If anyone has any experience with installing AV and power cables behind a wall that has vapor barrier and insulation could you please PM me or write a liittle explanation on your experience. If anyone could point me in the right DIY direction it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Cheers,

If no above or below access is availible you will have to remove baseboard moldings(trim) and use an angle drill or angle drilling attachment which allows you to bore your 1/2-3/4" holes between the studs. Alternatively you can simply notch the face of the studs along the way but no more than 1/2" is my guess. But still plenty of space for a few cables. Just be sure and put some protective metal brackets over every notch that the wire feeds through to prevent screwing or nailing into the cable in the furture! Oh and of coarse you will have to cut the drywall in those locations, but not to worry the trim will cover it all back up. If your really neat like me you can score a strait line across the bottom of the wall--about 3" from the floor--carefull, not too high or your trim will not cover again. This is also a good idea if you are not certain if there are any other electrical cables in the wall. If the old trim doesn't cover the damage, you can refit the room with a wider base molding. Afterall, it will add to asthetics of the room. Maybe some crown molding to boot!! j/k. Good luck!!!

If no above or below access is availible you will have to remove baseboard moldings(trim) and use an angle drill or angle drilling attachment which allows you to bore your 1/2-3/4" holes between the studs. Alternatively you can simply notch the face of the studs along the way but no more than 1/2" is my guess. But still plenty of space for a few cables. Just be sure and put some protective metal brackets over every notch that the wire feeds through to prevent screwing or nailing into the cable in the furture! Oh and of coarse you will have to cut the drywall in those locations, but not to worry the trim will cover it all back up. If your really neat like me you can score a strait line across the bottom of the wall--about 3" from the floor--carefull, not too high or your trim will not cover again. This is also a good idea if you are not certain if there are any other electrical cables in the wall. If the old trim doesn't cover the damage, you can refit the room with a wider base molding. Afterall, it will add to asthetics of the room. Maybe some crown molding to boot!! j/k. Good luck!!!Thank You but I'm a little confused, what I need to know is how to feed the cables behind the drywall if there is vapor barrier and insulation behind the drywall as well. I am putting AV and power electrical boxes behind the plasma and behind the AV cabinet. It will be totally vertical cable drop so I should not have to cut through studs. I just don't know how to feed the cables through with insulation and vapor barrier in the way, or how to reseal the barrier.

Cheers

I don't have the vapor barrier but I do have insulation.

My runs where from the ceiling down about 4' - 5' for my rear speakers.

I ran flex conduit and 12 gauge electrical wire, black and red for the speakers.

I fished the wall using 12 gauge 2 conductotr electrical wire, as it was stiff enough to come down the wall.

I cut one hole at the top of the wall and another hole where the speaker outlet location. I just pushed the wire down, between the drywall and the insalution and used the wire as a 'pull wire' for pulling the conduit.

After I was finished with the wiring, I patched the drywall and textured it, and painted.

You used solid 12 guage romex for speaker wire?

I'm interested to know more about this as well as I will be in this same situation once I get my new plasma this fall.

The flex conduit is one idea but I don't think you can fit component video cable or an HDMI connector through your typical flex conduit.

Any other suggestions?

Hi all, what ever you do don't run the Romex in the same conduit as your cables, that's a no-no against NEC. Running cables inside a wall can be easy if it's straight down, when you have to go across studs, then it's tougher. I bought a glow rod from Home Depot for about $30.00 and that made life allot easier.

Also, if your mounting a flat screen tv to the wall and of course you need power, make sure you don't run the power cord in the wall, that's also a NEC no-no as well.

I posted on another thread about a kit for installing a power outlet for wall mounting TV's. I purchased one and think it's the way to go for having power concealed in the wall and best part is it allows me to have my TV plugged into my surge protector/conditioner. In case you're interested, www.powerbridgesolution.com

Hi all, what ever you do don't run the Romex in the same conduit as your cables, that's a no-no against NEC. Running cables inside a wall can be easy if it's straight down, when you have to go across studs, then it's tougher. I bought a glow rod from Home Depot for about $30.00 and that made life allot easier.

Also, if your mounting a flat screen tv to the wall and of course you need power, make sure you don't run the power cord in the wall, that's also a NEC no-no as well.

I posted on another thread about a kit for installing a power outlet for wall mounting TV's. I purchased one and think it's the way to go for having power concealed in the wall and best part is it allows me to have my TV plugged into my surge protector/conditioner. In case you're interested, www.powerbridgesolution.comI talked with the tech support for this company today and they told me that running romex between the vapor barrier and drywall is within electrical code. Just do not anchor the wire to the vertical studs. Let it hang freely.

Now I just have to figure out how to feed a VGA and HDMI cable end between the vapor barrier and drywall. Not an easy task :)

Cheers

Hi all, what ever you do don't run the Romex in the same conduit as your cables, that's a no-no against NEC. Running cables inside a wall can be easy if it's straight down, when you have to go across studs, then it's tougher. I bought a glow rod from Home Depot for about $30.00 and that made life allot easier.

Also, if your mounting a flat screen tv to the wall and of course you need power, make sure you don't run the power cord in the wall, that's also a NEC no-no as well.

I posted on another thread about a kit for installing a power outlet for wall mounting TV's. I purchased one and think it's the way to go for having power concealed in the wall and best part is it allows me to have my TV plugged into my surge protector/conditioner. In case you're interested, www.powerbridgesolution.com

So if I understand the power bridge, pretty much the main difference is that you're running romex behind the wall vs a power cord?

So if I understand the power bridge, pretty much the main difference is that you're running romex behind the wall vs a power cord?


National Electric Code doesn't allow flexible power cords or extension cords inside or even through a wall or ceiling area.

The only thing allowed by code is ROMEX. the powerbridge is a kit that has an outlet for behind your TV to plug it into, then ROMEX in the wall connects to a special INLET plug where you install at the equipment location, then that plugs into the surge protector or existing a/c outlet

OK, I'm sold. In the past, I've just run the AC cord in the wall but I understand the risks.

I can run Romex in the same way if it only adds a slight cost for the bridge and I'm up to code. Thanks for the rec.

Now my problem will be trying to find 4' of Romex w/o having to buy a 100' spindle...

OK, I'm sold. In the past, I've just run the AC cord in the wall but I understand the risks.

I can run Romex in the same way if it only adds a slight cost for the bridge and I'm up to code. Thanks for the rec.

Now my problem will be trying to find 4' of Romex w/o having to buy a 100' spindle...

OK, good to know you're up to CODE!..
Hey, I went to Home Depot and was able to buy ROMEX by the foot or in a 25' box. It was really cheap, like .65 or .75 foot. GOOD LUCK be safe!

Ah, good reminder. I forgot I can order by the foot at Home Depot.

What about component video and HDMI cables? Is it safe to put them between drywall and vapor barrier?

What about component video and HDMI cables? Is it safe to put them between drywall and vapor barrier?

YES, any a/v cable is considered LOW VOLTAGE and is not regulated by the NEC as to wiring within a wall area. However, I understand some local jurisdictions may require certain types of cable ratings such as CL2 or CL3 rated cables to meet local building code, mostly for commercial buildings where any cable may be run in a plenum area (an area that which is open and access is above or between walls ceiling separating floors or walls) but it's not an NEC code as to a/v cables.

Few areas, from my understanding, really get into this area unless you are prewiring and having an inspection done by a building inspector. Most people run a/v cables without any need of a permit or inspection so you should be ok from my understanding.

I'm not sure if this applies to your wall, but this is how I did it.

Cut a small hole in the drywall near the ceiling with a drywall saw. Save the piece for patching the hole. Cut a lower hole in drywall for the outlet boxes.

Through the hole in the drywall, drill through the fire stop to the attic for signal cables. Use a separate hole and path for power using non-metallic sheath cable, aka NM.

Pull cables through wall cavity with a fish tape. Feed wires to attic through drilled hole in fire stop. http://www.greenlee.com/cat_docs/Fishing_07.pdf

Hey OreoJoe, good advise on how to run cables, however are you sure it's ok to drill through a fireblock? I was told no-way unless you are filling the hole with fire retardant foam after the cables are run, and that may prove to be very difficult unless you open the wall over that fireblock and repatch to do that, so I would advise not drilling through fireblock unless you know what and how to do it to code.

If you're just trying to run the cables down from a Flat Panel Tv location to below that area and it's usually below 8 feet, then in MOST areas fireblocks are not usually below that, so running cables down below 8' should not be a problem. I'm not sure why you would have to run the cables up from the TV into an attic then back down unless your equipment is located offset from the TV, then yes you would need to deal with fireblock in most cases.

From talking w/ my contractor, it's not OK to go through the fireblock.

Fortunately for me, my outlet will be below it.

[QUOTE=OreoJoe]Glad to read your advice. I will fill the holes with a fire-stop sealant. What I called a fire stop is prolly the wall's top plate.


Great you're looking into this. Fireblocks are not usually at the very top of the wall, most building codes set the height at 7-8 feet. So, the top plate is probably not your fireblock