who has software that helps customer see all accesories that their sysem will need.label a box with model# and cable routing.what will go on top what goes where.i have only seen d link that is pricey.

Visio would do a good job, and you don't need to buy DTools to do what you are describing.

Let me ask, though; why would you show this to a customer? Would you not run such a big risk of confusing them that it would outweigh the possible benefit of illustrations like this? I can see the point of using this to document your work (great idea), but what's the sales benefit here?

I think the benefit of something like this is called "Customer Service". Some customers are easily able to perform the hookup task with some direction, but are not willing to pay for a service or installation call. This would allow him to win customers and not have to compete just based on price.

I have found that customers who want to wire it themselves generally want to save money. This sort of documentation takes enough time that the charge for it to those customers will probably be too much. If they dio not want to pay for two hours of installation, they will not want to pay for one hour of computer time (which could very easily be two or three for a wiring diagram, even of a simple system).

When we sense that price is a prime consideration, we will plan and execute an installation without spending our time (which is money, after all) to create these documents for ourselves. A short verbal descriptions of the way we usually do things, stored in their folder, suffices.

When we and the client are going all out to do things right, we walk onto the job with Visio layout illustrations, but we still do not make connection diagrams.

When I ran a crew of four men building retail audio/video switching systems for a retail chain, one of these men was employed about half-time (hand) making the block diagrams of how all the signals were routed from switching circuit board to circuit board. I would say that 10% to 15% of the project time was spent just making rudimentary wiring diagrams! I guess Visio is faster, but you still have to figure out how and where to draw all the lines so that they are clear...you want them nicely spaced...you want them to be in some order...and all of this takes time because you cannot just sit down and squirt it out of your brain.

Jailbritton,

I've seen something that works pretty well, and have used it before in planning my own installs.

If there is an ultimate electronics in your area, pay them a visit. They give their audio sales people pre-printed pads that have some spaces for Sales person info, client info, a needs analysis, room diagram (grid space), and equipment list area on the front. (Really nice, in color. Has Monster's name on it. Likely that Monster pays for the pads to be printed and supplied, as Monster's voltage stabilizer, power center, and cables are tactfully promoted on the pad.)

On the back are diagrams of back panels for a A/V receiver, DVR/VHS, HDTV cable box/ sat receiver, HDTV monitor, DVD player, speakers, sub, line conditioner/supressor, AC wall plug, wall phone jack, and satellite connection wall box.

Using this it's simple and quick to cross out components and connections that aren't on the customer equipment. Then draw lines by hand on the diagram to show how to hook up the equipment.

I personally like to draw a circle around connections for a single cable, and then draw a single line to the other component, and draw another circle. Then I explain to the customer to match the colors on the cables to the jacks. Example: For a component cable from DVD to HDTV, I circle the component RCA's on the DVD diagram, circle the component RCA's on the HDTV, and then draw a single line between the circles.

I've also had the idea of using a ink jet printer, digital camera, and photo editing software. Take pictures of the back panels of the components, drop these into your photo editing software. Use the software to draw the appropriate lines, and print the result for your customer.

I think customers would be impressed with either or these approaches, and after doing this you should be able to make the cable sale as well!

Good Luck!