graphing, analysis
• Color reports are provided to compare & evaluate outcomes: Pre-calibration report & post-calibration report
• Greater control over adjustments – only available through the hidden service menu
• Enabling additional viewing modes – if provided in the hidden service menu. These additional modes frequently provide a greater range of adjustment to better optimize high-ambient/daytime viewing & light-controlled/night viewing- eg. isfNight, isfDay
• Set black level & white level to maximize the dynamic range without losing shadow (black crush) or white detail (white compression) or causing a color shift
• Set the gray scale color temperature to the industry standard 6500 kelvin
• Balance the blend of red/green/blue colors to create a linear gray-scale without color tints
• Adjust the primary & secondary color points to closely match the Rec. 709 industry standard color gamut. This is accomplished with quality test equipment and without using blue/red/green color filters. Color filters deteriorate over time and vary due to manufacturing tolerances.
• Display will likely last longer & use less energy, once it is adjusted correctly
• Check out & adjust of the entire viewing system
• Experience with optimizing equipment like yours

How is Picture Quality affected by the viewing environment and how does Calibration help?

Picture Quality is impacted by subjective & environmental factors…

1. Subjective factors

• Individuals have different physical vision abilities
• A person who is slightly cross eyed, will likely have poor depth perception
• What I’m able to see, may not be what you’re able to see

2. Environmental factors

2.1 Light-controlled viewing environment

• Movie theaters are dark, light-controlled environments
• Home theaters are dark, light-controlled environments
• ‘Shadow detail’ is visible in Dark scenes/shadows
• ‘Bright’ scenes can overpower the viewer, causing eye-fatigue
• Specific video mode is used to adjust the Black level & Brightness level to optimize dynamic range without loosing shadow or bright details

2.2 Ambient-light (moderate to bright) viewing environment

• Great room, family room environments
• ‘Shadow detail’ is easily lost unless special adjustments to black level is made
• ‘Bright’ scenes need to be adjusted to optimize for ambient light
• Specific video mode, different from the light-controlled mode, is used to adjust the Black level & Brightness level to optimize dynamic rage without loosing shadow or bright detail

How do you get optimum Picture Quality? Adjust your video equipment to perform it’s best in your viewing environment – Get a Professional Calibration.

Conclusion:

A professional calibration may seem expensive. (The price for calibration is tied to how time consuming and tedious it is to do a proper calibration and to equipment costs. The role of the professional calibrator is to educate the consumer and education should be part of any calibration process – which, like all education, is time consuming. Another reason is the cost of the equipment. The price of suitable meters ranges from $5,000 to $15,000, in addition to a pattern or test generator. ) However, when compared to the total investment you’ve already made in your viewing system and the increased enjoyment you will get from it; a calibration can be a very good value and a favorable cost benefit. A calibration will optimize the performance of the viewing system to your viewing environment. You’ll get the maximum performance your system is able to deliver and the performance you paid for in the first place.

Selective Call Intercom Package

Want to have a doorbell with 20 different rings to choose from? Wouldn’t you like to know when your friends have arrived while you’re out back on the patio? Maybe you need to round up the kids for dinner or tell the husband that the meat is ready to go out on the grill. Maybe you want to monitor the baby or kids playing in any room? Maybe you want to safely answer the door without opening the door to a stranger? – Hey for whatever reason, a selective call intercom in your home sure makes life easier and safer.

The system is expandable to 32 units, consisting of any combination of door units, patio units, and room units. The door unit takes the place of your doorbell button, and gives you control to talk directly to the visitor. The room units can communicate to all the other units at the same time, or selectively choose the destination, in fact, up to three (3) separate simultaneous conversations can happen at one time, something no other system can do. The patio unit is an outdoor version of the room units, perfect for the deck, pool, or patio area.

When the doorbell rings, all the units ring, to let you know you have company. Rooms and Doors can be labeled with a built-in 96-word vocabulary. Hands-free answer features and a mute feature to take that nap undisturbed. Use the scroll keys to find the room you want and hit "talk." The color LCD screen will organize the room list automatically by listing the top called rooms in descending order.

All units fit into a standard 2-gang box and the interior units are compatible with "decora" style wall plates for that smooth, aesthetic design appeal. No more bulky intercoms with big main stations.

This package is to equip six (6) interior rooms or zones each with an interior intercom unit. Outfit the Kitchen, Master Bedroom, Master Bath, Den, and the Kid’s rooms. The main hub module and power supply mount out of sight in your structured wiring enclosure. The Front Door has a doorbell unit and the back yard has a patio unit.

This package includes six (6) double-gang in-wall “decora” style Interior Room Unit stations, one (1) double-gang in-wall outdoor Patio Unit station, one (1) double-gang in-wall Front Door Unit station with Doorbell button, (1) Main Hub Module for your structured wiring enclosure and (1) power supply module. Intercom station units available in white (standard), gloss black, light almond, titanium, antique brass, brushed stainless, oil-rubbed bronze, and shiny brass.

The entire system is pre-wired with Belden Cat5-e for highest performance.

Selective Call Intercom Brochure

Watch this Video:

Entry-Level On-Q LyriQ 4-Room Distributed Audio Package

This package is to equip four (4) rooms or zones each with a speaker prewire (SPEAKERS SOLD SEPARATELY BELOW) and volume controls by using the On-Q LyriQ Music system.

This package includes (4) Single-gang In-wall “decora” style Volume Controls and wallbox, one (1) Structured Wiring Panel (not included – requires that you already have an On-Q panel) Mounting Plate, one (1) power supply, one (1) 4-Source Input Hub and one (1) 1-Source Input Hub (total of four audio source inputs), one (1) System IR Remote Control, four (4) IR Flashers for remote control of source equipment, and TIA/EIA compliant Belden high-performance distributed audio system cable, as-built documentation, and cable testing. Volume Control Keypads available in white (standard), ivory, and black.

Belden manufactures the best quality and performance cable period. All of our distributed audio systems rely on cabling that meets industry standards so that regardless of manufacturer of your audio system, you are able to upgrade or change brands in the future and still have the cabling infrastructure in place that will work.

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SPEAKERS NOT INCLUDED: ADD SPEAKERS BELOW

The NuVo Grand Concerto System

Serious About Music

NuVo had its origins in 1924 as the Hanser Music Company. In the generations that have followed, the company has grown into Hanser Music Group, www.hansermusicgroup.com, one of the trusted names in the manufacture and distribution of all things music – from instrumentation to amplification – introducing products and brands to meet the evolving needs of today’s music consumer.

Hanser Music Group launched NuVo in 2002. Today, the brand continues to expand upon its musical roots delivering startingly clear sound to the whole home, at a suprisingly affordable price.

NuVo Grand Concerto MAIN AMPLIFIER

Six Sound Source, Six Powered Listening Zones, Two additional Listening Zones available for Externally Amplified Zones (Such as patios and pool areas). NuVo’s latest masterpiece is an elegant, intelligent whole home audio system that combines proven performance and the industry’s most innovative technology with class.

Elegant OLED Display for high readability in any light and up to 8 lines of text. Innovative Capacitive Touch Interface – a first in this industry segment. Intelligent navigation communicates directly with NuVoNet2 protocol for smart feedback. With control like this, you may never leave the house.

Click to Enlarge:

Faceplates available in standard Black or White,
and optional metal finishes
(satin chrome, nickel, polished chrome)

Grand Concerto Features:

• Six audio source inputs for multi-source capability, and up to eight zones of music (expandable to sixteen zones)
• 80 watts of power per zone – music played loud or soft with NuVo’s signature impeccably crisp, clean sound.
• Generation D design protocol featuring digital amplification – runs cooler, saves energy, outputs more power.
• Capacitive Touch Control Pads – glass-smooth touch pad with smart-source feedback.
• Streamlined navigation – browse sources by play list, track, artist, album, genre, or station.
• Global Favorites and unlimited source Favorites
• Flexible set-up options – Source Grouping, security, Volume Reset, Master, Mode, and much more.
• 2.7” vivid OLED Control display – easily visible in any room lighting, displays up to 8 lines of text.
• Two un-powered zones – used with the NV-P2100 auxiliary satellite amplifier powers up to 6 speakers in a zone, ideal for large living spaces or outdoor applications.
• Built-in infrared receiver – designed to block adverse interference of plasma displays, sunlight, or fluorescent lighting.
• Fixed and variable line outputs – for use with high-power external amplifiers.
• NuVoNet2 Platform – Grand Concerto features plug-and-play compatibility with smart source components for a Complete Home Audio Solution.
• Integration with HAI and RTI Control Systems.

DEVICES THAT PROVIDE SOURCES

NOTE: You can add any analog stereo RCA feed from any devices as a source, but if you want feedback and full control of that source so you are not operating blindly, then you eant to use NuVo source devices with NuVoNet2 communications protocol so your keypad displays what you are listening to. There are three (3) devices to choose from or add all three for a complete system: The Music Port (server), The T2 Tuner, and the iPod Dock.

Music Port

NEW! NuVo’s Music Port elevates your home audio experience with even greater control, and a whole new world of listening possibilities.

With four audio outputs, the Music Port can supply up to four zones of incredible audio variety. Combining a home’s digital music collection, in both Windows Media Player and iTunes formats, into one comprehensive library on the server’s 320GB hard drive, any and all of a home’s networked computers become conduits to your favorite music. You can also enjoy streaming audio from several Internet Radio sources: Pair the MPS4 with a Color Touch Pad (optional)or the NuVo iPhone App to create your own custom station through Pandora, rating song selections for a truly user-specific music experience; Open your system up to a literal world of audio selections with the 100,000 stations of RadioTime; Utilize your subscriptions to SIRIUS and XM online to enjoy your favorite satellite stations

Free NuVo iPhone App

The Music Port also benefits from the expedience of our client software for even greater control variety. Search and select music with ease through the aesthetic user interface, conveniently accessible through any network-connected computer.

T2 Tuner

Big Sound, Small Impact

Radio enters the twenty-first century with the NV-T2SIR, a revolutionary dual tuner from NuVo. Finally, you can enjoy advanced radio technology with whole-home distribution of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial signals in one innovative tuner. And, consuming less than 1 watt of power while in standby mode, the T2 is yet another NuVo audio solution that defines energy efficiency.

Exceptional technology delivers crystal clear reception and state-of-the-art sound, so you can enjoy your favorite broadcast programs, whether they’re on AM, FM, or SIRIUS® satellite radio. No matter which option you choose, with reception this remarkable, the T2 delivers a music experience that is out of this world.

NOTE: *Sirius Available to listeners in the continental United States, its territories and adjacent waters, and Canada. Does not include satellite hardware and required monthly subscription. Other fees, and taxes, including a one-time activation fee, may apply. All fees and programming subject to change.

NV-T2SIR Tuner features:

• Advanced, state-of-the-art tuner for better, clearer reception.
• Direct infrared input, eliminating the need for IR emitters.
• Complete control and navigation from any Grand Concerto via NuVoNet.
• Customizable station presets with five groups of 20 presents available for each tuner.
• Streaming Radio Data Service (RDS) for now playing information.
• RS-232 Serial Control for use with whole home automation.
• OLED display with capacitive touch menu.
• Dual simultaneous outputs, each with three band options (AM/FM and optional SIRIUS).
• Two built-in AM/FM tuners.
• SIRIUS-Ready with dual DIN connections for SIRIUS plug-in modules.
• Superior energy efficiency utilizing less than 1 watt of power in standby mode.
• Two-way communication with SIRIUS categorical data and Radio Data Service (RDS).

©2008 SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. “SIRIUS” and the SIRIUS dog logo are registered trademarks of SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc.

NuVoDock for iPod

Now you can maximize your personal player capabilities, utilizing your Whole Home Audio system, from anywhere in your home with the wireless iPod Dock. Just dock your iPod and enjoy full control and navigation from any Control Pad throughout the house while it’s charging. Transmission Radius of 150′. Equipped with NuVoNet smart source communication for complete control and navigation, browsing by playlist, track, artist, album, genre, or favorites.

NOTE: * Maximum wireless signal range may vary.  Network conditions and environmental factors, including building materials and construction may affect signal range.

Made for iPod” means that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

NuVo Grand Concerto Main Amplifier and Keypad Package

This package includes the NuVo Grand Concerto Main Amplifier and six (6) OLED Keypad Displays that fit into a double-gang wallbox, and all zone wiring for six (6) rooms using high-performance Belden audio system cable. Add your own source or for full control and source feedback, choose one of the NuVo sources below. SPEAKERS SOLD SEPARATELY BELOW.

PACKAGE PRICE: $4,722.70 + INSTALLATION*

NV-18GMS

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

NuVo Music Port Package

This package includes the NuVo Music Port for supplying controllable sources to your Grand Concerto System.

PACKAGE PRICE: $2,499.00 + INSTALLATION*

NV-MPS4

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

NuVo Tuner Package

This package includes the NuVo Dual Sirius Ready & AM/FM Band Tuner for supplying controllable sources to your Grand Concerto System.

PACKAGE PRICE: $699.00 + INSTALLATION*

NV-T2SIR

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

NuVo Tuner Sirius Package

This package includes the Sirius Tuner Module and Antenna Kit for the NuVo Tuner. Includes up to 100′ of RG-6 Quad-Shield for antenna. (Sirius subscription not included – required.)

PACKAGE PRICE: $177.00 + INSTALLATION*

SIRIUS

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

NuVo Wireless iPod Dock Package

This package includes the NuVo Wireless iPod Dock to add your iPod as a source. (iPod not included).

PACKAGE PRICE: $699.00 + INSTALLATION*

NV-WIPS

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

BASIC Structured Wiring Starter Package

This package provides just about any location with the bare minimum in video, voice, and data connectivity and is designed to reach four (4) rooms. This package is built upon TIA-570 principles, but to be fully compliant, additional Universal Outlets may be required per room. The intent of this package is to provide connectivity to four (4) main areas that the home will need video/data such as the home theater, offices, bedrooms, etc. The extra space in the 42″ panel provides room for future devices and modules to keep your system organized as it grows.

All of the Universal Outlets in your package are equipped with (2) runs of CAT5e Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cabling. Each wiring run terminates in the central structured wiring panel on an 8-port Network Interface Module to provide a dedicated, clearly labeled, and easy to find location for it. This module provides high-quality 110 style punch-down blocks for each run, converting it to an RJ-45 8-position jack for hassle-free hook-ups, This allows for easy implementation of any run of wire simply by plugging in a short “patch cable” between each port and the module it needs to go to. CAT5e is so versatile, it can handle up to (4) phone line on a single cable, data for Ethernet/Internet/LAN, or through the use of additional modules, the following can be sent over CAT5e: VGA (computer monitor) video, HDTV Component Video, Cable TV/Antenna, Composite Video, Digital Audio, Analog Stereo Audio, S-Video, Intercom, Infrared (IR) remote control signals, touchscreen/security keypads, or many others. The 8-Port Network Interface Module makes simple hook up of any room or outlet to any of these services, with the greatest of ease.

The RG6 Quad-Shield coaxial cable that is used throughout your home delivers the best video due to its physical characteristics. However, it is inherently stiff and difficult to work with in tight spaces. For this reason we include a video interface module for the end termination. This module provides a dedicated place for each home run to be “anchored” to so it is easier to find, as opposed to letting it dangle freely in a tangled mess. Each terminal is gold-plated for excellent conductivity and resistance to oxidation, and includes an identifying number. The strategy is to use smaller, high flexibility, short mini-coax “jumpers” to go from the desired terminal on the Video Interface Module to the Video Distribution Module or splitter, from one room to another room, or to wherever they may need to be routed.

This package includes one (1) 42″ Premium Structured Wiring Enclosure with a hinged locking door, one (1) duplex surge protected receptacle mounted in the panel for power (120VAC/15A), one (1) 8-Port Video Interface Module for all coaxial terminations, one (1) 8-Port Network Interface Module to terminate all CAT5e cables to an RJ-45 patch panel, four (4) Single-gang Universal Outlets each providing two (2) Video F-Connector Ports, one (1) RJ-45 Data Port, and one (1) RJ-11 Telephone Port, Belden TIA-570 Compliant bundled Structured Wiring Cable (Up to 300′), permanent vinyl labels for all wires, as-built documentation, and cable verification testing.

Universal Outlet color is standard white.

Click to Enlarge:

Universal Outlet Connection Diagram

ADD 4 Universal Outlets with Interface Modules

This package provides an additional four (4) Universal Outlets with additional Interface Modules to expand the Basic Starter Package (above) to cover more rooms or areas (or it can be combined with the Starter Package to provide full TIA-570 standards compliance to a few rooms). The intent of this package is to provide additional connectivity to four (4) more Universal Outlets.

This package includes one (1) 8-Port Video Interface Module for all coaxial terminations, one (1) 8-Port Network Interface Module to terminate all CAT5e cables to an RJ-45 patch panel, four (4) Single-gang Universal Outlets each providing two (2) Video F-Connector Ports, one (1) RJ-45 Data Port, and one (1) RJ-11 Telephone Port, Belden TIA-570 Compliant bundled Structured Wiring Cable (Up to 300′), permanent vinyl labels for all wires, as-built documentation, and cable verification testing.

Universal Outlet color is standard white.

Click to Enlarge:

Universal Outlet Connection Diagram

 

PACKAGE PRICE: $573.40 + INSTALLATION*

ADD4UNIV

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

Telephone Interface Module Package

This package adds an On-Q 1×8 Enhanced Telecom Module to your existing Structured Wiring Panel (sold separately). This package provides support for up to eight (8) phone outlets, each with up to four (4) phone lines. Your incomming phone lines land on this module first so that the on-board surge protection module can protect the home from the lines comming in. RJ-45 Patch cables are included to easily connect phone service from the module to any open port on your existing Network Interface Module. This RJ-45 modular plug design allows for easy system outlet reconfiguration between telecom and data services to the Universal Outlets. High performance RJ-45 telecom distribution jacks provide flexibility and convenience. RJ-45 allows for cable run performance testing capability. Easily expanded in eight (8) port increments with an expansion module.

In addition, this module provides RJ-31X functionality through a DIP switch and RJ-45 jack to support security systems.

This package includes one (1) 1×8 Enhanced Telecom Module, one (1) plug-in surge protection module, and eight (8) 3′ RJ-45 patch cables.

Click to Enlarge:

 

PACKAGE PRICE: $179.30 + INSTALLATION*

1x8TELECOM

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.

The Hide-A-Hose Concept

The Hide-A-Hose Central Vac System is a revolutionary leap forward in central vacuum technology. It is the only one of it’s kind with the suction power to do it. The Hide-A-Hose central vac eliminates the need to carry hoses from outlet to outlet by storing the hose inside the wall behind a small access door. My saying is that if it’s not easy; it doesn’t get used. This system makes it easy and convenient, thus makes clean-ups a much more palatable activity.

There is up to 50′ of hose stored at each Hide-A-Hose valve location inside the pipe itself, so fewer valves are needed to cover the same area with standard inlet valves and detachable 30′ hoses. Since the hose is stored inside the pipe more due diligence has to be applied to how the tubing is installed to find a place that can hold 50 extra feet of pipe within your walls, attic, and unfinished basement areas, while at the same time being limited to the number and types of bends that can be made so as to not restrict the deployment and retraction of the hose. In addition, a system of this type requires some extra power to make up for air-frictional losses, and thus because of that and the extra piping required, costs more than an ordinary system – but it’s money well spent.

Since the Hide-A-Hose system needs some horsepower behind it; it uses the most powerful power unit available, the MaxAir, with enough suction to handle up to 22,000 sq. ft. homes, and uses true-cyclonic filtration technology (exclusive patents) without the need for filters. It’s so powerful that the exhaust needs to be vented outside, and in steel pipe to handle the heat! This is a good thing because it provides total clean air quality inside the home and qualifies for LEED points.

This video showcases how it works:

Hide-A-Hose Location

The Hide-A-Hose Valve can be located just about anywhere, but it should be central to the hose’s reach so that you can evenly cover a large area. In this example, it is installed in a hallway for being central to three bedrooms, a bath, and the hall itself. Placing it in the narrower part of the hallway reduces its intrusiveness. The valve could also be mounted out of sight inside a closet, but keep in mind you would have the closet door to parlay with each time you used it, which would probably end up being a hassle, so my advice is put it where it is convenient to use or you will regret it each time you need it.

Hide-A-Hose Valve

There are two ways a valve can be installed: One is as you see, where it is located roughly midway up the wall. This is for systems that store the hose above, such as ranch-style houses. This is because you are pulling the hose downward.

The other method is to locate the valve close to the floor like an electrical outlet. That would be for systems that store the hose in the basement or other such area below. In that case, you would be pulling up on the hose.

The height is dictated by the direction you are pulling the house out. Obviously you want the hose to pull out and retract smoothly and you don’t want it kinking because of it being in the wrong place.

You don’t want the valve located near the floor if you are pulling the hose downward. In that case you would have to bend over to pull down on the hose like you’re milking a cow – and not only would that look silly, it would become annoying real fast.

Hose Lock Mechanism

There is a hose-lock mechanism that securely grips the hose in place. You can pull out however much hose you need, and then lock it in place. It is not necessary to pull all of the house out.

Sliding the lock lever to the left releases the hose.

Once unlocked, you may pull out as much hose as you need.

When you have the desired amount of hose dispensed, simply lock the hose in place by moving the lever to the right.

The lock forms an air-tight seal around the hose.

Attach Remote Control Wand

Now all you have to carry around is the lightweight wand – attach it to the hose – flip the wireless on switch – and your in business!

There are different dirt-seeking devices (attachments) available to get any job done, in the quickest time possible.

Retracting the Hose

Retracting the hose is really a piece of cake.

First pull out the red manual on switch, and then slide the hose lock to the left (unlock position.)

Put your hand over the end of the hose while it is running and hold it there until all the hose is fully retracted.

The hose will suck itself back up!

When you are finished, push the red manual switch back in to shut off the vacuum, close the valve door, grab your cleaning wand and stick it in the broom closet, and you’re done!

Hide-A-Hose 4-Valve + VacPan Package

This Hide-A-Hose central vac package is at the top of the food chain. There’s not a finer quality or more convenient system out there. It may cost a little more, but you’ll never complain about it after you’ve experienced it – you’ll never go back to any other type of system again. This package uses the big daddy of all central vac power units, the MaxAir, delivering enough suction power to handle up to 22,000 sq. ft. homes.

This package includes four (4) Hide-A-Hose in-wall inlet valves with built-in 50′ hose-sock-covered vacuum hose, one toe-operated (1) VacPan to keep the kitchen broom and your back happy, one (1) RF wireless handle and adjustable wand (each HAH inlet valve also sports a back up manual on/off switch for convenience), Dust Mop Tool (practically the only attachment you’ll ever need), Premium 12″ Bare Floor Brush, 12″ Rug Tool, Premium Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Tool, VacPac Caddy, and the legendary TurboCat Zoom turbine-powered powerhead for carpets (lightweight at only 6lbs, slim to fit under furniture, and requires no external power).

 

MaxAir Spec Sheet

VacPan Spec Sheet

Dust Mop Tool Spec Sheet

Get LEED Points

Cleaner Air

PACKAGE PRICE: $4,441.89 + INSTALLATION*

HAH4V+VACPAN

*Prices subject to change without notice. Pricing shown does not include installation, design & project management fees, taxes, permits, municipal fees, accessories, maintenance service, extended warranty, consultant fees, and other incidental costs associated with your specific installation; those would be extra.