I am mounting a 50" plasma on a brick fireplace and will need to run "Romex" AC power cable along with component video cables (in addition to CAT5 and LCR speaker wires) up through the inside of the fireplace to the top (cathedral ceiling), then across about 8' in the attic and then down through an outside wall to where my HT equipment is. (around 40' total) I purchased a Panamax Power Kit which consists of 2 junction boxes to terminate behind the TV on the fireplace and then at the bottom of the wall behind where the equipment is at (connected by romex). I've been told to separate the component cables and the romex ac power wire a foot apart to eliminate interference. Given my installation circumstances, this will be difficult to do. Is this necessary? Are there higher quality component cables that might eliminate the need to to this?

I would sure appreciate your insight and knowledge.

Tim

The reason you dont run the wires together (power + av) is that the power lines can introduce interference into the av lines. You're setting yourself up for adverse problems later (sound and video problems). If you absolutely need to run the wires together, I would find the cables that offer the most amount of sheilding that you can afford. Also try to minimize the distance that the wires are running parallel.

Can you run the wires on opposite sides of the fireplace? What about behind any baseboard? Do you have access to the floor below?

The reason you dont run the wires together (power + av) is that the power lines can introduce interference into the av lines. You're setting yourself up for adverse problems later (sound and video problems). If you absolutely need to run the wires together, I would find the cables that offer the most amount of sheilding that you can afford. Also try to minimize the distance that the wires are running parallel.

Can you run the wires on opposite sides of the fireplace? What about behind any baseboard? Do you have access to the floor below?

Misterkit, thanks for your reply. I've been on vacation so i'm sorry i didn't respond sooner. After assessing the situation more closely, it appears the best solution is to run separate conduit(s) through the fireplace to the outside wall and then come into the house from the outside. Unfortunately, I have a concrete floor, so no access. Thanks again for your response.