hiding wires

[bruin62]

I was going to get all my speaker wires run under my floor in my crawl space then up through the floor were my speakers are. my question is, is there a neat way of doing this like running the wire to like a plate you can plug the speaker into then the wire from under the floor plugs into? if there is a plate like this does anyone have a pic of this kinda plate? I can send a pic of my room if it will help.

 

[Adam]

Yep, there are definitely plates for that.

As a starting point, I'd suggest checking out the selection of wall plates at Parts Express at this link here. I've shown an example of just one type of those below.

Is that the sort of thing that you were wanting?

 

[m_vanmeter]

another source of connector plates
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042503&p_id=3324&seq=1&format=2

another simple option is 1/4" stereo phone plugs on the speaker wire and the wire coming up through the floor connects to a simple 1/4" stereo phono jack in a 3/8" hole in the floor.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=092-356
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=092-128

 

[bruin62]

thanks for the link those will work

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Home Depot and Lowes have them.

thanks for the link those will work

 

[Exit]

Here is a tip on how to locate the point where you drill up the center of the wall to run your speaker wires to the speakers. It works for carpeted floors best. For other floors it would leave a possibly visible hole which you would need to fill.

Find the space on the wall where you want to put a speaker and put a masking tape marker. Locate the position if you drop straight down to the floor and put a masking tape marker on the baseboard. Use a sonic stud-finder to see if you have any horizontal blocks such as heating/cooling ducts or firebreaks in the path the wire will run. If clear, measure one inch out from the wall (not baseboard) at the floor and pound a good size nail through the floor. Go to the crawl space and locate the nail you just put in the carpet. From the crawl space nail, measure in 2.75 inches towards the wall and drill up. That should put you in the center of the stud wall. For the hole I usually use about a one-inch diameter hole.

Do the same thing for the other speaker in the set. If there are no blocks, then you should be able to locate the speakers symmetrically. Drill holes for the wire feed at the speakers. Measure out the length of wire you need and start feeding it down through the speaker wire holes. Go into the crawl space and catch the wire with a unbent coat hanger with a hook bent into it. Run the wires to the receiver and you are done. You might want to hold the wires up with big hammer style staples taking care not to staple through the wires.

 

[Tizeye]

As a variation of that, for those whose house has no crawl space - i.e. built on slab - or upstairs installation or internal obstacles such as fireblocks etc, and wanting to hide wires, there are two approaches. One is external with burial along foundation inside conduit, rising at re-entry points. Obviously has to be along outside walls, but may be a method of handling a doorway in the intended path of an internal installation. Then use internal technique to reach interior wall destination.

Internal lower installation, remove the baseboards as there is usually sufficient room to place wire between flooring and drywall. For risers to wall plate destinations, remove enough drywall (approx 2") to gain access to the interior wallspace. (With baseboard removed, also a good time to paint the wall as no masking rquired) Reinstall new baseboard which hides everything.

Also internal, and assumes attic access plus no internal wall obstacles, rout up through the wall plate opening, and back down at destination. Will have to drill a hole from the attic into the stud wallspace for wire routing. Use the method discussed in crawlspace post - driving nail through ceiling instread of floor to use as a marker to establish the drill point.

 

[bruin62]

well I finally finished hiding all my wires under the floor, even the two sub cables are under there.what I ended up doing was putting a plate on the floor so the wire plug into from underneath then from the speaker a short wire plugs into that. it sure makes a differance not having miles of wire an cable running on the floor

 

[hostchecker]

Thanks that helps me a lot