I'm used to making sure electrical wire is setback 1 1/4 inch from the face of a wood stud, but what are the requirements (US NEC) for 2 1/2 inch steel studs? They appear to come punched out for wires or plumbing, but wouldn't provide enough setback to protect the wiring. The steel stud is designed for a screw to go through it. Are there thicker steel protection plates designed for steels studs, or would that even be necessary?
Electrical – How to Protect Electrical Wiring in a 2 1/2 Inch Steel Stud Beyond Using Wire Grommets
electricalnec
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If you're just using a regular outlet as you suggest behind the TV, then my suggestion would be to supply it like a regular outlet.
If there is another outlet nearby (directly below would be ideal), fish a wire to it, and attach it to that circuit.
If there is unfinished space below, you can get a wire down there (use a long "installer's drill bit") and then it should be relatively easy to find a circuit to attach it to (or just run it back to the panel).
I'd be nervous about any contraptions that attempt to get power to this circuit otherwise. You absolutely need to have a male end in the wall, as a male-to-male extension cable is dangerous to have.
The best thing I can think up totally as a DIY without requiring real hard-wiring would be to get a blank faceplate, and put a square hole in it, and then mount an IEC 320-C14 connector in it (eg. from digikey).
Then you can just use a standard C13 cord (like the kind used to connect most computers, TVs, etc) and plug it into a surge protector or UPS or whatever.
I’m not a NEC attorney nor did I stay in that fancy motel last night but one of the “intents” of “the rules” is to reduce the number of material casualties suffered during construction. A sheetrock craftsman won’t use 16-penny nails to mount sheetrock and is highly unlikely to miss the studs or furring strip with a standard drywall nail or screw, hence the 1 1/4” (and metal plates) rules. Mr. Homeowner, while installing a shelving unit for knickknacks might use a 16-penny nail but I’m confident wiring a house with EMT would turn expensive in a hurry.
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Best Answer
The NEC language for metal studs is different, it doesn't actually say 1.25", but enforced much the same.
Sometimes you can drill an extra 1/4" hole to use a zip-tie to pull the cable against one edge to require just one plate or zip-tie toward concrete wall if stud if stud is just furring.
The wording of the previous paragraph that covers wood leaves no wiggle room to not use nail plates on edges not likely to get nailed or screwed to like double walls or furring.