Most of the attention you give to your home theater installation in San Bernardino County is likely to concern the kinds of speakers and other hardware you use in your home. However, it’s important that you give the wiring some special focus as well. You’re going to need to make sure you use the correct wires and cables to get the most out of your equipment, and will need to set up the wiring properly as well to achieve the best quality sound and to ensure safety in your setup.
Here’s a quick overview of what you should know about wiring your home theater.
Safety
Improper wiring can quickly become a safety concern. Make sure the cables or wires you use are in compliance with all national safety guidelines regarding chemical, fire and abrasion resistance, as well as resistance to fluctuating temperatures. All wires you use should be in good condition—wiring for home theater systems is relatively inexpensive, so there’s no need to resort to used wiring with frayed spots that could pose a fire hazard.
Plan your wiring path
Before you actually start setting up your equipment, it’s good to make sure you’ll actually be able to wire your desired setup. Consider not only the setup you currently want, but also how your needs or desires could potentially change in the future.
Planning out the best possible route for your wiring will help you determine the required length of your wires. You should add at least an extra 20 percent to your length to give yourself enough slack, as well as to cover you in the event of an installation error or unforeseen obstacle. This also helps you set your budget for your wiring—planning your route gives you an idea of how much wiring you’ll need, and therefore how much you’ll need to spend.
Once you actually start laying out your cable, it’s a good idea to label them so you know which wires are going to which pieces of equipment.
Choosing the correct wire
Most home theater systems will use 16-gauge wire, but if you’re going to need to wire more than 50 feet in length, or if you want to set up speakers in the walls or ceilings, you might want to use thicker wire to prevent potential power loss. In those situations, you’d likely want to opt for 12- or 14-gauge wiring. The thickness of the cable should also be a match for the quality of the audio equipment. The manual for your equipment should have information about the best thickness of cable to use.
Conceal the wires
For many homeowners, it is ideal to be able to conceal wiring. This might be easier said than done in some configurations. If you have a drop ceiling, it can be relatively easy to run wiring up and over the room through the ceiling. You can also run wires under carpets or behind baseboards. Raceways come in handy for areas where wires are going to be exposed, and you can paint them to match wall colors.
For more information about home theater installation in San Bernardino County, contact JDS Systems today.