Use Nail Plates in Software

Generator QR Code ISO/IEC18004 in Software Use Nail Plates

When installing wiring (either high voltage or low voltage) within 1 1/4 inch from a wall stud, and drywall has not yet been hung, it s a good idea to install a nail protector plate, like those shown in Figure 14-7 Nail protector plates prevent damage to wiring if, once the wall has been finished, someone drills or nails into the wall

Figure 14-7

14

4 Pull the speaker wire coming from the amplifier through the back of the gang box (This assumes you ve already wired a room with audio cabling If not, flip back to 13 for more information about connecting audio cabling to your zones) 5 Use a piece of masking tape to mark this wiring as Input Jot down the color scheme you re using for the left channel and right channel, positive and negative leads 6 If you are using a home-run wiring scheme, each room s cabling should run back to the A/V cabinet

Many building and fire codes require any in-wall cable to be CL-2, CL-3, or FT4 rated These ratings apply to a cable s sheathing characteristics Check with your local building inspector before prewiring

7 Run two lengths of two-conductor speaker cable from the gang box to the corresponding left and right speakers (or speaker jacks) 8 Mark the cable for left or right and for their polarities 9 Trim the cable, allowing enough to hang outside the gang box so it can connect the volume control 10 Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from each wire Tightly twist the end of each wire until there are no loose threads Before the volume control is connected, the wiring should look like that depicted in Figure 14-8

Figure 14-8

11 Remove the two four-conductor plugs (connectors) from the volume control Both plugs are marked L+ L- R- R+ One connector is for the amplifier output connections and the other for speaker connections 12 Insert the amplifier and speaker wires into each hole Ensure the wires are connected to the appropriate connectors (left, right, positive, and negative) This is shown in Figure 14-9

Figure 14-9

13 Secure each wire by tightening the connector screws or soldering them in place 14 Plug the wired connectors into the volume control unit, as Figure 14-10 shows Ensure that the output from the amplifier is plugged into the amplifier side of the control, and the speakers are plugged into the speaker side of the control

Figure 14-10

14

15 Tuck excess cable inside the gang box and insert the volume control into the gang box 16 Secure the volume control with screws 17 Add a Decora-style face plate over the volume control

When you have two volume controls working in tandem (your newly installed volume control as well as the volume control on the amplifier itself) you will undoubtedly run into problems with distortion This occurs when the second volume control amplifies a signal that is already loud enough (or too loud) To fix the levels on your two volume controls, play sound or music through the stereo, keeping the volume at the amp turned all the way down Next, turn the newly installed volume control all the way up There should still be no sound (as the amp volume is turned all the way down) Slowly add volume at the amp until it is playing at about the loudest level you want Then turn down volume on the wall The volume setting on the amp is where you want to leave it If you turn this up, then you will distort the sound coming out of the speakers