How do I get a speaker wire outside?

[roll - gybe]

Here is my setup:
I have a deck off the main room and kitchen with system #1. I would love to use the same source (although I can synch Squeezeboxes if necessary). There is a window near the audio system. If I could get a wire out the wall, I would be home free; however, doing something ghetto will not fly with the Mrs.

System #2 is in the basement, close to the tubes that run the cabling into the house. I could have a long run that snakes down there and runs off the Squeezebox down there. However, then I would need to control the system with my PDA or computer. Not ideal.

If I could just get that wire out the wall from system #1, I could hook up to my preamp and be all set. Any thoughts?

I am considering putting in a 2-ch box outside the window, and one inside the window. Then jumping them with some flat wire when in use. Still about 65% ghetto, but it would prevent leaks when it is really hot or cold out.

How would a pro approach this?

 

[MDS]

It would depend on the type of wall. If it is an exterior wall that is concrete, you just drill a hole through the concrete and stick a grommet in the hole. That's exactly what the cable installers do when they add a new outlet. Naturally you'll want to use a stud finder that can detect electrical wiring and turn off the power first before you go arbitrarily drilling into the wall.

My house has speaker wire running to the patio but it begins behind the main TV wall and goes up into the attic and over to the patio. If you have an attic and its possible to fish the wire up the wall and over to the deck area that would be a nice clean install with no wires visible.

 

[nick1000000]

If you have stucko on the outside of the house drill the hole from the outside in so you do not blow a huge chunck of stucko off your house drilling out.

Not a pro...I would run the wire in your wall up to the attic. Then you can take the wire outside via a vent in your attic. You can even run it under the overhand on your roof if you have that kind of roof.

 

[roll - gybe]

thanks for the responses guys. here is some more info.

i have wood exterior. and my main room has a catheral ceiling that goes up to the attic. now here is the funny part: the ceiling has a left to right upslope that is basically a wedge shaped cavern in the attic. it's perplexing why they designed it, and I want to remodel it someday, but for now, I am a little stuck. That cavern is not a good place to walk; I will fall right through. My wife would not appreciate me falling through the ceiling in pursuit of a fourth speaker system.

 

[MDS]

So there are no joists under that big cavernous area? If there aren't or they are widely spaced I probably wouldn't risk it either. It's hard enough to step gingerly through the insulation to find a solid joist to step on. I move very slowly and deliberately when I am in my attic.

 

[nick1000000]

Can you clear something up for me? Where do you want to run the speaker wire from? From ______ to outside?

 

[roll - gybe]

ok
inside to outside. haha

seriously- from off my main system in a room around a corner from the exterior area where I would put my outdoor speakers. On the same level of the house. About a 50ft cable run to do it right. (not far). There is a window 10 feet to the left of the system.
The deck actually is out a door 15ft feet behind my left speaker.

so, counterclockwise here. left speaker, corner with window, chimney/first reflection to interior listening, corner with door.

I have hardwood floors, so there is no carpet to work underneath...

 

[nick1000000]

Do you have crown molding with those hardwood floors? This is difficult but you could use a saw (I can't think for the life of me what the name of the saw is but it cuts grooves in wood) and groove out a path for the wire and then drill a hole through your wall and hide that hole with the molding.

If nothing else the molding is good for hiding the exit point where the wire will go outside.

Another idea would be to use the window, if it is a vinal window. It will not look that pretty with the wife. Just drill a hole through the vinal where the sliding interior window is not. That way the window will still shut. When you put a hole in the outside you will need to caulk it for weather proofing.

 

[Rickster71]

Too bad about the attic. Are you sure the attic isn't do-able?
Wire in the attic can then be dropped out of the soffit, and the speakers mounted right there.
If you don't have attic access, try running wires in the basement.
Drill through the lower plate to get outside. To go up from there; run the wires to an outside corner bead, and run them up behind there. Now you can get the wire into the soffit, and run them to where you want the speakers.
Pictures would help.

 

[ChunkyDark]

What about wireless speakers?
If not you might consider just hiring someone who does this sort of thing to drill a couple of holes and run the wire.
Not flaming ya, drilling holes in the side of your house can be scary and expensive if you don't know what your doing.