Design Tip: Transparent Wiring

Transparent fiber optic cable is the latest option for anyone trying to hide cables.

In the past we’ve seen wiring routed behind baseboards and around moldings in lieu of having to bore into the walls. These solutions are a great way to hide cabling the cabling that connects a TV to a rack of A/V components. Now OWLink believes it has come up with another solution: transparent fiber optic cabling. The fiber optic cabling itself is made of a strand of glass just 0.9 millimeters in diameter. A clear, plastic covering protects the fiber and makes it nearly invisible to the naked eye, which means it can be mounted to the surface of a wall, routed around a fireplace mantel and run along the baseboards for an easy installation. The cabling is so small, it can even be tucked into a groove cut into the drywall with an X-Acto knife, says David Hochenedel, OWLink business development manager. “You can paint or drywall right over it,” he adds. “Or, I have it mounted right to the wall in my office, and nobody every notices it.”

Two models of the transparent fiber optic cabling are available: the FO2800 for connecting a Blu-ray player or set-top box to a flat-panel TV; and the FO2850 for connecting a PC to a TV. Each kit comes with 100 feet of fiber and sells for $599 and $799, respectively.

Related Reading:
How to Run A/V Wires Thru Your Home
Storage Options for Your A/V Gear
A/V Solutions for Small Spaces