Connections to install for wall jacks? Allow for future expansion...

[LWeasel]

Looking to use the leviton or carlon recessed electrical box with quick ports for future updates. Just curious if I've covered my basses for what to install. There will be two main boxes, one lower behind cabinet for power and speaker/video outputs and one behind wall mount TV for power and Audi/video hook up.

TV Mount: dual outlet with 2 gang mount to install quick ports for: 1 HDMI, 1 Ethernet (can install other quick ports for future connection designs or additions)

Cabinet mount: 4 gang box with dual outlet, 7.1 posts for speaker outputs from receiver, 1 HDMI to TV, 2 Ethernet, 2 Coax, with room for expansion.

Wall will be spray foamed so I plan to run conduit between the upper and lower wall boxes to allow ez access for wires/cables and to allow for future upgrades etc. I also plan to run conduit runs on left and right side of speaker wall plate to allow for easier replacement of speaker wire to the ceiling mounted speakers...never know what may come out down the road for new wiring etc. or should something happen to any wires... I figured I would run 14GA CL4 wires to each speaker in the ceiling (4total) should one pair fail i would have a back up pair...or if I were to use bi-wiring etc.

Can you guys recommend any other types of connections or amount of ports? I run all component HDMI into receiver and one HDMI out to TV. Figured one Ethernet for TV with the newer sets having Internet capabilities...

Components that I currently use are:
Playstation 3 (games & movies) = HDMI
Comcast DVR = HDMI
Apple TV = HDMI

Components all route through my Onkyo HT-S7500 then through HDMI Out to the TV. I currently use wifi for the PS3 and appleTV connection as far as Internet goes.

Just trying to cover all my bases and make sure I prep for future expansion/upgrades.

 

[big2bird]

Use the largest conduit you can stuff in there. 1", 2x1" is better, 1 1/4" is good.

 

[markw]

As for expansion/upgrades, keep in mind that HDMI wasn't even on the horizon twelve years ago. It's hard to predict the future.

Run fat conduit so you can pull new wires as future whims dictate.

 

[ImcLoud]

Heres what I use and havent had any issues as of yet, pretty future proof...

behind the tv... Arlington ARLTVB712 Recessed Steel TV Box (ARLTVB712) from Solid Signal

at the equipment rack...
Arlington TVB613-1 Recessed TV Outlet Box with Paintable Trim Plate, White, 4-Gang - Amazon.com and install 1 of these for the speakers {even though I only run 5.1 rite now, just incase I ever want to go 7.2 I ran the wires and kept them in the wall behind the sheet rock}
Amazon.com : Pyle Home PHIW71 7.1 Home Theater 14 Post Binding/Banana Plug with Dual RCA Subwoofer Posts Wall Plate (White) : Electronics
2 of these Amazon.com: Vanco 120614X Custom Two-Piece Bulk Cable Wall Plate (Single, White): Electronics one side gets piped rite to the tv and the other to the utility room in the basement...

then for power to the equipment rack {I keep them separate} I run one of these... Amazon.com: Vanco TVB2GW Recessed Dual Gang Indoor InBox for Plasma and LCD Televisions: Electronics , on one side I run the std 110v double recept and the other side I run a single 220v {the small 15a plug with the 1 sideways prong} but that is just because I run 220 to some of my amps...


also I this looks interesting but never used one, I use the above unit behind the tv Amazon.com: Datacomm 45-0031-WH Recessed Low Voltage Media Plate with Duplex Receptacle, White: Electronics


As far as conduit, I used the thin pvc they use on central vac systems {its huge} to go to the tv, then I used 3/4 to go to the utility room which I regretted when I had to run an HDMI cable from the sureillance box to the avr, I figured that conduit would only need an ethernet and a coax at the most, but nope I started wiring the camera system and then had to fight the hdmi all the way to the avr, if I put something bigger it would have saved me 3 hours and a lot of swearing, the head on the hdmi plug is big to push through small pipe... Also dont forget your string, I run a few lengths of srong string through the conduit and tie them in the boxes for later... This stuff changes all to often..

When the inspector seen what we did for the HT setup he said it was bar for the most extravagant he ever seen, but I have seen much nicer, a freind of mine has a built in power regulator filter unit at his rack that cost $1000 then he recessed his TV in the ceiling with one of them tv lifts, and all the wiring is in his attic where the tv hides when not in use... Pretty sick... He was trying to figure out how to make the speakers be disappear too, his equipment is all in a closet behind the HT...

One more thing to remember, {I learned the hard way} mark up your tv bracket first, and buy a bracket that does a large array of sizes, like 24-60 depending on what size screen you are using} I had to move mine because we couldn't get the tv centered, had to pay the plaster to come back and repaint the entire wall because sherwin williams decided to discontinue the line we used for that room after a couple months and the touch up didnt match, not to mention I had to hear my wife complain about dust after the house was built... To this day she swears the house gets more dusty because we opened that wall back up, even though its plaster and there is no sanding involved...

 

[big2bird]

Heres what I use and havent had any issues as of yet, pretty future proof...

behind the tv... Arlington ARLTVB712 Recessed Steel TV Box (ARLTVB712) from Solid Signal

at the equipment rack...
Arlington TVB613-1 Recessed TV Outlet Box with Paintable Trim Plate, White, 4-Gang - Amazon.com and install 1 of these for the speakers {even though I only run 5.1 rite now, just incase I ever want to go 7.2 I ran the wires and kept them in the wall behind the sheet rock}
Amazon.com : Pyle Home PHIW71 7.1 Home Theater 14 Post Binding/Banana Plug with Dual RCA Subwoofer Posts Wall Plate (White) : Electronics
2 of these Amazon.com: Vanco 120614X Custom Two-Piece Bulk Cable Wall Plate (Single, White): Electronics one side gets piped rite to the tv and the other to the utility room in the basement...

then for power to the equipment rack {I keep them separate} I run one of these... Amazon.com: Vanco TVB2GW Recessed Dual Gang Indoor InBox for Plasma and LCD Televisions: Electronics , on one side I run the std 110v double recept and the other side I run a single 220v {the small 15a plug with the 1 sideways prong} but that is just because I run 220 to some of my amps...


also I this looks interesting but never used one, I use the above unit behind the tv Amazon.com: Datacomm 45-0031-WH Recessed Low Voltage Media Plate with Duplex Receptacle, White: Electronics

I like that idea. WHY add jacks? Just pull the cables. Jacks just add another weak/failure point. Completely flexible.

 

[ImcLoud]

I like that idea. WHY add jacks? Just pull the cables. Jacks just add another weak/failure point. Completely flexible.

Exactly plus jacks change, the only ones I use are speaker and sub woofer rca, which I don't even use the sub rca's I ended up just running it through a whole I drilled in the plate and directly to the avr, it was long enough and I figured why add another cable and 2 connections... It looks just as neat, and no one sees it anyway its behind the rack and behind the tv...

 

[dhaliwal23]

Hey sorry for "stealing" your thread but I'm new here and I cant find out how to create a thread, can someone help me?

 

[LWeasel]

Thanks so much lmcLoud! Outstanding reply, thank you tremendously!

I will certainly look into those wire pull plates with the outlet built in... I also forgot about running a line to where my surveillance DVR will be so i have a feed to the TV.

 

[ImcLoud]

Thanks so much lmcLoud! Outstanding reply, thank you tremendously!

I will certainly look into those wire pull plates with the outlet built in... I also forgot about running a line to where my surveillance DVR will be so i have a feed to the TV.

You are welcome, when I built my house I thought I thought of everything, but it is impossible, you will forget something, especially when doing a lot of little non sence things like the speakers, whole house audio, automated doors, gates, thermostats, fireplaces, and lights, central vac, surveillance systems, weather station, ect ect ect, our house has 3 parlors, 5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 offices, a gym, lofts, 24ft ceilings, 4 porches, and on and on, its hard to remember everything... Im still working on it... my wife has me putting in a new wet bar in the kitchen off of one of our porches, so by the time the granite guy matches our counters and we find a long narrow ss sink and faucet, and then a fan for over it and match the time on the back splash, one little sink is thousands of dollars and 30 hours of my time...

Good luck with everything..

 

[dhaliwal23]

You are welcome, when I built my house I thought I thought of everything, but it is impossible, you will forget something, especially when doing a lot of little non sence things like the speakers, whole house audio, automated doors, gates, thermostats, fireplaces, and lights, central vac, surveillance systems, weather station, ect ect ect, our house has 3 parlors, 5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 2 offices, a gym, lofts, 24ft ceilings, 4 porches, and on and on, its hard to remember everything... Im still working on it... my wife has me putting in a new wet bar in the kitchen off of one of our porches, so by the time the granite guy matches our counters and we find a long narrow ss sink and faucet, and then a fan for over it and match the time on the back splash, one little sink is thousands of dollars and 30 hours of my time...

Good luck with everything..

Hey, could you tell me how to make a thread? New on this forum