Large In wall back box for hiding cables - against regs?

Pete123456 · 14-03-2021 3:29pm #1

Is there a reason that it seems to be difficult to find a large back box to put into a plasterboard wall in Ireland? Something like this: https://images.app.goo.gl/BgZKqVdxdjBd3JgN9

I’ve been searching for 30 odd minutes and all photos and links seem to point to the US. This makes me think that there’s a regulatory reason it’s not common in the UK or Ireland. Any body have an idea?

I was hoping to use one to hide some cables and a sky box behind tv. But at most to hold an extension lead. Maybe I’m using the wrong search terms?

meercat · 14-03-2021 3:46pm

https://www.grange.ie/builders-providers/inspection-and-access-hatches

Pete123456 · 14-03-2021 4:05pm

meercat wrote: »

https://www.grange.ie/builders-providers/inspection-and-access-hatches

But they’re not boxes, just doors, right?

I was planning to put place Apple TV and sky a box with an Ethernet switch in for example. One the telly was over them on the wall you wouldn’t need a door to allow heat to dissipate

meercat · 14-03-2021 6:45pm

Pete123456 wrote: »

But they’re not boxes, just doors, right?

I was planning to put place Apple TV and sky a box with an Ethernet switch in for example. One the telly was over them on the wall you wouldn’t need a door to allow heat to dissipate

Why not putt the Apple TV box,sky box,Ethernet switch in a cupboard/press near the tv and just run cables to the tv instead. It’d be a much neater installation and easier to get at/replace components if required

U2erthy · 14-03-2021 6:59pm

Look up ebay or aliexpress for a recessed box or junction box any electrical wholesaler should have a plastic junction box you will need air holes or leave cover off to stop over heating Amazon has ones that mount behind tv on tv or you could use velcro to mount everything on back tv

Guy:Incognito · 14-03-2021 7:02pm

I'd be very wary of putting devices in an enclosed box. Sky boxes in particular tend to generate quite a bit of heat.

Pete123456 · 14-03-2021 8:00pm

Yeah my plan was for what you see in my link in my original post, It’s just a large back box with nothing covering it, the tv would be mounted in front of it.

I may not have the option of a cabinet, so I’m considering my options without just lashing a shelf on the wall underneath the TV. power and Ethernet are already run to tv height.

Will have another look on aliexpress and eBay, thanks for the tip. It seems there are loads in the US, but it’s not Cost effective to bring over I don’t think.

liveandnetural · 15-03-2021 1:27am

https://eu.peerless-av.com//products/ib14x14-w

Pete123456 · 15-03-2021 6:50am

liveandnetural wrote: »

https://eu.peerless-av.com//products/ib14x14-w

Thanks, I had seen that but not sure of the price or if they ship to Ireland. Will give them a ring and report back

Pete123456 · 15-03-2021 9:44am

Apparently they don’t sell direct and don’t have distributors in Ireland... based on some searching it’s $200 in the US so god knows what it would be here. Nevermind I guess!

Pete123456 · 15-03-2021 10:04am

Pete123456 wrote: »

Apparently they don’t sell direct and don’t have distributors in Ireland... based on some searching it’s $200 in the US so god knows what it would be here. Nevermind I guess!

Debating now whether something like this would work if I was to trim the sides so only the top lip was left. Apparently can handle 60 degrees so would be worried if sky box or switch was getting that hot

https://www.solentplastics.co.uk/6-9-ltr-small-euro-plastic-stacking-container/

sydthebeat · 15-03-2021 10:07am

Pete123456 wrote: »

Debating now whether something like this would work if I was to trim the sides so only the top lip was left. Apparently can handle 60 degrees so would be worried if sky box or switch was getting that hot

https://www.solentplastics.co.uk/6-9-ltr-small-euro-plastic-stacking-container/

make sure its nowhere near a heat source like a stove etc

kramer1 · 15-03-2021 10:25am

Recessed consumer unit, whip out the guts and take the door off? Expensive but might work?

Pete123456 · 15-03-2021 10:42am

sydthebeat wrote: »

make sure its nowhere near a heat source like a stove etc

Nope you’re right, it won’t be near anything hot and about 4 feet to the left of a rad so should be fine. I’m not set on it yet, but I think it is a viable option

Pete123456 · 15-03-2021 10:49am

kramer1 wrote: »

Recessed consumer unit, whip out the guts and take the door off? Expensive but might work?

Thanks, could you link to something please?

While I would like to do it “properly”, cost is a factor. If it was going to cost €100+ to put something in place it’s not really worth it.

Also considering it’s a stud wall against an exterior wall I don’t have tons of depth to play with. That’s why I landed on the pizza dough box - it’s only 75mm deep, so even it it protruded a bit, should be fine

kramer1 · 15-03-2021 11:29am

Will definitely fit inside a 3 inch stud, not sure how to link stuff, Google flush mounted consumer unit or better still go to an electrical wholesaler and have a chat with the lads behind the counter

16-03-2021 7:48am

Pete123456 wrote: »

Yeah my plan was for what you see in my link in my original post, It’s just a large back box with nothing covering it, the tv would be mounted in front of it.

I would still be wary of this. Many of these devices are not designed to be mounted in that orientation. Some contain heat sinks and have vents carefully placed to allow heat (which rises of course) escape safely. I'm sure that an Apple TV would be fine but I have seen some Sky boxes getting surprisingly hot.

As meercat said:

meercat wrote: »

Why not putt the Apple TV box,sky box,Ethernet switch in a cupboard/press near the tv and just run cables to the tv instead. It’d be a much neater installation and easier to get at/replace components if required

The cupboard does not have to be particularly close to the TV.

NeuralNetwork · 16-03-2021 7:55am

I’m not sure about a regulatory issue but there are definitely practical reasons in Europe as construction is entirely different. American homes tend to use a lot of wooden frame and sheet rock / plaster board while European buildings often have internal masonry and plaster walls. In general using deep boxes sunk into walls isn’t very practical in most buildings.

That Samsung One Connect box in the image isn’t suitable for that kind of mounting btw. I have one and they get pretty hot! I definitely wouldn’t put it into any kind of enclosed box.

Also most electronics are designed to be mounted in a particular orientation. If you place a set top box in a position where it can’t cool by convection, they’ll often overheat and fail.

They throw out a lot of heat.

16-03-2021 10:40am

NeuralNetwork wrote: »

Also most electronics are designed to be mounted in a particular orientation. If you place a set top box in a position where it can’t cool by convection, they’ll often overheat and fail.

They throw out a lot of heat.

Agreed, that is exactly the point I made in my post above.

Pete123456 · 16-03-2021 12:10pm

Fair point guys, thanks for pointing it out - I hadn’t really thought about it that way! Grand - will go with the cabinet or shelf idea so maybe

NeuralNetwork · 16-03-2021 12:23pm

It’s actually a reason why it’s not a great idea to stack set top boxes too. Often I’d you’ve one that has a metal body they’ll be designed to use it as a heat sink. So when they’re stacked they can get seriously warm!

Large In wall back box for hiding cables - against regs?

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