The Arlington TVBS503 is a TV box built to hide power and low-voltage cables behind a wall-mounted television. Specified by AV installers, electricians, custom integrators and stocked in Canada by Maple Electric Supply for fast contractor and project delivery.
Manufacturer resources: Browse Arlington's official Home Theater / Audio Video catalog ↗ for full technical specifications, dimensional drawings, and installation guides.
TL;DR
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What it is: Arlington TVBS503, TV box, 503" trade size.
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Best for: wall-mounted tvs over fireplaces, conference room av walls.
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Why this one: Power and low-voltage are separated by an integrated divider, eliminating signal interference and code compliance issues.
Quick Specs
Quick reference for the TVBS503. These are the points contractors and purchasers check first when matching a part to a project drawing or a takeoff line. Full installation and listing detail lives on the Arlington spec sheet.
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Arlington part number: TVBS503
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Family: Home Theater / Audio Video
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Sub-type: Recessed TV box
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Material: Steel
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Trade size: 503"
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Gang size: 1-gang
Best For
Common scopes where the Arlington TVBS503 (and the rest of the Home Theater / Audio Video line) earns its place on the spec. It's not an exhaustive list, but it's a fast read on whether this is the right family for your application before you go deeper on the cut sheet.
- Wall-mounted TVs over fireplaces
- Conference room AV walls
- Home theater builds with concealed cable runs
- Retail digital signage
Why Contractors Choose It
- Listed for the applications stated on the Arlington spec sheet, so there are no jurisdictional surprises at inspection.
- Designed around the realities of low-voltage and HDMI runs, with separate compartments, recessed receptacles, and bridge accessories that keep cable bend radii within spec.
- Distributed by a Canadian-owned stocking dealer. Maple Electric Supply ships from Ontario, so the SKU lands on site without cross-border duty calcs or week-long customs holds.
- Backed by Arlington's North American manufacturing footprint. It's the same part number you've already spec'd on prior jobs, with the same listings.
- Replacement and add-on availability runs through a Canadian supply channel, so short-notice job sites can pull additional units without re-engineering the order.
Choose the Right Model
Compare with sibling Arlington TV boxes:
See: Arlington Home Theater / Audio Video collection
Installation Notes
- Power and low-voltage cables must be separated per CEC Section 16 and Section 4-008. Use a divided gang or low-voltage bridge for shared box installs.
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Primary code reference: CEC Section 16 (Class 1/2/3 Circuits) for low voltage; CEC Section 12-3036 (Conductor separation).
- Verify the Arlington listing on the current spec sheet matches your local AHJ's adopted code edition, since provincial amendments to the CEC can override the federal base text.
- Confirm trade size, mounting style, and accessory pairing against the project drawings before ordering in volume. Maple Electric Supply's counter staff can pull the cut sheet on request.
- Installation must be completed by a qualified electrician where required by local code; the homeowner / unlicensed scope is narrower in Ontario than in several US jurisdictions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Patterns we see on returns, callbacks, and inspection re-visits around the Home Theater / Audio Video line. Most of them are small and avoidable when the right SKU and accessory get pulled at the counter.
- Routing HDMI through a power-only knockout (CEC 16)
- Forgetting the bridge kit for floor-level power
- Choosing a 1-gang where a 2-gang is needed for hubs
- Buying the box without the LV bridge accessory
Frequently Bought With
- Arlington Home Theater (bridge kits)
- Arlington NM Cable Fittings
- Arlington Miscellaneous (cable mgmt)
Sourcing in Ontario
For contractors specifying the Arlington TVBS503 on a project, Maple Electric Supply can confirm in-stock counts before you commit on the bid, which helps when the install window is tight or the substitution clause in the spec is closed. Larger orders qualify for project pricing, and replacement SKUs ship from Ontario stock instead of waiting on a cross-border backorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is the Arlington TVBS503 UL and/or CSA listed?
Arlington components are listed for the applications stated by the manufacturer. Always verify the listing on the product's spec sheet against your jurisdiction's adopted code.
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Is this part made in the USA?
Arlington Industries manufactures the bulk of its catalog in the United States. Confirm origin on the current spec sheet if it matters for your project.
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Is this for new construction or retrofit installs?
Varies by configuration. Check the TVBS503 datasheet for the exact dimensions, ratings, and accessory list before ordering in volume. Arlington updates spec sheets periodically, so spec the live version from the manufacturer's site for the current job.
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Does it separate power from low-voltage cables (HDMI, speaker, network)?
The TVBS503 datasheet is the authoritative source on this. Arlington publishes torque specs, listed conductor ranges, and accepted accessories per part number, and those values shift between revisions even when the SKU stays the same.
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What gang size fits my installation?
The TVBS503 is a 1-gang configuration.
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Are mounting screws and trim plates included?
Confirm against the published Arlington TVBS503 cut sheet; values shift between configurations even inside the same family. Maple Electric Supply can email a current copy on request and flag any recent revisions that changed listed ratings.
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Can this be installed behind a wall-mounted TV with limited stud depth?
Maple Electric Supply can pull the TVBS503 spec sheet on request. Answers here depend on the specific configuration and the listed conditions of use. Anything that affects code compliance should come straight from the manufacturer's current published documentation.
Stocked in Canada by Maple Electric Supply. Contractor support, bulk pricing on request, local pickup and delivery available.
