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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merlin83
24 Aug 2016 23:56
I have 3 power outlets, 1 TV socket, and 1 internet socket.

Why are so many necessary?

For regular use, the TV also has built-in speakers. Modern devices don’t need a receiver anymore, and a hard drive can be powered via USB.
RobsonMKK25 Aug 2016 06:05
@merlin83 has explained multiple times why more sockets are needed. If what you have is enough for you, that’s fine. But if, for example, you want 5.1, you will need different devices.
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Sebastian79
25 Aug 2016 06:24
Well, internal receivers are usually not sufficient – especially for Sky.

PlayStation, Wii, Blu-ray player, TV, satellite receiver, AV receiver, possibly lighting for the lowboard, power for the IR distributor... plus some spare capacity. That can add up...

And having only one LAN outlet nowadays is not enough if you don’t rely on Wi-Fi.
RobsonMKK25 Aug 2016 06:44
Whether I install 4 LAN outlets or just one and connect a 5-port switch to it, which ultimately only has 4 ports because one is used for uplink, I’d rather have 4 proper ports built into the wall.
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Wastl
25 Aug 2016 07:16
I have 2 power outlets, 2 LAN ports, and 2 satellite connections. The LAN ports are enough for the receiver and Sky box. Only one power outlet is used, so I can switch off all devices completely with a power strip. Additionally, there are 2 sockets for 5.1 speaker cables.

Switchable power outlets are a good idea, but then all the cables are visible. That’s why I installed my power strip inside the lowboard, so only the plug is visible. There is a cable duct running from the lowboard to the TV, painted to match the wall, although it could be done more neatly.
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Sebastian79
25 Aug 2016 07:24
Wastl schrieb:
Switchable outlets are a good idea, but then you see all the cable clutter,

No, I have a switch in the wall that turns off the outlets – this way I also save on an expensive (and prone to failure) master-slave power strip.