Unorganized wiring is one major problem we encounter when setting up our home theatre. Having wires running on the floors can pose many dangers. Due to this, people have opted to run the wires through the wall. Even though this eliminates the problem of having the wires unorganized on the floor, you have to run them through a wall the proper way; otherwise, there could be potential issues.
Running HDMI Through Wall the Proper Way. To run HDMI through a wall the proper way, you need to acquire the materials listed in this article and then locate the studs in the wall, choose where to put your gang wall boxes, cut into your wall, place the gang wall boxes, check for damaged cords, then thread your HDMI cords through using fish tape for a clean setup.
How to Run HDMI Through the Wall
A home entertainment system may be set up in various ways, but most share one thing in common: HDMI connections.
HDMI connections are useful for combining audio and video through a single connection, but the wiring can become unkempt, filthy, and unsightly if you have many video devices. One of the best methods to stop this is to hide HDMI cords, hence the need to run the HDMI cable through the wall.
Materials Needed to Run HDMI Through Wall
- A stud finder
- 2 wall plates
- 2 gang wall boxes
- Laser level or chalk line
- HDMI cables
- Fish tape
- Drywall hand saw
- A set of spade bits from 1/4” to 1-1/2”
- A marker
- Electrical tape
- Screwdrivers
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
- Dust masks
Procedure
Study Your Building’s Plan
You can skip this stage if your house blueprints aren’t readily available. See your house’s wiring and construction if you have your building designs. Choose which wall you’ll run the HDMI cable through using these ideas.
To prevent inadvertent harm, drilling or cutting into locations with extensive wiring or pipes should be avoided. Electrical lines may potentially hamper the HDMI transmission. Avoid cutting into sections that support weight since this might compromise your house’s structure.
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Identify Studs
Use your stud finder on the wall once you’ve chosen the area. Note the separation between studs with the stud finder. For this, a pencil can be used. Additionally, pay attention to any readings that deviate from a simple wall. You should avoid any pipes or cables indicated by these anomalous readings.
Look for places to place gang wall boxes
Now, choose where the gang wall boxes will go once you’ve found all the studs and other obstacles. Your setup will have a big impact on this. In general, you should have one gang wall box by the baseboard and another by the wall mount bracket if your TV is attached to the wall.
Cut through the wall
Always remember to put on safety gear. These, at the absolute least, consist of a dust mask, work gloves, and safety glasses. In addition to the dust that typically accumulates behind walls, you will be using power tools, which can produce much dust.
After donning your safety gear:
- Grab the gang wall boxes and use a marker to outline their forms on the wall.
- Keep the outlines parallel to one another and as level as you can. You can use a laser level or a chalk line to mark this area.
- Use your drywall hand saw to cut out the holes after marking the two boxes on the wall.
Fit the Wall Gang boxes
After that, take your gang wall boxes and insert them into the openings in your wall that you just made. You might need to use the drywall hand saw to remove more of the wall if they don’t fit the first time. If a larger hole must be cut, ensure to do it gradually. Cutting a larger hole is simpler than filling up the empty area.
Check the cables for any damage
You should check your HDMI cables for damage before running them through the wall. You do not want to utilize any HDMI cables that are frayed or otherwise damaged for your safety. If the HDMI cable is located next to an electrical wire, the absence of insulation might become harmful.
Additionally, before running your HDMI cables through the wall, test them to ensure they are in working order to save time and effort. Finally, confirm that your HDMI is wall rated to ensure your setup is as secure as possible. It must have “CL2” or “CL3” stamped on it.
Run the cable through the wall
It’s time to insert your HDMI cable into the wall. You can run a single cable or an entire bundle if you have several video devices. Find the input and output ends of the HDMI optical cables first. Once it reaches the lower gang wall box, hang your fish tape from the higher gang wall box.
Put a cable or cables on the fish tape. If you’re running many wires, bundle them tightly to prevent snagging on interior wall elements. Once the cable(s) have passed through the higher gang wall box, raise the fish tape. Tighten the fasteners on the gang wall boxes with a screwdriver.
Pull the cable ends through the upper and lower wall plates using the wall plates as support. Tighten the screws to secure the wall plates to the gang wall boxes. And voilà! You’re finished!
What If My Wall is a Brick Wall?
If your wall is made of bricks, you must take out one brick to make room for your HDMI wire. Once the HDMI cable has been inserted, reinstall the brick and some mortar to provide access to the cable. As long as the HDMI cable is securely insulated and maintained one to six inches away from any electrical equipment, it is not risky to pass through a wall.
How to Avoid Electromagnetic Interference After Running Cable Through Wall
Keep your HDMI cables away from lighting fixtures known to cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) to prevent EMI. Additionally, ensure wires have excellent insulation to block EMI.
Lastly, ensure not to run the HDMI cable too close to any power lines while wiring it through your wall. The minimal distance might be one inch if both wires are sufficiently insulated, but six inches is the best distance.
Is It Safe To Run HDMI Cables Through Walls?
Several distinct factors will ultimately determine if something is harmful or not. Additionally, depending on how wires are routed through the wall, it can violate the NEC’s rules (national electric code).
It’s safe to run an HDMI cable through a wall if you take the necessary safety measures. Due to its low voltage, HDMI cables may be placed in confined, combustible spaces, such as behind a wooden wall, without risk.
This might be risky only if an electrical line and an HDMI cable made unprotected contact. A fire may start if the touch is sufficiently flammable. Choose well-insulated cables and keep the HDMI cable and any electrical wires at least one to six inches apart to prevent this.
Final Thoughts
If the procedure is tedious for you, you may have to spend some money on the services of an electrical technician to do this for you. If you are doing it yourself, follow the guidelines in this article. Wear personal protective equipment at all times to prevent any physical harm.
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