Component Video in 1" Conduit

[ashaddy]

Last year I built my home and planned for a Plasma TV above the fireplace. At that time, I was more of a novice than I am now and regretfully installed a single one inch conduit between the AV cabinet and a spot above my fireplace. I wish I would have installed two 2" conduits, but I can't change that now. The conduit run is roughly 25 feet. I purchased SonicWave's 25 foot component video interconnect from Impact Acoustics. Upon arrival I noticed the three individual cables making up the interconnect should fit inside a 1" conduit, but the thick plastic piece at either end stopping the three individual cables from splitting apart is wider than 1". I have two questions for the forum:

1. Can I remove the plastic piece from each end or does this serve another function other than to hold the three cables together and stop further splitting?
2. Does anyone have a suggestion for a quality component interconnect that will fit inside a 1" conduit?

Ideally I would like to fit 1 component interconnect and 1 HDMI interconnect in the same 1 inch pipe. I may be asking for too much, but if anyone can give insight I would appreciate it.

Here is the system I am installing in case you have other ideas:

Monitor: Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK
A/V Receiver: Yamaha RX-V800 (will be upgraded to an HDMI compatible receiver sometime in the future)
DVD: Denon 2910
HD Cable: Motorola Mark IV
DVR: TiVo R2400A
Front: Boston Acoustics VRB
Center: Boston Acoustics VRC
Surround: Boston Acoustics VRX
Sub: Definitive Technology SuperCube II

 

[Snap]

yes you should be able to remove that plastic. Just try not to cut the cable.

Compression conectors and Belden Mini rg59 is the heat. 3 cables in one case. No ends so it is easy to install. Just strip it and install some compression conectors at the ends and make your own RCA cables. You will be able to get 2 inside a 1 inch pipe, possiblly 3 if you use wire lube! That is if you use the mini belden cable. I will see if I can find a link for what I am talking about.

The web site will not let me copy the link to what I want but here is the part number.
Part Number: 1520A Coax - Bundled RGB Coaxial Cable Miniature Type
Here is the link:
http://bwccat.belden.com/ecat/jsp/Index.jsp?&P1=undefined&P2=undefined&P3=undefined&P4=undefined&P5=undefined&P6=undefined

I am not sure if you can get the HDMI cable. I would pull the HDMI the same time that you pull the mini Belden. That I am 99% sure is the only cable that you are going to be able to get into a 1 inch pipe. Still not sure that you are going to be able to get the HDMI cable in there with the Mini Belden, but it is the only shot that I can think of.

Good luck!

 

[ashaddy]

Thank you for this information.

I'm not familiar with compression connectors. I am assuming this is somthing a novice can install? Do they make BNC terminations in addition to the RCA?

 

[Snap]

heck ya! and they are EASY! RG59 stipper 7 bucks. Another 10 to 20 on a cheap compression tool. 10 bucks on a bag of fittings, and wam make your own cables.

It is pretty much the only way to go for custom installs in my book. Plus you save a bunch of money building your own cables that way.

But that is just my 2 cents.

enjoy and have fun!

PS: If you get BNC connections, you will need a better compression tool. One that is capable of doing both RCA, F, and BNC. Cheap ones do not do so well on the BNC. They bend the ends and warp them. At least the cheap O that I started out with did.

 

[ashaddy]

Great information, Snap, thank you.

I have been doing some more reading (always a dangerous thing) and am curious how coax gauge might affect HD quality over a 25 foot run.

I noticed the gauge on the Belden mini coax is 30. The Belden 7710 is 18 and all three cables fit into a 3/4" jacket. This might work too, but I would only consider it if image quality is improved. Thanks again for any advice you can give.

 

[ELK]

Making your own cables for an install is really easy. I agree with Snap, though I would use a different cable. I would use the Liberty Mini 6 part number
RGB6C/22/2/P-CL2/CM. This cable has 6 mini 26 awg coaxial cables and 2 individually shielded 22/2 conductors. With this one cable you can route one component one S/Video and one composite or different combination’s. You also have the ability with this cable to run either audio or control via RS232 or Ir.

You could also get 2 of these through the conduit though make sure you use a wire lube to ease the cable through the conduit.

As to the gauge of the cable you will be fine up to 75 feet without placing a DA into the mix.

Good Luck

 

[Snap]

It may or may not have a visable dif. The problem is if you use the bigger cable you are alost for sure not going to be able to get an HDMI cable in there as well. But if you pull the mini Belden and the HDMI at the same time you can get it in there I am almost positive of that. Kind of going to have to make a desision as to what you really want.

If you want component and HDMI, mini Belden and HDMI is what you are going to have to pull. If you want to go with just component go with the other stuff. I have not used the mini Belden on runs over 20 feet. I have used RG59 single cables that far. (Only cause I did not have any Mini Belden in the truck) So I pulled 7 runs of the RG59 to the TV. (Yes 7 cables is what I pulled, I can explain why if some one wants to know) There is another set of mini Belden that is 26 AWG, there is also the ones that are 30AWG. Reglar RG 59 that I used in the 20 foot run was 25 AWG. So it was only 1 AWG diff.

Are you for sure that you are going to pull 25 feet? Fish a string or speaker wire through, then pull it out and measure. You will be suprised at how much cable you may or may not need.

Have fun!