Concealing TV cables in wall

[Noob2013]

Hi all

What's everyone's preferred method for concealing cables in the wall for mounted TV.?

I am going to install a double socket, 2 x hdmi and 1 x aerial for several TVs to be mounted on the wall.

Previously I used PVC conduit but when an HDMI cable failed, it was a nightmare pulling a new one in as there were 2 bends.

Obviously the socket is not a problem, just the aerial and HDMIs.

Conduit, trunking?

Ideals appreciated

 

[Marvo]

Trunking isn't much use in the wall, maybe just use larger conduit if the HDMI cables are a tight squeeze.

 

[shanky887614]

use waste pipe, then use a fastfix box with one of the front plates with a brush on

go for the biggest pipe you can in the wall

 

[Noob2013]

use waste pipe, then use a fastfix box with one of the front plates with a brush on

go for the biggest pipe you can in the wall

Good idea.

Could even glue 90 degree bends on them.

Even good for brick walls chased in?

 

[shanky887614]

Good idea.

Could even glue 90 degree bends on them.

Even good for brick walls chased in?

yes, it has the benerfit of being smooth wall as well.

forget the glue and go push fit though, much easier

 

[NDG Elecs]

use waste pipe, then use a fastfix box with one of the front plates with a brush on

go for the biggest pipe you can in the wall

Have done exactly the same and is a good solution. There is also room to bring new cables in this way in the future. I would run the power cable to the socket externally to the conduit/waste though.

 

[bmines67]

What about using CAT5E/CAT6 cables and using HDMI converters? I use them for all my new houses.Fit a patch panel and have CAT5E to all Television points, Local source points and Data/Phone points. Any point can then be patched as a Data point, phone point, HDMI point etc. They will easily fit up a conduit, you can cut the to whatever size you require and they dont damage as easily as the HDMI's

 

[Dave OCD]

And if chasing a waste pipe into a brick wall you'll be pushing it with the structural integrity, check building regs for maximum depth of chases etc.

 

[Noob2013]

What about using CAT5E/CAT6 cables and using HDMI converters? I use them for all my new houses.Fit a patch panel and have CAT5E to all Television points, Local source points and Data/Phone points. Any point can then be patched as a Data point, phone point, HDMI point etc. They will easily fit up a conduit, you can cut the to whatever size you require and they dont damage as easily as the HDMI's

Sounds good!

Do you have a link to the products required please?

 

[bmines67]

Not the ones i use, i buy from a local electronics shop but something like this should do.
Neet® - HDMI Extender over / Cat5e / Cat6: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

[Noob2013]

Thanks I have seen the same type before.

Do you still use these even if for example the sky box is low level on a unit next to the wall mounted tv?

 

[bmines67]

Yes i do. my usual set up in that situation is 3 cat 5's from patch panel to t.v. point (1 for ethernet on smart tv, 2 spare for central distribution) 3 cat 5's from patch panel to local source point (for ethernet, phone or central HDMI distribution) and 1 cat 5 from tv direct to local source point to link the tv and sky box.

Generally with my installs the sky box is located in the patch panel, so is the t.v. distribution unit, satellite mutiswitch, broadband router, main telephone point, central blu-ray player and cctv system. This allows for easy distribution throughout the house. I mostly do 1 off homes in the countryside though.

 

[Noob2013]

Ideal.

Do you position the patch panel in the loft?

 

[bmines67]

I try not to position in the loft if possible. I prefer to use a floor to ceiling cupboard in the utility room. In this i put my Consumer Unit, Fire Alarm panel, Burglar Alarm Panel and Patch panel and have everything centralised and easily accessible

 

[Noob2013]

Makes sense.

What sort of patch panel do you use and how is it all linked?

 

[shanky887614]

Makes sense.

What sort of patch panel do you use and how is it all linked?

it will be linked with patch leads aka short cat5/6 leads

personally i would seperate inputs and outputs and clearly lable them so it makes it easier in the future

 

[Noob2013]

I've been looking online and a lot of sites reckon patch panels can cause problems due to a slight voltage drop.

Can one sky box be linked to several TVs? If so, how do you change channel from each room?

 

[shanky887614]

I've been looking online and a lot of sites reckon patch panels can cause problems due to a slight voltage drop.

Can one sky box be linked to several TVs? If so, how do you change channel from each room?

i believe there is a product called the magic eye but it will change the channal on all the tv's.

if you want to link them you need a splitter

 

[Noob2013]

Ok thanks will look into it