How to run HDMI cables in conduit?

[Dr Murdoch]

I'm currently refurbing a room for my soon to be teenage son. He would like to have a console and monitor setup for 90% of the time, but plug the console into the bigger TV circa 1m away when mates are round. Fair enough. So I would like to bury a HDMI cable in the wall (chimney breast) so thats it plugged into the tv all the time, and the other end can be plugged into the console, when needed.

I digress, HDMI cable are not infallible, so I want to ensure if one fails, then I can swap it our for a new one. What's the best way to do this, or is there another way? Perhaps with with two HDMI sockets (one by the TV and one by the console)? Any hints or tips will be greatly appreciated.

Obviously he could just run an external cable when required, but that will look quite messy (but that will bug me more than him!)

[Baldchap]

Just run two would be the easiest solution. Both unused ends are hidden behind the console/TV so nobody need be any the wiser.

[essayer]

Is HDMI over Cat6 cable a thing? Might make life easier

[Silverbullet767]

There's a chance the monitor will use displayport rather than hdmi. Worth checking. Also run a pull string in the same conduit so you can run future cables if needed.

[smifffymoto]

Mini trunking is the answer.

[LooneyTunes]

Either:

Use HDMI wall plates so that you avoid wear on the main cable’s connectors: https://www.diy.com/departments/twin-full-hd-hdtv-...

Or;
Bury decent sized ducting and have brush plates on the boxes at each end. Allows you to pull/replace cables when needed. Just make sure it’s large enough diameter to deal with connectors passing around bends.

[eliot]

ducting with brushplates.
I use 6mm plastic air hose as a cobra rod to pull cables through.
I have false walls to enable any cabling I want.

[Sporky]

essayer said:

Is HDMI over Cat6 cable a thing? Might make life easier

Yes. Mostly based on the HDBT chipset(s), but many only support up to 4k30, and the 4k60 ones are more expensive.

I'd put in oversized containment with a plate at each end (maybe just a brush plate - connectors introduce a fair bit of loss), keeping it as straight as possible so it's simple to pull in a new cable if the original is damaged.

Or put a DA (distribution amplifier - essentially an active splitter) at the console, so it's driving both at the same time. Then just switch input on the telly when you need to.