Need help with in-wall wiring and outdoor speaker installation

exalted512

I'm helping someone install a simple receiver setup on some outdoor speakers.

This receiver:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-515&FTR=teac

I forgot which speakers. I believe they're polk Atriums (one pair)

I just had a few basic questions, since I've never done any home audio installation before.

They want the receiver in the living room in their TV cabinet. I was planning on using this wall plate:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10517&cs_id=1051703&p_id=6734&seq=1&format=2&style=

These connectors, 2 red, 2 black:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10426&cs_id=1042603&p_id=8433&seq=1&format=2&style=

How does the wire connect on the back side of that? Screw on?

2 pairs of these:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040115&p_id=2943&seq=1&format=2

This wire:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023901&p_id=3844&seq=1&format=2&style=

It's going to be about a 75' run. The only input to the receiver will be the all-in-one BluRay player/HT system, so I'll need a short RCA for that.

Am I missing anything? For the speaker installation, do people usually just drill a hole, feed the speaker wire through, then seal it with silicon?

Any other tips / tricks?

Thanks,
-Cody

disneyjoe7

I think you got everything.... Are you also using the wall wiring for the patch cables? The one between the wall and the receiver and the wall to the speakers?


Steve

exalted512

The receiver and the BluRay/HT system are going to be in the same cabinet, so I won't have to wire that through the wall. Is that what you were asking?

Thanks Joe.
-Cody

drummer86

I think he means the wire from the amp to the wall plate. Using the same wire for that as the in-wall?

maximillian

I upgraded my Atriums to the 5's and really like them. Moving the 4's to outside duty this Spring.

The newer Atriums don't really take the Banana plugs in your link since there is some interference with the enclosure. You may need shorter ones or simply direct wire.

exalted512

drummer86 wrote: »

I think he means the wire from the amp to the wall plate. Using the same wire for that as the in-wall?

I was planning on it. Would that be a problem? Looks will not matter.

maximillian wrote: »

I upgraded my Atriums to the 5's and really like them. Moving the 4's to outside duty this Spring.

The newer Atriums don't really take the Banana plugs in your link since there is some interference with the enclosure. You may need shorter ones or simply direct wire.

The banana plugs were just for the wall plates. I was going to go with direct wire for the speaker itself. Would that be a problem?

anonymouse wrote: »

Wire through the wall and sealed with silicone would probably be the most reliable, even if the aesthetics leave something to be desired. If you want to go crazy, you can look for an outdoor electrical box cover at the hardware store and mount banana plug termination in there.

Screw that, silicone is fine...haha

Thanks for all your help guys! Would the adapters for the wall plate, the ones that accept the banana plugs -- is it going to be just direct wire on the 'in-wall side'?

-Cody

unc2701

-Those jacks for the wallplate usually have screws to secure the wire- with 12ga you should be good. Sometimes with smaller wire, they don't grip very well. On the other hand, I prefer to skip the extra connectors that a wallplate adds, and just use a pass through like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10425&cs_id=1042509&p_id=3997&seq=1&format=2
Then you just run the wire all the way from the amp to the speakers with no extra connections.

-Get a fish tape if you don't have one. You may be able to do this without it, but it'll make your life so much easier

-Most building codes say that you need to seal the hole where you pass the cable from inside the wall to the crawlspace/ attic- this is to prevent a "chimney effect". I do it to prevent the "roach effect" - if you have mice, stuff some steel wood in there first, then caulk it up.

-When securing the wire to joists (or whatever), don't staple it. Staple a cable tie to the joist, then run the wire through the cable tie. Once you've done both runs, go along it, pulling out the slack, then cinch them down.

DaveHo

I would skip the fancy inside wall plate. Put in a low voltage drywall ring, get a blank plate, drill holes, & use black rubber gromets. Less money & more reliable than all those extra connections. My $0.02.

disneyjoe7

Looks really sweet if the plates are used with banana jacks. Adds connections yes but really nice looking.

exalted512

I'm torn now. While I would like it to be professional looking, it will not be seen and is much more expensive than the one unc linked too. One less thing to fail as well.

I do plan on caulking everything. I hadn't thought about cable ties in the attic, I have some spares I'll bring with me. Thanks for that.

I also need to pick up the little mount/box thingy for installing a wall plate.
-Cody

exalted512

Thanks for the help guys. Went ahead and made the order today and will probably start the install next weekend. I also decided to go with the passthrough. Cheaper and less connections to mess up.

Thanks again!
-Cody