Wall Mounting LCD and Wire Chasing

[wizer]

Anyone ever done this?

I have treated the 'family' ( ) to a new Toshiba 42X3030DB LCD TV and i'd like to chase all the wires into the wall while we're gutting the place. I've never been up on my AV so i'm not absolutely sure how to go about it. I think i'm going to run all the possible wires i'll need into the wall through conduit. Take it below the floor, then along to a corner of the room where I can house all the boxes (Sky, Sky+, DVD, AMP). Not sure what i'll do about the speakers. I do own a bose surround sound system (san the woofer which I thought was ugle so gave it away). Should I chase wires in for the speakers whilst I am doing it? Is there a certain way to set this up?

I'm also going to do this in the bedroom, very much in the same way, without the speakers.

I have posted this over at AVforums, but I thought i'd see if anyone here had any tips they could give me.

 

[TonyW]

Did a similar job with a Pioneer plasma a couple of years ago.

I think that chasing all connections into the wall is generally a good idea (unless you are sure you will never use a connection) although the downside is a larger section channel required. I used plastic trunking to run cables then plastered over top.
I also chased the wires in the same way for the speakers - my view being that it made for a much neater solution with no wires showing (SWMBO was also thankful).

It is also generally recommended to run power cable separated from signal cables due to interference potential. In my case did not have much of a choice and had to run together - cannot say I could see any difference when testing prior to install (perhaps I was lucky!)

An alternative may be to consider making a false wall to house all the wiring. I have seen this done using 2x1 battens and plasterboard.

I am sure you will already have thought about this but.. Do check for power cables and gas pipes in your chosen location. I found an unexpected gas pipe on my install and consequently had to buy a rather expensive extension lead for the plasma to media box connection.

Hope you found something of use here

Cheers
Tony

 

[wizer]

thanks Tony, did not know about the power cable thing. This sort of thing needs a lot of planning to get it right first time. False wall not really an option as the room is a bit narrow, hence the excuse for a flatscreen.

 

[beech1948]

Hi,
One approach I've used in an old house was to replace the skirting (which was 8" tall and about 2" thick) with a hollow, built up from several mouldings skirting which had a 1" gap behind it. Fixed it to a batten behind it on the floor and horizontal batten just below the top at about every 3 ft. Looked smashing.

The cables for AV, speakers and phone were then run around the rooms perimeter. Wall was chased up from the skirting for the LCD TV etc.

regards
Alan

 

[devonwoody]

Wizer put a TV in the position to be used and confirm that you like the position without downside, or its a lot of work to put up the other end of the room. (remember reflections from a window can be a nuisance in daytime)

 

[woodshavings]

My son recently fitted a lcd tv, amplifier, speakers, sat receiver etc.
The tv was fitted to an outside wall so he drilled through and dropped the cables down the cavity and then picked them up at skirting level.
The skirting was routed at the back and the cables concealed and run through to the Amp etc.
He kept the power cable separate from the other cables.
Works a treat, not a cable in sight!!
Of course, if you have cavity insulation, this will not work. Also, "fishing" for the wire can be difficult but we used a string with a thin steel chain on the end dangled down from the top hole and picked up by a stick with a magnet attached at the bottom hole.
HTH

 

[Racers]

Hi,

A tip I picked up years ago it to use a steel tape measure when fishing for cables. You can push a loop in to the cavity and get it to spread out each side of the hole it naturally stays up against the sides of the cavity then drop your fish or cable down and then pull the tape back, works a treat.

Pete