Wiring advice

[davemac250]

I have just installed a motorised TV bracket and chased the wiring into a conduit in the wall.

I am after a means of retracting the power and HMDI lead as the TV goes back against the wall.

Every search I try comes up with either things too small or just plain unworkable.

At the moment the TV extends pulling the wires cleanly through the duct, however when it goes back the wires remain out and loop down under the TV - much to the O.H. amusement and disgust.

Does anyone have any ideas of something I could use to tension the wires and pull them - gently - back into some sort of keep at the far end of the duct?

Thanks

[Driller]

Some sort of loose spring?

[tankplanker]

Coiled cables? Like this:
http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates/searchdetail....

[davemac250]

Thought about that sort of thing (Flexi Cable.)

I suppose I should mention cable lengths.

With the TV at rest the power lead needs to be 3.5m long. When 'away' from the wall the arc the arm takes extends the lead by about 50cm.

The HDMI lead needs to be 2.5m extending to 3m.

I've purchased these leads and could do without laying out on new ones as the HDMI one was stupidly expensive.

I suppose an easy answer thinking as I go would be to fix the arm so it doesn't extend as it comes away from the wall.

Hmmmmm

What I was thinking of was something like an automatic washing line retractor for thick cables. If you see what I mean?

[Plotloss]

Which bracket are you using?

[headcase]

When I have done these brackets in the past I just routed the cables in a way that they would loop upwards behind the screen when it retracted, sometimes its a case of putting a twist in the cables and tie wrapping them togeter other times there maybe some cable management in the bracket its self, either way some thought needs to be put into it before installation so you can get the cables to exit the wall in the correct place for the bracket. You also need to make sure you dont end up putting stress on the ends of the cables as HDMI cable ends (and the connector inside the TV) have been known to snap off.

[E31Shrew]

We just use loose tie wraps

[davemac250]

Plotloss said:

Which bracket are you using?

Good question.

Some swedish thing that was left in the house by the previous owner - he had the same panny telly as me so was an easy thing to come to a deal on - he leave it behind I don't ask him to repair the holes !

[davemac250]

headcase said:

When I have done these brackets in the past I just routed the cables in a way that they would loop upwards behind the screen when it retracted, sometimes its a case of putting a twist in the cables and tie wrapping them togeter other times there maybe some cable management in the bracket its self, either way some thought needs to be put into it before installation so you can get the cables to exit the wall in the correct place for the bracket. You also need to make sure you dont end up putting stress on the ends of the cables as HDMI cable ends (and the connector inside the TV) have been known to snap off.

Had a play at doing this last night.

I think it will work, but makes the back of the telly when extended look a dogs dinner and as the house is open plan and you can see it from kitchen/dinning room it is not -IMOHHO - ideal.

[VEX]

Could be a Lava bracket.

I cable tie the cables to the bracket arms so that they move and flex with the bracket.

V.

[chrisj_abz]

bungy cable, could even wrap it with the cables in some spiral wrap stuff to keep it neatish?

[davemac250]

Success, and thanks for your ideas.

I had a black thin metal box that some drill bits came in.

Fitted nicely between the arms of the bracket.

Couple of holes and a loop in the wires sat in the box and hey presto, all nice and neat.

Just waiting for the first time it snags and pulls the whole lot off the wall.