How to wire an addition for HDTV

[welsh3]

I am building an addition that will have a family room with a home theater in it. The receiver and other equipment will be in a closet about 25 feet from the 50" plasma display.

I am planning on running both HDMI and component cable from the closet to the location of the plasma during construction so that I can use whichever one produces the best picture for my combination of display and set top box or cablecard.

To keep the option of using cablecard rather than a set top box do I need to run any additional cable from the plasma to the A/V closet? It seems to me that if the plasma has the cablecard on a wall 25 feet from the receiver and TIVO, there would have to be some connection from the plasma carrying the decoded signal back to the TIVO, etc.

If you were building an addition and wanted to future-proof it by adding all possibly necessary cables between the plasma and the A/V closet what would you put in?

Thanks very much.

[scottb8888]

I never build anything without OVERSIZING conduit to locations that MAY need it. I have been in the situation many times where I have told myself that I could never need another wire to a certain location. Every time I prove myself wrong. Conduit (extra large) is the only way to ensure that you can add another wire!

[kbp]

Good thinking. You might want to consider running one or more large PVC conduits instead of the wiring. It could be cheaper than running a bunch of expensive cabling that you may never use and it really adds to your future-proofing capability.

[kbp]

Cross-posting....great minds think alike, I guess. :)

[thedataman]

I added a 25 X 30 family room on to my home and made a few mistakes...the first, as mentioned above, i did not use conduit......in retrospect......it is a must.

Also, run every cable for every input your tv will have....regardless of whether or not they will ever be used.

With regards to electricity, use a hospital grade outlet and make sure it is a home run to your circuit box......You can find great outlets at psaudio.com
http://www.psaudio.com/products/powerport.asp


If at all possible, use BNC connectors on all connections, and use a recessed cable access box.

[Big Ryan]

You forgot your CAT5!
Run a CAT5 from your closet to the front of the room, in case you want to use an IR system. I don't know if the closet full of components is in the front or back of the room, or if it has a door, but an IR system sounds needed here.

[Jim Hef]

Ryan stole my thoughts, and I must say, they are excellent ones! Yes, the remote needs a sending signal wire, but your power is also a problem with the equipment being located so far away. So, with the advice above, send a home run to your service panel where you can locate a line conditioning transformer. Be sure to use a recessed receptacle for the power cord of the plasma. And, you haven't mentioned the surround sound equipment! Be sure to run speaker cable, UL CL3 rated, to at least all 7 locations even if your present equipment is 5.1. Plus, conduit and power receptacles for 3 subwoofers...again being future proof.

[scottb8888]

If you truley run a good size conduit, you don't have to worry about buying every cable you'll ever need. That's the beauty of conduit. Just make the conduit big.