switch or receptacle, and shining
a penlight into the wall. If you
have access to an attic or base-
ment space you can quickly see
which part of the wall space is
free of obstructions
(See Figure
12)
.
When you don’t have access
above or below the wall, try to
estimate the existing wire and
pipe locations from the positions
of electrical outlets and plumbed
fixtures on both sides of the wall.
Take a look at the outside of your
house too, sometimes conduit,
vents or drain pipe will be visible
giving useful information.
Choose the route with the fewest
potential obstacles.
If your house is built on a slab or
you are wiring between two fin-
ished floors, look for baseboards which
could be removed and replaced with the
wire behind them. Doorjambs can be
removed and often have enough space for
speaker wire all the way around the door
(See Figure 13).
Sometimes, an under-the-carpet run is pos-
sible (there are special flat speaker wires
made for under-the-rug wire runs). As a last
resort, heating and air conditioning vents
can be used as wire raceways for plenum
rated wire (check your local building codes,
some municipalities require conduit).
1
2
Installation Fundamentals
Figure 12
Unobstructed
space for
speaker wiring
Figure 11
Volume
Control
Location
Stereo
Location
S
peaker
Location
