Chasing depth for cables?

[newavfan]

Hi all,
About to start my first plasma wall mount project.
My wall is a load baring breeze block one. Thin plaster skim on top (2mm ish) & painted.
Wall mount will go directly onto this.

How deep can I make a cable chasing channel...safely!?
How many such channels are safe to make?
Thanks

[mikim]

I'm not to sure on depth but I would say 2cm + capping over the cables.

But if it were me and the skim was that thin (it's normally 1-2cm).. then I would tack the wall with a plasterboard layer.
Just thin batons to support with sheets of standard 10mm wallboard, (see Wickes website... Wallboard £3.96 Size: 1800 x 900 x 9.5mm ) So it's pretty cheap.
You can run all the cables (inc speakers etc behind the board) plus they will be free too if you run them in a conduit, so you can always rewire in the future whereas you can't with plastered surfaces.
Bonus features is extra sound and heat insulation, and a nice new wall surface.
Oh... add extra support behind where the plasma mount is going to go for the added weight

Regs state that your cables have to go straight up or across, no diags.

and if you really want to do it properly your data (HDMI etc) cables should be in a separate channel to the power, (about 5 cm apart)... but not many people bother with this specification. Have a look at the regs (BS7671 17th edition) if your interested.

Cheers, Mik

[newavfan]

Thanks Mikim...great advice.
What thickness battons?
I was thinking of cutting your plasterboard around the mount & fix mount to breezblock wall (like a previous poster did).
My panel is 100mm deep, the universal mount is 30mm & my B&W fpm5's are 100mm mounted.
I thought of having the mount recessed so the panel face & speaker faces are all 100m off the wall.

A neat set up is essential because the panel will sit on a wall that is 90 degrees to the room entrance. Consiquently as you enter you will see the panel set up side profile.

Am reluctant to fit panel & speakers fully recessed as that will take 13cm off the room & I'm tight on space.

Finally, any advice on where to put the cable exit from the wall. My panel inputs are at the bottom of the screen so I know it needs to be in that area, but how do you ensure no cables are seen.
You can tell I'm a novice can't you!

[mikim]

I guess the batton size will depend on the amount of recess you want for the screen if you are going to set the mount into the wall area (good idea by the way that will look really good). You will need at least 10mm thick though to give enough space for your 'chunky' AV cables to run down. You could run the cables from inside the mount area straight down the inner wall (if possible). If the mount doesn't leave a gap, then just cut a neat hole below the mount and tuck the wires back round underneath.
I would recomend a patress box sunken or surface at the bottom for the wires to exit, just to keep it neat and tidy.

[newavfan]

Thanks for the help.
I have heard about cable face plates with bristles, so the hole is not open, but allows easy access. Any ideas where these can be sourced?

Any other tips from anyone who have done a partially concealed wall mount?

[MarkP80]

My wall is a load baring breeze block one. Thin plaster skim on top (2mm ish) & painted.

- Is it really only a 2mm skin? I'm very surprised by this. It would be normal to either line the wall with plasterboard then skim it, or plaster with a layer of browning then a finishing skim layer so it would be at least 10mm thick. Seems very odd.

If you are just wanting to hide the cables going to the screen, you seem to be making a lot fo work for yourself. What do you actually want to achieve?

How many cables do you want to hide? If it's just power and HDMI, you could easily chase these into the block and then fill over it (and speaker cable).

Have you considered (the old favourite) a floating wall? You wouldn't then need to board out the whole wall, just an area bordering your tv. This would be a lot easier to do, would hide you cables, and look good! (You can put backlighting around the wall for a nice effect) There's a thread or two describing how to do this. Have a look at this one link which has some really helpful straight forward pictures which show how to do it, and of course this one which is a great source of inspiration.

Regards,
MarkP

[newavfan]

Thanks MarkP80,
I want to hide 16 cables & the wall mount.
My problem is that my refurb kitchen/diner (almost a new build) has open plan access from the hall. As you enter the kitchen, the plasma wall is 90degrees to your left.
My worry is therefore the plasma side profile. I want that really neat. You only see the pretty plasma face & wall mounted fpm5's when you enter the room fully & turn round 360 degrees.
Plasma wall is only 3.4m & underneath will be a 2.2m cupboard/work surface run at a ht of 900mm.
As the stand is circa 30mm deep, if its recessed in false wall, the plasma face will lie flush to the speaker faces at 100mm.
Furthermore, because space is tight I will cut the cupboard run upto the brick wall.
Overall, I want a very discreet set up so the side view is not noticed, so when you turn round the mounted panel & speakers look great & still understated.
A floating wall will be great if I can ever get permission to refurb the lounge!!
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated?