New Constrution Wiring. (1 Viewer)

[Arjcm72]

Just looking for some opinions of what others have done. Has anyone used "smurf tubing"? I am going to use it for the HDMI running to my projector, but is there a reason to use it for speaker wires?
As of right now, I am planning on using 14/2 monster thx speaker cable. It is cl3 rated, twisted, and low noise. Any other suggestions of speaker wire. Also I am not planning on using a plate Just direct banana plugs through a cut out in the wall. Any reason to use a connection plate in a cabinet or rack system that is hidden? Or plates at the speaker locations?
Thank you for any help or opinions.

 

[Allan Jayne]

(copied from another forum)
Using connection plates is a personal preference.

If you don't or can't solder the connections, there are many more joints that can oxidize over time when you use plates with connections. Namely in-wall wire to jack, outside wire to banana plug, banana plug in jack. (Simply unplugging and replugging once a year keeps this last connection clean. The others really need to be unscrewed and rescrewed every two or three years.)

With connection plates you have more flexibility if you change things around a little; you don't have to know exactly how much wire to have protruding from the wall.

With connection plates you can have inexpensive not so good looking wire inside the wall and shorter better looking and perhaps more expensive wire exposed.

Any kind of wire of the same gauge and material will carry the audio equally well. I feel that 14 gauge copper is good to at least thirty feet (some experts say 20). Stranded wire is suggested for at least the exposed portion(s) as it is not as stiff.

I have connection plates both at speaker locations and equipment location. House wiring (Romex type) dedicated to speaker runs in the walls is soldered to the jacks at the connection plates. These jacks also accept wires without banana plugs so there can be just one mechanical joint per wire at each plate.

 

[SethH]

Skip the monster cable if you haven't purchased already. Instead, check out these three sites for some quality cables at reasonable prices:

1 - Blue Jeans Cable -- Broadcast-Quality Cables at Reasonable Prices
2 - FireFold.com - Burning The Competition - Not Your Wallet | HDMI Cable | Wall Mounts | Patch Panels | Component Video Cables | Keystone Jacks | Cat5E Bulk Cable
3 - HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more!

 

[Arjcm72]

So, if I am running wire over 25 ft should I go up in size to 12 gauge?
What about conduit or smurf tubing? Just for hdmi cable to projector or to all areas? The stuff is pretty cheap and easy to run.
Thank you for your help and input.

 

[Leo Kerr]

realistically, I don't think the Smurf-tube will do much for you. Yes, it's easier to bend than, say EMT conduit, but it might not be easy to pull, given that you have all of those nice corrugations to grab onto things. Mechanically, I don't think the Smurf'll help against anything that might damage the cable while it's in-wall, while EMT might.

Of course, now that I've seen real pros working with bending EMT, up to 4" pipe, and doing some seriously complicated bends, I kind of want to do a conduit project.. although I doubt I have the skill, background, training, or PATIENCE to actually make it work!

As an aside for people who, like me, weren't familiar with the term "Smurf tube," it's similar to fiber-optic "innerduct," except instead of orange, it's Smurf blue - vacuum cleaner hose.

Leo

 

[Arjcm72]

If I am using spray foam insulation do I need tubing? I am guessing yes? I am just more or less thinking about ugrades or replacing problems.
EMI???? What would be my biggest issue?

 

[mylan]

That changes everything, in that case I would say yes to the tubing. You never know when you might want to pull additional cable or replace a faulty one. I tried using that smurf tubing but had diffuculty feeding speaker wire through it due to the corrugations, I would go for a smooth tube if you can find it.