How to hide TV cables: raceways, in-wall kits and power safety

A wall-mounted TV looks unfinished with cables hanging below it. There are two ways to fix that, and one safety line that matters.

Option 1: On-wall raceway (no cutting)

An on-wall cable cover is a slim channel that stays on the surface of the wall. Echogear describes its paintable versions as low profile, fast to fit and reversible, and suggests them when the wall is solid, insulated or concrete and an in-wall route is not practical.

1. Plan the cable path from the TV to your power outlet and your devices.
2. Clean the wall where the channel will sit.
3. Stick or fasten the channel, run the cables inside, and snap the cover on.
4. Paint the cover to match the wall if you like.

Option 2: In-wall kit (cleaner, more work)

An in-wall kit puts a wall plate or grommet behind the TV and another near your devices, with the cables running between them inside the wall. Echogear's own steps are:

1. Choose a kit sized for the cables you need.
2. Check the wall type first. Scan for studs, pipes and other obstacles before cutting.
3. Cut one opening behind the TV and one near the outlet or media console, using the template and hole saw that come with the kit.
4. Fit the wall plates or grommets and feed the cables through with fish tape or a pull string.

Add a pull string while the wall is open so future cables are easy to run. Echogear's stud-finding guide covers ways to avoid cutting into framing. If you cannot confirm what is inside the wall, stop and ask a professional.

Low-voltage cables versus power

HDMI, Ethernet and speaker wire carry low-voltage signals. Mains power is a separate matter.

Echogear sells in-wall power kits that fit an outlet behind the TV, and the same kits are what its guide recommends for hiding power cords. Because a power kit changes your house wiring, treat the manufacturer's instructions and local code as the final word.

What CL2 means for HDMI

Cable makers label some HDMI cables as CL2 rated and sell them as the in-wall option. RUIPRO, for example, has a collection of long fiber-optic HDMI cables labeled In-Wall Rated (CL2). The rating is printed on the jacket. If you plan to run a cable inside a wall, buy one marked for in-wall use rather than a general-purpose cable. This guide could not verify how CL2 differs from CL3 or what local code requires, so confirm both with the cable maker or an electrician before you buy.

Test before you close the wall

Engadget notes there is no official maximum HDMI length, and that longer runs get less forgiving as bandwidth rises. A cable that handles 4K at 60Hz can fail at 4K at 120Hz. Typical failure signs are flicker, sparkling pixels, audio dropouts and black screens. Before you fasten anything permanently:

• Run the most demanding mode you will actually use, with HDR and VRR switched on, and watch for glitches for a few minutes.
• Remember that wall plates, couplers and switches are extra points of failure.
• Check cable direction. Some active and optical HDMI cables have a source end and a display end. Plugging one in backwards can give a black screen.
• Consider conduit and a pull string for in-wall runs so you can swap cables later.

See 4K 120Hz not working if your picture drops after the cable moves behind the wall.

Protect the gear

Echogear also recommends surge protection for the plugs behind the TV. A surge protector such as the Belkin 7-outlet surge protector is one example in our catalog.