From confusing cables to a sleek smart home hub, let’s explore your options for tablet wall mount power.

So, you’re in the middle of a home project, maybe setting up the perfect smart home control center. Your electrician has done their part and left you with a couple of wires poking out of the drywall: a blue or grey network cable and a standard electrical wire. You’re left staring at them, thinking, “…now what?” If this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. This is a super common scenario, and figuring out the best approach for your tablet wall mount power can feel a bit daunting. But don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks.

Let’s break down your options to turn that pair of wires into a sleek, permanently-powered tablet on your wall.

Understanding Your Two Wires

First, let’s identify what you’re working with. You likely have two very different types of cable:

• The Cat6 Cable: This is your Ethernet or network cable. Its main job is to provide a fast, stable internet connection. But it has a cool trick up its sleeve: it can also carry low-voltage power using a technology called Power over Ethernet (PoE).
• The Electrical Wire: This is standard 120-volt AC power, the same stuff that powers your lights and outlets. It’s a direct line to your home’s main electrical system.

Both can power your tablet, but they do it in very different ways. The path you choose depends on your comfort level with wiring, your budget, and the final look you’re going for.

Option 1: The Clean PoE Solution for Tablet Wall Mount Power

Using the Cat6 cable with Power over Ethernet (PoE) is often the cleanest and most modern solution. It sends both data and power over a single cable, which is incredibly efficient. Since it’s low voltage, it’s generally safer for a DIY approach if you’re comfortable with basic wiring.

So, how does it work? Your tablet charges via USB, which is 5 volts DC. PoE runs at a higher DC voltage (around 48 volts). You can’t just plug the Cat6 cable into your tablet. You need a couple of key components to make it happen:

• A PoE Source: You need something to send power into the Cat6 cable. This is usually either a PoE network switch (if you have multiple PoE devices) or a simpler PoE injector that adds power to a single network line.
• A PoE Splitter: This is the magic little box that you’ll have at the tablet’s end, inside the wall or mount. It takes the Cat6 cable as input, and “splits” the signal back into two outputs: a regular Ethernet jack (which you may not need for a Wi-Fi tablet) and a 5V USB connector (like USB-C or Micro-USB) to power your tablet.

This setup is great because all the high-voltage work is handled far away at your network switch or injector. You can find more technical details on how PoE works over at the IEEE standards website.

Option 2: Using Direct AC Power

The other wire your electrician left is for standard AC power. This is a more traditional approach but is just as effective. This method absolutely requires installing a proper electrical box in the wall. This is not a DIY job for most people. Working with 120V AC power is dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, so please have your electrician come back to finish this part.

Here’s the plan for this approach:

1. Install a Recessed Outlet: Your electrician will cut a hole in the drywall and install a junction box. For the cleanest look, ask for a recessed outlet. These are designed to sit deeper in the wall, allowing plugs and power adapters to sit flush.
2. Choose a USB Outlet: To avoid a bulky power adapter, they can install an outlet that has USB ports built right in. A recessed outlet with USB ports is the perfect component for this.
3. Connect a Short Cable: All you need is a very short, 90-degree USB cable to connect from the recessed outlet to your tablet.

This is a rock-solid method, but it involves more drywall work and the cost of having an electrician finish the job safely.

Putting It All Together: The Right Mount for Your Tablet

Regardless of how you get power to the location, you need a mount to hold the tablet. The mount is what creates that seamless, built-in look. There are tons of options out there, from simple on-wall brackets to completely flush, in-wall systems.

Companies like VidaBox offer a wide range of professional-looking mounts that are designed to hide the cables and charging hardware. Many of these mounts are specifically designed to accommodate PoE splitters or the head of a USB cable, giving you that clean finish you’re looking for.

So, Which Tablet Wall Mount Power Method is Best?

Ultimately, the choice is yours:

• Go with PoE if you prefer working with low-voltage wiring, want a single-cable solution, and already have or plan to get a PoE switch/injector.
• Go with Direct AC Power if you want to use standard household electricity and are comfortable hiring an electrician to ensure it’s done safely and to code.

Either way, those mystery wires in your wall are the first step to an awesome smart home hub. A little planning now will give you a result that looks professional and works flawlessly for years to come. Happy building!