Installation Fundamentals
Installation
Fundamentals
Running the Speaker 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 speaker 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 speaker wire through the same hole as an electrical cable.
•Never run speaker wire into the same
•Avoid running the speaker wire beside the electrical cable. Keep your speaker cable at a distance of at least
Figure 7
Before you drill any holes, mount the speaker brackets in the desired speaker locations and mount
Safety First!
Wear gloves, safety goggles and head pro- tection when drilling. Avoid nails, they ruin bits and they can create injury. Pay particu- lar care when using
Drilling
Use a bit that is large enough for the wires you plan to run. An auger bit is the pre- ferred bit for
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.
Installation in Existing Construction
IMPORTANT: Before you cut into any wall, review the sections on running wire and speaker placement.
1.When determining the location of the speaker cutout keep in mind that the mounting dogs will extend 3/4" beyond the cutout. make sure that you do not place the edge of the cutout directly next to a ceiling joist. Locate the joists using a stud sensor or
2.Once you have determined a possible position for the cutout, drill a 1/8” pilot hole just barely through the ceiling (1/2” to 5/8” deep in most homes) about an inch below the center of your proposed speaker location. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DRILL THROUGH EXISTING WIRES, PIPES, OR STRUC- TURE. IF YOU FEEL ANY EXTRA RESIS- TANCE AS YOU ARE DRILLING, STOP.
3.Cut a
4.If the coat hanger moves freely in a com- plete circle, hold the supplied template up to the ceiling surface. Outline the cir- cular cutout on the ceiling surface with a pencil. Drill starting point with a 1/4" bit.
Figure 14
5.If you are cutting drywall use a sheetrock or keyhole saw. Cut the hole with the saw at a 45° angle. That way, the drywall section can be replaced cleanly if there is an unseen obstruction behind the wall. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SAW THROUGH EXISTING WIRES, PIPES, OR STRUCTURE. IF YOU FEEL EXTRA RESISTANCE AS YOU ARE CUTTING, STOP.
6.If you are cutting into a plaster ceiling, use masking tape to outline your pen- ciled circle and use a razor to score the plaster down to the lath beneath. Then use a chisel to remove all of the plaster within the taped outline. To actually cut the lathe, two methods are used profes- sionally; sawing with a metal cutting blade on a sabre saw is the quickest and the riskiest. Sawing a lathe with a sabre saw can easily vibrate plaster off the ceiling in a completely distant loca- tion creating more patchwork. If you have the patience, use a pair of tin snips to slowly nip away at the lath instead. There is little risk with this method, it is just time consuming.
Installation in Existing Construction
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