photos,
Anyone not taking photos of thier cabling needs thier head read. Costs next to nothing to do in the scheme of things. And the amount of time you can save is unbelievable. Remember that photos not only show you the location of wires but also the structure that is hidden in the walls and ceilings.

If anyone is not currently taking pics......start doing it now.

Simon.

A real simple solution?

1. Get a set of the prints!

Mark all the pertinant info on the prints and file them as a back up.

2. Pictures?

Use a digital still camera so you can have a job/client file in the computer. Have this broken down by builder, customer, lot number, address for search purposes.

Builder/customer job file has ALL info. Pictures, billing info, product serial numbers, etc.

Where does one get these magnets?

This was a good question and I enjoyed most of the comments.

I must admit, that after a really bad week with a line of small problems the comment from dpva 59 really made me laugh. What's strange about is comment is I really believe it might work.

The magnet idea is great. Try the Lee Valley catalog for rare earth magnets. Worthington Distribution has them but not in there catalog.

The video tape method is what we try and use. It always works! We use 4x6 cards with a large sharpie and ID small details. Just nail the card to the wall near the work area and snap pics! We always have a camera on the truck.

We do alot of the same type of installs. Large Lake homes with no exposed wires.

Mike

I take pictures, usually several of the same speaker location, each with different room references. I tried video but too hard to find what you are looking for later.

Is anyone else using the laser plumbs? I spent over a couple hundred bucks on a good one that shoots up and love it.

I place it on the floor shooting up to the center of the speaker location and then trace around the laser plumb with a sharpie. I then take measurements and also sharpie the measurements on the floor with the room name. Then when I take my pictures I take a picture of the floor with my measurements.

If the speakers are definetely going in, I'll come back out before the hardwoods go in and laser sight my speaker holes, cut a small hole and let the wire hang. I made the mistake of not pulling the wire through only once, the sheetrockers patched them all.

If only they made a laser that also cut sheetrock... then I would even need a ladder.