Well...it has finally begun. The framing is complete and now it's time to run electrical and low voltage cables. As you can see in the picture below I have started to run the speaker cables. With regards to this...what is the best way to attach the speaker cable to the studs?

If you look at the rear picture you can see where a bulkhead was built due to some HVAC piping. I was thinking about putting the projector in this area. This would save me from having to mount it to the ceiling and it may even reduce fan noise. The only thing is it looks like the bulkhead may interfere with the projected picture. This box is roughly 16' from the screen location, not sure if this is too far?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Rear of theater
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/rear.jpg

Front of theater
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/front.jpg

Speaker Cable
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/speakercable.jpg

A couple of questions...

What are your room dimensions?

What projector do you plan to use? (that will impact your proposed PJ location in the bulkhead)

Do you have a floorplan layout that can be uploaded?

If you look at the rear picture you can see where a bulkhead was built due to some HVAC piping. I was thinking about putting the projector in this area.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
[/IMG]


I might think about rerouting the HVAC pipes to eliminate the need for the bulkhead.

You might be able to take them out a different exterior wall or get up into the joist space some how. One major requirement is that they can only slope up and not have any dips where condensation could collect.

Has anyone installed compact florestant reccesed light fixtures in their HT? I am thinking about going with the Halo 6" 406WB.

I am planning on using the Infocus 7210. I am currently creating a floorplan that can be uploaded.

Thanks.

Layout 1

http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/basement.jpg

Layout 2

http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/basement2.jpg

Here are some updated pictures. Electrical has begun.

Showing screen location

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/screen.jpg


Speaker Cables, coax, cat5 and electrical.
I am going to have a dedicated circuit for my equipment rack and projector (Yellow Romex).


http://precisenetworking.com/theater/wiring.jpg


HDMI & Component for Mits 4900.
Do I need any type of projector support installed between the beams or do most projector mounts attach right to the sheetrock?

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/projector.jpg


How far should the bottom of my screen be from the ground? Showing my soon to be AV123 X-SLS and X-CS :)

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/screen2.jpg

I would suggest trying to reroute the HVAC trunk. That would allow greater screen flexibility - both size and location on the wall. I know it sounds like a pain, but I've read a few threads where the DIY work didn't prove to be too daunting.

If you can't move it (or don't want to) I would suggest replacing your current framing (2x4s) with the plywood method. I don't remember the thread, but I've seen other folks save precious space by "framing" around their HVAC trunks with plywood (after first doing 2x4s, then ripping them down...).

And yes - you will need to build a projector support. Sheetrock will not hold up your PJ. Maybe Big will chime in with some examples.

And yes - you will need to build a projector support. Sheetrock will not hold up your PJ. Maybe Big will chime in with some examples.

That would be great if someone could show some examples of projector supports. I am having the sheetrock installed in 2 weeks.

More pics to come.

Thanks!

For the projector support, you just want something that you can screw a mount into. I placed a couple of scrap 2x4 blocks up inside the joist cavity, and screwed a piece of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood to them flush with the joists. Once the sheetrock is installed, you just screw threw the rock and into the plywood backing.

Projector mounts aren't very big. I think mine is 3"x4" or something like that. The piece of plywood i used was probably 1' x 1.5' or so.

I wasn't exactly sure where my projector would go, so I placed a couple of these backings in different locations.

Here are some updated pictures.

Very slow progress :)

HDMI, Coax, 4 speaker cables, Ethernet

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/wiring-1-5-08.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/rear-1-5-08.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/screen-1-5-08.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/wiring2-1-5-08.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/projector-1-5-08.jpg

I had a question about about much an HDMI cable could be bent. If you look at the first picture in post #10 you can see that I have tried to wrap the extra cable in loops. Is this bad for an HDMI cable?

Geeman

Have you tested the HDMI cable? If you can run conduit up to the projector I would you just never know if a cable will crap out on you and the way you have it run it would be a real pain if it ever had to be replaced. I'm just saying better now then later since you don't have any drywall up yet :)

I second the conduit suggestion. Run it now...it will save a lot of hassle later.

I second the conduit suggestion. Run it now...it will save a lot of hassle later.

I don't think it would be possible to run conduit due to a return/bulkhead. And if I did run the conduit, there would be at least (5) 90 degree angles which would make it impossible to fish a new HDMI cable anyway.

What do you think about running a second HDMI just in case?

Come on now if you use Flex conduit I think you could get it over there and not have that many 90's plus if you run 1" or bigger the HDMI will go through no problem. instead of running it under the bulkhead go over the top.

What is the space you have all the wires run to by the furnace is there going to be a TV in this spot with all your components?

Snap us some more pictures of how you have it ran then we can all put our collective heads together and find a solution for you :)

What is the space you have all the wires run to by the furnace is there going to be a TV in this spot with all your components?



That is where I am going to have all of my components (A/V rack).

Any recommendations on which flexible conduit would work well? I pictured solid PVC with elbow joints but flexible sounds like it would work.

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/hdmi1.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/hdmi5.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/hdmi3.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/hdmi2.jpg

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/hdmi4.jpg

Conduit (http://www.hometech.com/techwire/resigard.html#CN-SCF4X1C)

i picked up some of this in the 2" size, but dont have it ran yet. i am running 2 HDMI to my projector location even though at this time i will need only one. i say one 2 for sure and do the conduit. you just never know. later.

I bought my "smurf tube" from Tri-State Electronics
(https://www.tselectronic.com/carlon/resi_raceway.html)
1 (SCG4X1C-100) 1 1/4\" Resi-Gard Raceway 100 ft
1 (VC9963SC) Resi-Gard Solvent Cement
11 (SCE977GC) 1 1/4\" Resi-Gard Raceway Clamp 5 pack

Mine is orange (not blue...thus the name Smurf tube) and 1 1/4". You can see it running to my projector in this pic. The flexible orange run...not the rigid one (that is for the sprinkler system).
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165/videocam/IMG_1349.jpg

Here is a shot of some of it curled up on my riser. I have this stuff running from the booth you see behind the riser all the way up to the area above that you see the wires hanging from. Some serious curves...but it works :)
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165/videocam/IMG_1405.jpg

Here you can see some terminated in a low voltage box in my equipment room.
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w165/videocam/IMAGE_00009.jpg

It comes with a nylon cord in it so you can pull anything you need to pull in the future.

I bought my "smurf tube" from Tri-State Electronics
(https://www.tselectronic.com/carlon/resi_raceway.html)


Has anyone been able to pick up this flexible Carlon tubing at Home Depot or Lowes?

I just used standard electrical j boxes for all of my low voltage runs, is there any benefit to using the orange low voltage boxes instead?

the Resi-Gard Raceway that i and Cam refer to is not something HD, Lowes, or Menards carry in stock. i am not sure they can even order it for you. i went with 50' of the 2" stuff from http://smarthome.com as i got free shipping with the order.

later.

Lowes (at least in TN) does carry the blue flexible conduit from Carlon. It is the smaller 1" diameter.

I was at a Lowes somewhere near Sacramento a couple weeks ago and noticed that they also had the blue carlon tubing in 1" size. I noticed it as I had wanted to use it in my theater but couldn't find it locally.

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to make a trip to Lowes tonight.


Will bending an HDMI cable like this harm signal transmission at all? I needed to coil some extra cable up due to its length.

http://precisenetworking.com/theater/hdmi2.jpg

Drywall!

Front of room
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/DSCF1862.jpg
Projector Connections
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/DSCF1858.jpg
Rear of Theater
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/DSCF1859.jpg
A/V cabling
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/DSCF1860.jpg

Major construction is now complete. More pictures:
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/avequipclose.jpg
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/avequip.jpg
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/screenlocation.jpg
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/screenlocation2.jpg
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/screenlocation3.jpg
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/sideroom.jpg
http://www.precisenetworking.com/theater/mockup.jpg

All I need now is a screen and a projector!