Do I need an In-Wall rated HDMI cable?

BlueAndGray

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Sep 2, 2011
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Just wondering if I need an in-wall rated (CL3 or something like that) HDMI cable for stuff like home theater. I think it may differ from place to place. Also, does this apply to other AV cables such as component and RCA audio cables? Thanks in advance.

 

Alc4traz

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Dec 27, 2012
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10,510



Here is an explanation for the different ratings in accordance to the NEC (National Electrical Code) and the consensus standard NFPA 70.

http://www.cablewholesale.com/support/technical_articles/counterfeit_cable.html


The major difference is the size of the wires and the condition of the insulation (flame resistant etc).

If your house is burning down because the flames started in a cable raceway and you used the wrong cable in accordance to code then the insurance will fight the claim.

If you wire free air (inside the room) then a regular HDMI cable will do the trick. For all inside wall routes I recommend you consult the code to determine the correct classification.

There is no difference in signal quality as long as you keep an eye on the length of the cable. I used a 50ft HDMI cable free air and had no problems with the signal quality. In case you want to go longer take a look at a repeater like this one here:

http://www.amazon.com/Bytecc-Repeater-Extender-version-1m-35m/dp/B0030HQ39M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356627201&sr=8-1&keywords=hdmi+repeater


Then you can reach up to 164 ft total length.

Al