Home Theater Wiring Help - Blu-ray Forum

florad · 02-11-2009, 04:53 PM

Hello. I am in the process of studding out my basement. In one corner of the room will be my home theater. I went a little crazy on monoprice.com and have purchased hundreds of dollars of cable to be run throughout the basement - everything from CAT6 to speaker to hdmi & other audio & video. I'm planning on having a cut out in the wall adjacent to where my tv will sit and have shelves to house all my components so they are flush with the wall facing the tv. Behind this wall is the furnace and will be unfinished, and next to the components is where I'm having my "hub", or where all the wires will be. Here are my questions - what would be an ideal way to organize all these wires? My current thought is to place some particle board on a hinge and organize all my wires through gang boxes with specific wall plates that will be attached to the particle board, that way I can open up the particle board and get behind it if need be. I have lots of wall plates with 6-hole openings that I can put, say, 6 coaxial cable jack keystones in and organize all my satellite lines. Then I can do the same for video and speaker wire. Anyone have a better idea on how to do this, or does this sound ok? Secondly, when I'm running all these lines, how careful do I need to be about coming in close proximity to electrical lines? Sorry for the long-winded questions, but any help would be appreciated!

Jbald87 · 02-12-2009, 12:27 PM

So are you going to have the components in the same room of the furnace?

florad · 02-12-2009, 04:37 PM

The components will be in a room with the furnace, but they will be encased in a cabinet that I can open and close from either the front or the back of the cabinet to keep as much dust out as possible. Hope that helps.

gearyt · 02-12-2009, 04:41 PM

do a google on "structured wiring"... you'll find lottsa goodies

BrettLee3232 · 02-12-2009, 06:38 PM

sounds good man!!! i would keep all your low volt away from your electrical......you will be safe as long as you dont run your lines parallel with the electric as long as you dont run 3-5' parallel with your electric you will be fine. Always drill a seperate hole for your low volt wires. If possible run the low volt through a diffrent side of the stud as electric. 1 other thought is to run flex to each location of your low volt. Then you can run the speaker & cat5 later if you want, or take it out & run new wire. Someone on this board did do that & it looked really good....Also when you staple your wires make sure there AWAY FROM ANY DRYWALL NAILS!!!! IT WILL SAVE YOU A BIG HEADACHE LATER!!! But other than that just make sure all your wires look neat. Use designated boxes for your speaker wires like the ones at monoprice with the binding post. I have a few pics of the wall plates i used in my HT gallery. Not very good pics but you get the idea haha. Also dont run any of your wires above gas lines, try to keep them away if at all possible. Also staple the wires away from any place where they can get pinched. Use staples or nails. Hope this helps!!! If you have any questions just ask!!!
PEACEEEEEEEEEE

florad · 02-12-2009, 08:28 PM

Well now that you mention it - I do have a couple follow up questions. What is the best kind of gang box to get to house the face plates? I just went to Lowes and purchased some typical ones, but then I heard of ones that have no backs so the wires can be brought in easily. Which would you prefer and where can I find them? Also, I have lots of single wall plates, but I didn't find any that had the 3-wide gang plates that you show in your pictures. That would be perfect for what I need behind my tv. Where did you find those? Thanks!

VinnAY · 02-12-2009, 08:33 PM

rather than all those gang boxes and switch's, wall plates, I used a simply cable pass through. 1 gang box and cover plate and run wires through that. All those little connect to the switches in the wall aren't necessary, but to each his own. Just saying there's another, CHEAPER and EASIER, way route cable through the wall.

http://www.mycablemart.com/store/car...t_detail&p=786

gearyt · 02-12-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by florad

. I heard of ones that have no backs so the wires can be brought in easily.

they are called "Mud rings"

BrendonR · 02-12-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearyt

they are called "Mud rings"

Aren't they also called "Low Voltage Gang Boxes"?

http://www.amazon.com/Carlon-B100R-C.../dp/B000GAUWSE

I'm sure that you could pick them up at lowes (although, no lowes in Canada here to confirm for you). Homedepot/Rona would have them here.

I think the major advise is already up above - good luck!

Make sure to take progress pictures for us and throw them up as you go!

gearyt · 02-12-2009, 09:28 PM

Mud rings are the adapter plates mounted on 2x4 4x4 etc boxes to adjust for different sheet rock thickness.
They are used alot by telephone companys just to bolt a plate on a hole

Lo-Voltage boxes, usually blue, are plastic and installers like them for ease of installation in existing walls. you can cut the bottoms out and they work well

Bluray_ne1 · 02-12-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinnAY

rather than all those gang boxes and switch's, wall plates, I used a simply cable pass through. 1 gang box and cover plate and run wires through that. All those little connect to the switches in the wall aren't necessary, but to each his own. Just saying there's another, CHEAPER and EASIER, way route cable through the wall.

http://www.mycablemart.com/store/car...t_detail&p=786

...or here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

BrettLee3232 · 02-12-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by florad

Well now that you mention it - I do have a couple follow up questions. What is the best kind of gang box to get to house the face plates? I just went to Lowes and purchased some typical ones, but then I heard of ones that have no backs so the wires can be brought in easily. Which would you prefer and where can I find them? Also, I have lots of single wall plates, but I didn't find any that had the 3-wide gang plates that you show in your pictures. That would be perfect for what I need behind my tv. Where did you find those? Thanks!

basically the 3 gang i have is just a 3 gang nail on box (new construction) all i did was cut the back out with a saw zaw so the wires could feed through easier...& i cut the nails off and dry wall screwed the box to the 2x4 stud. now i have 2 hdmi in one decora outlet.....he other 2 i ordered an 8 hole decora plate from amazon fof like a buck each. then i ordered the approprite colored rca jacks from monoprice......one has yellow,white,red (for old school gaming) & red,blue,green,red & white for component hook up. the other 1 has 3 coax jacks & red,blue,green,red & white for another set of componets.

lowes and home depot dont sell 3 gang low volt boxes thats why i custom did mine. but they do sell single and 2 gang low vol boxes! hope that helps......

VinnAY · 02-13-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluray_ne1

...or here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

mycablemart > monoprice

BrettLee3232 · 02-13-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinnAY

mycablemart > monoprice

why do u like cablemart??? most monoprice is cheaper anyways???????

florad · 02-13-2009, 07:32 PM

Seems like I have all kinds of basic questions.....so where and how do you store all your wires? As I stated before, there are two studs to the right of where my cabinet for my components will be placed, so I'm planning on have ALL my wires run there....but what's the BEST way to organize all of these? Any ideas or what have all of you out there done that works and is easy to manage? As I stated before, I'm thinking of taking a piece of particle board that I'll put on a hinge and drill out openings for wall plates and have all the lines run into those. That way I can swing the particle board open if I ever need to get behind it. Thoughts?

BrettLee3232 · 02-13-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by florad

Seems like I have all kinds of basic questions.....so where and how do you store all your wires? As I stated before, there are two studs to the right of where my cabinet for my components will be placed, so I'm planning on have ALL my wires run there....but what's the BEST way to organize all of these? Any ideas or what have all of you out there done that works and is easy to manage? As I stated before, I'm thinking of taking a piece of particle board that I'll put on a hinge and drill out openings for wall plates and have all the lines run into those. That way I can swing the particle board open if I ever need to get behind it. Thoughts?

my wires are stapled neatly in the wall.......all my boxes are low volt boxes so i can get to the wire in the back. I get the point of what you are doing...is the plywood going up to the cieling?? i would just zip tie all your wires or use that velcro stuff & just make sure all the wires are nice & neat. Just keep all the electrical wires away.

fupduk2 · 02-13-2009, 10:36 PM

For starters.
If you are pre-wiring the room. Run your data and speaker cable perpendicular to the electrical wiring. Do not staple your cables/wires inside the wall.

BrettLee3232 · 02-14-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fupduk2

For starters.
If you are pre-wiring the room. Run your data and speaker cable perpendicular to the electrical wiring. Do not staple your cables/wires inside the wall.

why do you say dont staple the wires?? ive seen countless times of people that do not staple there wires down a wall & end up getting pinched in the drywall or getting hit with a drywall screw! When i staple low volt i only give it like 2 hits to just hold the wire in the middle of the stud to keep away from drywall screws & getting pinched.

fupduk2 · 02-14-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettLee3232

why do you say dont staple the wires?? ive seen countless times of people that do not staple there wires down a wall & end up getting pinched in the drywall or getting hit with a drywall screw! When i staple low volt i only give it like 2 hits to just hold the wire in the middle of the stud to keep away from drywall screws & getting pinched.

It doesn't matter, you can do it however you want.

BrettLee3232 · 02-16-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fupduk2

It doesn't matter, you can do it however you want.

lol then why say dont do it?

02-11-2009, 04:53 PM	#1
florad Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Indiana Home Theater Gallery:16	Home Theater Wiring Help Hello. I am in the process of studding out my basement. In one corner of the room will be my home theater. I went a little crazy on monoprice.com and have purchased hundreds of dollars of cable to be run throughout the basement - everything from CAT6 to speaker to hdmi & other audio & video. I'm planning on having a cut out in the wall adjacent to where my tv will sit and have shelves to house all my components so they are flush with the wall facing the tv. Behind this wall is the furnace and will be unfinished, and next to the components is where I'm having my "hub", or where all the wires will be. Here are my questions - what would be an ideal way to organize all these wires? My current thought is to place some particle board on a hinge and organize all my wires through gang boxes with specific wall plates that will be attached to the particle board, that way I can open up the particle board and get behind it if need be. I have lots of wall plates with 6-hole openings that I can put, say, 6 coaxial cable jack keystones in and organize all my satellite lines. Then I can do the same for video and speaker wire. Anyone have a better idea on how to do this, or does this sound ok? Secondly, when I'm running all these lines, how careful do I need to be about coming in close proximity to electrical lines? Sorry for the long-winded questions, but any help would be appreciated!

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02-12-2009, 12:27 PM	#2
Jbald87 Active Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:South Western, Michigan Blu-ray collection:47	So are you going to have the components in the same room of the furnace?

02-12-2009, 04:37 PM	#3
florad Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Indiana Home Theater Gallery:16	The components will be in a room with the furnace, but they will be encased in a cabinet that I can open and close from either the front or the back of the cabinet to keep as much dust out as possible. Hope that helps.

02-12-2009, 04:41 PM	#4
gearyt Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Henderson, NV Home Theater Gallery:8 Blu-ray collection:33	do a google on "structured wiring"... you'll find lottsa goodies

02-12-2009, 06:38 PM	#5
BrettLee3232 Active Member Member since:Jan 2009 Home Theater Gallery:8 Blu-ray collection:119	sounds good man!!! i would keep all your low volt away from your electrical......you will be safe as long as you dont run your lines parallel with the electric as long as you dont run 3-5' parallel with your electric you will be fine. Always drill a seperate hole for your low volt wires. If possible run the low volt through a diffrent side of the stud as electric. 1 other thought is to run flex to each location of your low volt. Then you can run the speaker & cat5 later if you want, or take it out & run new wire. Someone on this board did do that & it looked really good....Also when you staple your wires make sure there AWAY FROM ANY DRYWALL NAILS!!!! IT WILL SAVE YOU A BIG HEADACHE LATER!!! But other than that just make sure all your wires look neat. Use designated boxes for your speaker wires like the ones at monoprice with the binding post. I have a few pics of the wall plates i used in my HT gallery. Not very good pics but you get the idea haha. Also dont run any of your wires above gas lines, try to keep them away if at all possible. Also staple the wires away from any place where they can get pinched. Use staples or nails. Hope this helps!!! If you have any questions just ask!!! PEACEEEEEEEEEE

02-12-2009, 08:28 PM	#6
florad Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Indiana Home Theater Gallery:16	Well now that you mention it - I do have a couple follow up questions. What is the best kind of gang box to get to house the face plates? I just went to Lowes and purchased some typical ones, but then I heard of ones that have no backs so the wires can be brought in easily. Which would you prefer and where can I find them? Also, I have lots of single wall plates, but I didn't find any that had the 3-wide gang plates that you show in your pictures. That would be perfect for what I need behind my tv. Where did you find those? Thanks!

02-12-2009, 08:33 PM	#7
VinnAY Banned Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	rather than all those gang boxes and switch's, wall plates, I used a simply cable pass through. 1 gang box and cover plate and run wires through that. All those little connect to the switches in the wall aren't necessary, but to each his own. Just saying there's another, CHEAPER and EASIER, way route cable through the wall. http://www.mycablemart.com/store/car...t_detail&p=786

02-12-2009, 09:28 PM	#10
gearyt Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Henderson, NV Home Theater Gallery:8 Blu-ray collection:33	Mud rings are the adapter plates mounted on 2x4 4x4 etc boxes to adjust for different sheet rock thickness. They are used alot by telephone companys just to bolt a plate on a hole Lo-Voltage boxes, usually blue, are plastic and installers like them for ease of installation in existing walls. you can cut the bottoms out and they work well

02-13-2009, 07:32 PM	#15
florad Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Indiana Home Theater Gallery:16	Seems like I have all kinds of basic questions.....so where and how do you store all your wires? As I stated before, there are two studs to the right of where my cabinet for my components will be placed, so I'm planning on have ALL my wires run there....but what's the BEST way to organize all of these? Any ideas or what have all of you out there done that works and is easy to manage? As I stated before, I'm thinking of taking a piece of particle board that I'll put on a hinge and drill out openings for wall plates and have all the lines run into those. That way I can swing the particle board open if I ever need to get behind it. Thoughts?

02-13-2009, 10:36 PM	#17
fupduk2 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2007 4K collection:54 Blu-ray collection:328	For starters. If you are pre-wiring the room. Run your data and speaker cable perpendicular to the electrical wiring. Do not staple your cables/wires inside the wall.

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