View Full Version : Custom Wall Plates?


bgrewal
06-04-07, 10:09 PM
We're just finished construction on our new home, and put flat panels up in the bedrooms. The wiring contractor put a simple plate in which the wires just come out of the wall, but I'd like to put custom plates on the walls for a cleaner look (the installer's plate's don't look bad, but I'd like perfection). I've looked at plates online, but I need one which has 1 HDMI, component video, left & right audio, banana plug receptacle for 2 speakers (so 4 receptacles), and a phone jack.

Are there kits available where you can create your own plate? A blank plate I could drill/cut and then attach the cables to on the inside? I did some searching and found some modular wall plate sites, but none that could also fit HDMI. Is there a website that AVS'ers recommend? Thanks for the help.

badahab
06-04-07, 11:01 PM
Is it a single gang box or dual? If you are talking single, then its most likely going to be something custom made. Its even a rough squeeze with a dual gang box.

ram electronics has some that come close to what you want.
link to their site (http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI_wall-plate.html)

monoprice also has some options
The monoprice link (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10517&cs_id=1051706&p_id=2730&seq=1&format=2)

I think your best bet would be to have someone custom punch a plate for you, then just buy all the jacks you need and diy.

Let us know what you end up doing.

-Sean

dennisdxl32
06-06-07, 01:47 PM
I agree with badahab, all those connectors would be a tight fit even on a dual-gang wall plate. I don't think they'll fit on a single-gang wall plate.

DVIGear will make custom wall plates, but they're not cheap. Audioholics reviewed their products previously and gave them good marks. My pull-out-of-my-ass guess (based on pricing out my own custom plates) is that your specs would require 2 wall plates costing at least $200.

Blank wall plates are available cheap at Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.

TXST8tj
06-18-07, 04:28 PM
give www.partsexpress.com a shot. they have a selection of wall plates. i personally went to HD and picked up some 'decora' style plates for my master bedroom install. i'm going to use a triple-gang box and a triple opening plate (they have them from single opening up to 8 opening).

http://www.partsexpress.com/images/261-120m.jpg

one will be an electrical outlet insert, one is the coax insert, and another is just a single hole insert which will be used for speaker wire because i could not find one with binding posts. now that i think about it, i could just go over to partsexpress.com and pick up some binding posts and make my own using a solid blank insert.

you can add all sorts of inserts and make your own plate....RCAs, S-Video, HD, CAT 5/6, etc

http://www.partsexpress.com/images/183-674m.jpg
http://www.partsexpress.com/images/182-719m.jpg

you can also just get inserts with 1-several holes where you can add your own stuff...like binding posts, RCA and component bulkheads, etc.
http://www.partsexpress.com/images/261-408m.jpg

http://www.partsexpress.com/images/091-1206m.jpg
http://www.partsexpress.com/images/091-1208m.jpg
http://www.partsexpress.com/images/091-1211m.jpg



try this:
http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&WebPage_ID=251&CFID=4069704&CFTOKEN=87833399

trekguy
06-18-07, 06:37 PM
I've used standard blank covers to mount phone jacks, which I like for speaker connectors using right angle plugs, as well as banana jacks and 5 way binding posts.

Cover plates come in Nylon and at least two kinds of plastic. Some of the hard plastic covers are very fragile if a drill bit binds even the slightest. Use a brad point drill. If you are using one of the hard plastics drill from the back side backing the face side with a piece of wood.

Do you have a space limitation that precludes using a 3 or 4 gang box or a secondbox next to the original (splitting the terminals)? As this is low voltage only the face plate area constrains you.

If none of this will work go to someplace like TAP Plastics and have them cut something to size.
http://www.tapplastics.com/uploads/products/images/fullsize/standard/548_acrylic_transparent.jpg

PhillipD
06-19-07, 12:10 PM
You may want to try supercellaudio that is where I got mine and they are very nice, no VGA though.

Mameroom
11-24-08, 11:15 AM
mameroom.com now offers custom walls plates.