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Installation
Fundamentals
Running the Loudspeaker Wire in New
Construction
If you have doubts about whether you are
capable of installing a Niles ceiling mount
loudspeakers, consult a Niles dealer or
professional installer. They have special
tools, techniques, and experience to make
the impossible possible. The installer can
provide you with an estimate before any
work is done.
Scheduling and Preparation
Plan to schedule the loudspeaker wiring
after the electrical wiring is finished. That
way you can avoid wire routes which
could potentially induce hum over the
speaker wire. The basic rules are:
• Never run loudspeaker wire through the
same hole as an electrical cable.
• Never run loudspeaker wire into the
same J-box as electrical cable.
• Avoid running the loudspeaker wire
beside the electrical cable. Keep your
speaker cable at a distance of at least
18"-22" from any electrical power cable.
Side-by-side wiring is unavoidable in
particular spots in every house, just move
the speaker wire route away as soon as
possible. If construction forces a side by
side run for more than ten feet, install
metal conduit or shielded speaker wire.
Low-voltage wires such as doorbells, inter-
coms, telephone, security, or television
cannot cause interference or hum on your
speaker wires, so you can safely run all of
them at the same time, through the same
holes, side-by-side.
Before you drill any holes, mount the
loudspeaker brackets in the desired speak-
er locations and mount p-rings or open
backed J-boxes where the in-wall volume
controls and stereo equipment will be.
Safety First!
Wear gloves, safety goggles and head
protection when drilling
. Avoid nails, they
ruin bits and they can create injury. Pay
particular care when using “hole-hogs” and
other powerful electric drills; the torque of
the drill when suddenly stopped by a nail
can break the wrist of a strong man.
Drilling
Use a bit that is large enough for the wires
you plan to run. An auger bit is the
preferred bit for rough-in wiring. It will
actually pull itself through the wood, so
that the drill motor, not you, does most of
the work. You may be drilling a lot of
holes, so this is an important consideration.
Always drill the holes in the center of the
stud. If you have to notch the stud or drill
the hole closer than one inch from the
edge of the stud, protect the wire with a
nail plate
(See Figure 7).
When drilling holes in ceiling joists drill
in the center of the joists and try to locate
the hole near the end of the joist.
DO NOT
drill through a “gluelam” or any
load bearing beam without the direction
of your contractor.
9
Installation Fundamentals
Figure 7