New HT installation - RG-6/U for all connections?

[Bako-Dan]

I'm installing a home theater system for my father-in-law at a home we are currently remodeling. We have decided to locate a 50" plasma screen HDTV on the fireplace in the living room. To accomplish this, I took a hammer drill and a cold chisel and removed half a row of bricks in order to run a 1" conduit to bring the cabling to the TV.

My plan is to run 5 RG-6/U coaxial cables (R, G, B, R/L audio), 3-12AWG conductors for electrical (H, N, G), and a 12AWG speaker wire for the center channel through the conduit. The run from the A/V cabinet to the TV is approximately 50 to 60 feet through the conduit.

After reading "Component Video Cables - The Definitive Guide" and several posts on this forum concerning component cabling, I think I'm comfortable with making my own component cables out of the RG-6 coax and using compression-type RCA connections such as the Leviton 40985 compression RCA connectors (Leviton)

I'm concerned about EMI interference from running the electrical along with the RG-6 coax cables. I bought some Carol C5920 quad-shield (2 layers of 90% aluminum braided shield plus 2 layers of 100% flexfoil shielding) "studio grade" coax cable at Home Depot to make the component cables out of. I'm hoping the quad shielding is sufficient to prevent any interference.

Cost is also an issue here. I spent $140 for 500' of the quad shielded RG-6 cable. Am I going overboard here? Was standard RG-6 cable sufficient for my needs? I'm not looking for a flawless picture - just a really good one.

Any suggestions? Also, does anyone have a source for cheaper RCA compression connectors? The Leviton's are $5 a piece at smarthome.com. I haven't been able to find them anywhere else.

 

[jaxvon]

I'd strongly advise you to run your electrical in a separate conduit. You could probably get away with the speaker wire and the video together, but the electrical is a no-no.

 

[Bako-Dan]

I'd strongly advise you to run your electrical in a separate conduit. You could probably get away with the speaker wire and the video together, but the electrical is a no-no.

The electrical will have to run in the same conduit as the signal wiring for about 2 feet where the conduit goes behind the fireplace. After those 2 feet, I'll split the electrical into a separate conduit. But for those 2 feet, I have no choice.

 

[jaxvon]

It might not be as big of a deal if it's the video, but if you get the electrical near the speaker cables, you're asking to get 60Hz hum in your speakers. If this is what you must do, then so be it. Too bad though.

 

[BMXTRIX]

That much coax through 1 piece of 1" conduit along with electrical and speaker wire? That would be my first and biggest concern. Followed immediately by interference you will get by having low voltage running that close to high voltage.

The bottom line answer, is that quad shield is not only fine, it may not be enough in that situation to give you as clean of an image as you should get. I am more worried about your center channel audio though.

Why the 2 runs of coax for audio though? Are you using the speakers inside the plasma?

 

[Bako-Dan]

That much coax through 1 piece of 1" conduit along with electrical and speaker wire? That would be my first and biggest concern. Followed immediately by interference you will get by having low voltage running that close to high voltage.

The bottom line answer, is that quad shield is not only fine, it may not be enough in that situation to give you as clean of an image as you should get. I am more worried about your center channel audio though.

Why the 2 runs of coax for audio though? Are you using the speakers inside the plasma?

I'm running the 2 extra coax cables for audio to allow the speakers on the plasma to be used if anyone wants to watch tv without the surround system on. My wife really doesn't like watching regular TV while listening through the surround system, so I'm leaving that option available.

I guess with all the concern from you guys, I'll have to bust the channel open again through the brick and run a second conduit for the electrical. The fireplace hasn't been resurfaced yet, so it shouldn't be a really big deal - just more work for me! I'd rather get it right now than take a chance on it being screwed up later.

 

[JohnA]

You may want to up the size to 1-1/2 for all those lines...that will be a very tight fit....and as everyone else said run the electrical in a different conduit...