HDMI outlet connection

The HDMI interface is widely used to connect video display devices. With this technology, it is possible to achieve data transmission without compression at high speed, which allows you to get a high-resolution image. Almost all modern TVs, computers, tablets, mobile gadgets are equipped with such connectors. For stationary connection of multimedia devices, special sockets are often used. Their installation allows you to use hidden cables and get rid of a significant amount of wires spoiling the interior of the room. Let's find out what an HDMI socket is, what it is and how to properly install it with your own hands.

Types of HDMI connectors

Since the connected devices differ in size, they use different types of HDMI interface. There are five main modifications of such connectors.

1. Standard A. Today's most popular solution for connecting devices with large screens, which primarily include TVs, game consoles, and computer monitors. This connector is equipped with 19 pins and allows you to transmit an image with a resolution of 1920 × 1080.
2. Standard B. Rare today. This connector has 29 pins, which allows you to transmit an image with a resolution of 3840 × 2400. Like the previous type, these devices support the DVI-D protocol.
3. Mini-HDMI (Standard C). These connectors are designed for portable equipment. To connect to devices equipped with type A connectors, special adapters are used.
4. Micro-HDMI (Standard D). Designed for installation on mobile phones and tablets. Having all the same 19 pins, this connector is half the size of the previous type of products.
5. Standard E. Designed for use in internal audio and video systems of cars. Differs in the increased quality of isolation that provides high resistance to influences of vibrations, and also temperature fluctuations in a wide range.

Types of HDMI sockets

When carrying out repairs in the apartment, it is worth thinking in advance about the possibility of installing such sockets near the alleged video equipment. Consider 2 main types of these devices.

Passive HDMI sockets

Depending on the place of installation and destination, such sockets can be receiving or transmitting. These are the cheapest devices, a feature of which is the impossibility of broadcasting a high-quality signal over a distance exceeding several meters.

Active HDMI outlets

The main difference between these devices and the previous type of sockets is an amplifier, which significantly increases the signal transmission range (up to 45 meters). In addition, you do not need to use a special cord to connect active HDMI sockets, since this is done with twisted-pair cables. Of course, this connection method cannot be called optimal, but it is often used due to the high cost of the HDMI cable.

Since the cost of a modification with an amplifier is much higher than its passive counterpart, in most cases it is used only for installation at the output of the receiver, and a connector without an amplifier is installed on the panel of a multimedia device. At the same time, in the case of using active sockets on both sides, the video signal transmission range increases significantly.

Types of HDMI cables

Today, there are five main cable options for devices connected using HDMI technology:

• Standard. Designed to connect the signal receiver to the source at a short distance. Allows you to transfer the image in HD quality.

• Standard cable with Ethernet. It differs from the previous type only in the presence of a channel for connecting the device to the network.

• Automotive cord.Has the increased durability and resistance to influence of vibrations, and also temperature fluctuations.

• High speed cable. Designed to connect high resolution devices that support 3D or Deep Color.

• High speed with Ethernet. Equipped with an additional channel for connecting to the network.

All HDMI cables manufactured today have a special marking indicating their type. The choice of a particular model depends primarily on the capabilities and technical characteristics of the connected devices.

HDMI cable pinout

To properly connect the cable to the outlet, you need to at least roughly imagine what this or that wire is intended for. The pinout of the cable and, accordingly, the socket contacts, is as follows:

• Pins one through nine are for transmitting information over three separate channels. Each of them has three contacts, which are designed to transmit a positive, negative signal, as well as for grounding or voltage limitation.
• Pins 10-12 are the clock gateway.
• The 13th is used for transmission of control signals (CEC).
• 14th - reserve.
• 15th and 16th - data display channel (DDC).
• The 17th is designed to limit surges in the CEC and DDC channels.
• The 18th is needed for power supply (+ 5 V).
• The 19th is designed to turn the voltage on and off, as well as change it when using Hot Plug Detect technology.

The wiring diagram should be attached to the product, it will look like this (see photo).

HDMI outlet mounting

The design of a standard HDMI socket is quite simple. Often such a device is an ordinary adapter mounted on a fixed base, which is mounted on the wall with bolts or a special mounting box.

For the convenience of connecting the cable to such an outlet, many models are equipped with flexible inputs of a certain length, which allow the most economical use of the space behind the front panel of the product.

Depending on which HDMI option is used, the numbering of the outputs may differ. Common modifications of connectors include standard A, the lower contacts of which have even serial numbers, and the upper ones have odd ones, and type C (Mini-HDMI), the contacts of which are arranged in one row, respectively, each of them has its own serial number.

When HDMI sockets are installed using a cable equipped with an appropriate connector, installation is extremely simple:

1. A cord of a certain length is laid between the installation sites of two sockets.
2. The cable is connected to the connectors of each of them.
3. The front panels of the devices are installed.

Often there are sockets equipped with several different types of connectors for connecting multimedia equipment, as in the following photo.

Flush-mounted HDMI sockets from Legrand

More difficult is the installation of HDMI outlets, which are not designed to use plug connectors to connect a cable to them.

To understand the connection procedure, you should first familiarize yourself with their design. To illustrate the HDMI socket device, consider the product of the French company Legrand, which is one of the world leaders in the production of electrical equipment.

Today, electronics stores offer several lines of HDMI sockets from Legrand, which differ in the material and shape of the case, as well as the decorative panel. These devices combine high quality workmanship and maximum reliability.

Such sockets are complete products, which include a working part consisting of a printed circuit board with 19 pins and an HDMI connector, a device for mounting in a socket, and a decorative panel.

The front panel of the product can be selected in accordance with the wishes of the customer. Thus, it is possible to choose an outlet that best suits the interior of the room in which it will be installed.

Another important advantage that distinguishes the model under consideration is the possibility of its installation on any walls, and not just on a special block, like most of the existing models of this type.

The products of another French company, Schneider Electric, also have decent quality.

Installing and connecting the device from Legrand

To connect the outlet, an HDMI cable without lugs (connectors) must be used, which can be laid in the wall by hidden laying it in the cable channel.

To install Legrand HDMI sockets on your own, follow these steps:

1. Before laying the cable, it is necessary to ring each of its cores and establish a correspondence between them at both ends. Sometimes situations arise when it is necessary to install a socket on one side of the cable, and the other is connected directly to a multimedia device using a standard connector. In this case, you should establish a correspondence between the contacts and the free ends on the opposite side of the cable.
2. After each output has been assigned a serial number, you can start laying it and installation of a socket box.
3. Each core is connected to the corresponding connectors of the working part of the outlet. According to the installation instructions for this device, a ferrule must be installed on each end of the wire, the crimping of which is carried out with crimping pliers. In most cases, such a tool is not available, however, the quality of bolted connections in Legrand products makes it possible to mount stripped copper ends of the cable cores in them.
4. After connecting the socket, it is necessary to check the quality of its functioning by testing the multimedia equipment.
5. The working part of the device is installed in the mounting box.
6. The decorative overlay is snapped on.

Thus, the use of HDMI sockets allows you to connect any amount of multimedia equipment, while avoiding surface cabling. With the help of these devices, not only the maximum convenience in the operation of the equipment is achieved, but also the aesthetic appeal of the interior of the room is preserved.