A disorganized cabling setup for your home audiovisual (A/V) system can create dangerous risks, such as damage to connected devices, physical injuries, or fires due to faulty wiring.
A 2022 report by the National Fire Protection Association stated that electrical failures were the second leading cause of house fires, resulting in $1.5 billion in direct property damage each year.
Having good home A/V cable management can help you minimize these risks.
If you have plenty of wires tangled around your home A/V system, having the basic knowledge of running these cables can save you a ton of trouble.
Does your home A/V system connect to the internet? This page has a wide selection of secure and reliable cloud-based equipment to keep your home network safe. Consider including these devices when managing your in-wall cabling.
How do you run cables in the walls? If you want to give your cables a neat look, where should you route them? How do you use wire ties, tacks, or raceways?
This article discusses helpful tips for setting up your in-wall wiring for your home A/V system and why proper cable management is essential. Read on to learn more about basic in-wall cabling and other cable management tips.
Importance of Having a Proper Home A/V Cable Management
Having multiple wires and cables connected to different devices can cause these wires to get tangled together easily. Without proper cable management, this messy arrangement can impact the safety and accessibility of your devices and wires at home.
Maintaining the proper management of cables and wires is also essential to ensure you can easily access and move the connected devices or systems.
Additionally, appearance is important to create a positive impression of your home to visitors. A proper cable management setup assures that your wires and cables are presentable or at least out of sight.
Proper cabling and wiring may also provide subtle benefits, such as improving your overall mood and comfort at home.
More importantly, proper cabling minimizes your risk of tripping over wires or causing devices to fall. Thus, you can prevent injuries, equipment damage, or even fires.
The Basics of Running Cables
When running A/V cables, be sure not to run them near power cables since the interference can affect the picture or sound.
In case you cannot keep the A/V and power cables separate, place them a few inches apart and, if they meet, you should cross them at right angles to minimize the interference.
When buying cables, you may be tempted to choose the shortest workable lengths to save money and avoid excess wiring on the floor.
However, pulling on cables too tight can stretch the center conductor, damaging the wire and affecting your A/V system’s performance.
Instead, if you have extra wire, you should consider routing them neatly around corners, over doors, or inside walls. This way, the wires do not have to lie on the floor.
Moreover, you should avoid pinching the cable jacket or changing the wire’s round shape, such as when forming sharp bends on the cable when installing them around a corner. Furthermore, do not cinch cables too tightly with wire tacks or ties.
Wire Ties and Tacks
Buy sturdy wire clamps or plastic wire ties for cable management so that they do not break easily.
When you have done your in-wall cabling, bundle your cables using the wire ties starting at one end of your run. Add a wire tie every three to four feet, and snip the excess plastic off the wire ties for a neat look.
When using wire tacks, look for ones that match the cable’s shape and size so that you do not accidentally pinch the cable and impair your A/V system’s performance.
For example, wire tacks suitable for flat speaker wires may not be appropriate for the round and bulky subwoofer cables.
Furthermore, when hammering the tacks, be careful not to pierce the cable.
Raceways
Raceways are enclosed conduits that provide a pathway for wires or cables. You can attach raceways to your wall or molding to hide cables, such as when connecting wall-mounted speakers without making the wires visible.
When buying raceways, look for ones with enough space to accommodate all the cables you wish to run through.
Other Methods
If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may consider tucking your cables along the carpet’s edge as a quick fix. While this option may not be appropriate for large cables or cable bundles, it is convenient for hiding one or more unsightly wires.
Do not jam the wires into corners. The right angles can pinch the conductor inside the wire and negatively affect performance. Instead, make the wires curve gradually around corners.
You can also use furniture or other equipment to strategically hide any visible cables that exit the wall, baseboard, or carpet.
Tips for Managing A/V Cables at Home
Consider the following tips when installing cables inside the walls or floors in your home:
- Route cables behind moldings and door jambs. Doing so can provide a neat, custom-install look since these structures provide convenient hiding places for your cables
- Use moldings and door jambs, these can save on drywall repair costs
- Consider using UL-rated cables labeled CL2 or CL3
The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) is a certification company approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal U.S. agency.
CL2 cables are for general purpose cable routing and are rated to carry up to 150 volts (V). On the other hand, CL3 is rated to have a 300V capacity.
- Check your building’s structure and fire code and purchase cables accordingly.
For routing cables behind the wall’s baseboard or molding, do the following:
- Remove the baseboard carefully using a crowbar or a similar tool
- Cut a channel into the part of the wall hidden by the baseboard
- Fish your wire through the newly-cut channel
- Protect the wire by installing nail plates on each wall stud
- Reinstall the baseboard or molding. The wire should no longer be visible.
If you prefer running the wire behind a doorway side post or door jamb, you can do the following:
- Carefully remove the framing using a chisel, putty knife, or small crowbar
- Run the wire between the jamb and door frame. Chisel out the channels for the wire in the frame if necessary to prevent pinching or compression after you replace the molding
- Reattach the framing, ensuring that you do not damage the cables
For additional resources and professional guidance on in-wall wiring for your home A/V system, consider consulting experts at AudioVideoElectric for comprehensive insights and solutions.
Reference
1. Home Electrical Fires
https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Electrical/Electrical
