Power & Accessories

Summary: Power & Accessories

ProAV low-voltage cabling built for commercial performance
Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® in the United States to support the demands of professional audio-visual projects across corporate, education, hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, and industrial environments. As a B2B partner, we focus on reliable signal delivery, consistent quality, and labor-saving details that help integrators, electrical contractors, and AV design-build teams finish on time and within budget.

Why ProAV teams choose Windy City Wire
Every SmartWire cable is engineered for dependable installation and long-term performance in low-voltage AV systems. From clear audio paths to clean control signals and high-bandwidth data runs, our constructions are selected to streamline terminations, maintain signal integrity, and standardize your field practices across job sites.

• Signal integrity, end to end: Consistent conductor geometry, tight tolerances, and appropriate shielding where needed help reduce noise, crosstalk, and interference in critical AV paths.
• Faster pulls with less effort: SmartWire Glide lubrication is applied during manufacturing and can reduce pulling friction by up to 70% to move cable smoothly through conduit and pathways.
• Built for code-driven spaces: Constructions are available in riser (CMR) and plenum (CMP) to match building requirements and simplify submittals.
• Jobsite identification: Choose from an extensive range of jacket and stripe color options to standardize your installations; custom color requests are available to align with your organization’s standards.
• Consistent, scalable supply: U.S.-made SmartWire supports project schedules with dependable availability across common ProAV constructions.

Value for your next project
When you specify SmartWire for ProAV, you get repeatable installation results across speaker, microphone, control, video, and data pathways—with low-voltage constructions that help maintain performance from rack to endpoint. Our team works directly with integrators and contractors to align cable selections with scope, code requirements, and installation environments, so you can count on a straightforward bill of materials and predictable field outcomes.

Partner with Windy City Wire
From design submittals to site execution, we help ProAV integrators and electrical contractors select the right low-voltage cable for the application—speaker, microphone, control, video, and network—so your systems perform as specified. Speak with our team to align SmartWire selections with your next commercial or industrial AV project.

Solutions: Power & Accessories

ProAV Power & Accessories for Commercial and Industrial AV

Power is the backbone of every audio visual system. Windy City Wire supports integrators with a focused selection of ProAV Power & Accessories that simplify power distribution, reduce rack congestion, and keep essential AV equipment online. From conference rooms and digital signage to broadcast and control rooms, these cords, splitters, and power strips help you deliver clean, organized power where you need it—without overbuilding or overcomplicating the install.

Industries That Rely on ProAV Power Accessories

• Corporate and Enterprise: Boardrooms, divisible training rooms, huddle spaces, and executive briefing centers.
• Education: Classrooms, lecture halls, esports labs, libraries, and distance learning studios.
• Healthcare: Conference spaces, simulation labs, telehealth suites, and digital signage in public areas.
• Hospitality and Entertainment: Ballrooms, event spaces, wayfinding and advertising displays, and back-of-house control rooms.
• Retail and QSR: Menu boards, interactive kiosks, and in-store media players.
• Government and Public Sector: Courtrooms, command centers, council chambers, and training facilities, including TAA-compliant needs.
• Transportation and Utilities: Operations centers, signage networks, and passenger information systems.
• Industrial and Manufacturing: Floor displays, control stations, and plant training environments.
• Houses of Worship: Sanctuary AV, broadcast booths, and classrooms.

What This Category Helps You Accomplish

• Clean, serviceable racks: Use short cords to prevent excess slack, reduce heat traps, and improve airflow.
• Maximized UPS and surge outlets: Outlet saver extensions and compact splitters reduce blocking from bulky power supplies.
• Flexible device power: Deploy multi-outlet power strips for low-current peripherals while keeping high-priority gear on dedicated protection.
• Standards-aligned connectors: NEMA 5-15 plugs and receptacles integrate seamlessly with common AV power infrastructure.
• Appropriate construction for AV environments: SJT jackets and molded strain reliefs support reliable day-to-day use in racks and furniture.

Core Items You’ll Find in Power & Accessories

• 6-Outlet Power Strips: Practical density for small to mid-size device clusters; black housings blend in racks and credenzas. 10A maximum circuit support and 18/3 SJT construction help keep peripherals organized.
• Outlet Saver Power Extension Cords: Short 3 ft runs with NEMA 5-15P to NEMA 5-15R keep wall warts from blocking adjacent receptacles on UPS units and PDUs; available in 18 AWG for efficient, low-current peripherals and TAA-compliant options for public sector projects.
• Power Cord Splitters: 12-inch two-way splitters (NEMA 5-15P to dual NEMA 5-15R) in 16/3 help power paired low-current accessories from a single source inside tight rack spaces.

Best Practices When Specifying ProAV Power Accessories

1. Match load to gauge and cord type: For low-current peripherals, 18/3 SJT is often sufficient; for slightly higher combined loads on a splitter, 16/3 adds margin. Stay within device and circuit ratings and follow the 80% loading guideline on protected outlets where applicable.
2. Use shortest practical length: Short cords reduce clutter, improve airflow, and make service loops predictable in crowded racks and furniture.
3. Preserve protected receptacles: Employ outlet saver cords to keep UPS and surge-protected outlets usable when powering wall-wart adapters.
4. Plan your receptacle mix: Combine power strips for convenience loads with dedicated protected outlets for mission-critical equipment to support uptime and maintenance workflows.
5. Standardize connectors: NEMA 5-15P/5-15R compatibility ensures quick replacement and easy field service across sites.

Common Deployment Examples

• Conference room credenza: One 6-outlet strip for codecs and switchers; 3 ft outlet saver cords to prevent blocked UPS receptacles; a 12 in splitter for two low-current extenders.
• Digital signage cabinet: 12 in splitter to feed media player and HDMI-to-IP converter; short 18/3 extension to keep the UPS face clear for future service.
• Broadcast rack: Mix of 16/3 splitters and 18/3 outlet savers to power control panels and converters, with clean cable paths for rapid device swaps.
• Control room console: TAA-compliant 3 ft extensions where procurement standards require it, keeping PSUs accessible and labeled.

Why integrators choose Windy City Wire for ProAV power

• Designed for the way you build racks: Practical lengths and gauges that reduce slack, save space, and support airflow.
• Consistency across projects: Standardized NEMA 5-15 solutions simplify replacement, sparing, and multi-site rollouts.
• Procurement-friendly: Options that align with commercial, industrial, and public sector requirements, including TAA-compliant selections.
• Technical guidance: Support for selecting the right cord length, gauge, and accessory mix to match load and environment.

Whether you’re powering a dense rack of encoders, cleaning up a conference table installation, or delivering a reliable signage network, Windy City Wire’s ProAV Power & Accessories provide the straightforward, dependable components that keep your low-voltage systems organized and running.

Additional Links:

• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you