ᐅ How many power outlets should be installed behind the TV?

Created on: 24 Aug 2016 21:10
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Grym
I think this is quite a controversial topic, but I would like to know how many power outlets you have planned behind your TV. Assuming everything is organized in one spot, of course. Obviously, you could also place the receiver and media center separately and connect the TV via HDMI cable. Then the question would be how many outlets are needed at that separate location.

For us, it’s clear that we need:
- Network cables (preferably 2)
- Satellite cable
- Speaker outlet to run speakers to the back

Power outlets are absolutely necessary for:
- TV
- Receiver/amplifier
- Media center, e.g., a media center PC
- Subwoofer (usually active; other speakers mostly passive? Don’t shoot me if I’m wrong, I am not a hi-fi expert)

Optionally, there could be:
- Up to 3 game consoles
- Additional amplifier
- Additional satellite receiver
- DVR/recording device
- ...

So the required number of outlets varies somewhere between at least 4 and up to 10. How many outlets should you install? Or just install 2 and plan to use a power strip anyway? Or plan for 10 and have it look cluttered? Oh yes, we will have to set up what I described above in two places in the living room because the orientation of the couch and TV might change.
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daniels87
25 Aug 2016 07:48
3 power outlets, 2 satellite connections, 1 LAN port.
I’m going to install a power strip inside the lowboard anyway,
otherwise, I’d have to crawl behind it every time.
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Wastl
25 Aug 2016 11:54
@Sebastian79
Respect – I hadn’t thought of that idea yet – using a switch to control the outlets behind the TV – that would definitely look neater than my power strip. You should have told me that 4 years ago.
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Sebastian79
25 Aug 2016 11:56
It just needs to be operated – until now, this has been handled very neglectfully.
Jochen10425 Aug 2016 12:49
2x Satellite (twin receiver in the TV)
2x LAN (TV + Blu-ray player)
4x Power outlets (TV, Blu-ray player, phone charging station, possibly a soundbar in the future)

We use the TV for watching shows and listening to the radio. If the kids get a gaming console sometime, the phone will simply be moved elsewhere. I prefer a tidy setup with minimal cables, which is why the equipment is kept minimal.
The outlets are positioned slightly higher, directly in the back panel of the wall-mounted lowboard, so no cables are visible at all.
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ypg
25 Aug 2016 13:32
We have an outlet that can be switched off with a light switch and is used for watching TV. All devices that need to be on for TV viewing (TV, receiver, etc.) are plugged into a power strip connected to this switchable outlet. This way, there is no standby power consumption in the evening.

Additionally, we have 4 more regular outlets, of which 3 are currently unused. One outlet has a lamp plugged in.

It’s worth considering whether each game console really needs its own outlet (I would also question the number of game consoles in general). Similarly, whether to have one or two LAN sockets, zero or two speakers... those who like to plan with plenty of reserves basically plan for twice as much.
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Sebastian79
25 Aug 2016 13:35
I currently have one LAN port reserved out of six.