Hades Canyon NUC — CEC Adapter Instructions

Modified on Fri, 1 May at 12:19 AM

This article covers hardware installation of the Pulse-Eight CEC adapter into the Intel Hades Canyon NUC. The Hades Canyon uses the same adapter as the Skull Canyon NUC, but has an additional internal shield that must be removed before the adapter can be connected.

The Hades Canyon / Skull Canyon CEC adapter is legacy hardware. Intel discontinued the NUC product line in 2023. For new installations, the USB-CEC Adapter is the current recommended product.

Compatible Models

This adapter and these instructions apply to the following Hades Canyon NUC models:

Model	Notes
NUC8i7HNK	Hades Canyon
NUC8i7HNKQC	Hades Canyon
NUC8i7HVK	Hades Canyon
NUC8i7HVKVA	Hades Canyon

For the Skull Canyon NUC (NUC6i7KYK), the installation process is similar but does not require removing an internal shield. See Skull Canyon NUC — CEC Adapter Instructions.

What You Will Need

Pulse-Eight Skull Canyon / Hades Canyon CEC Adapter (SKU: P8-SKULLHADESCEC)
A small Phillips-head screwdriver
libcec 7.1.1 — download from github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec/releases

Hardware Installation

Power off and unplug the NUC completely before opening the chassis. Do not install the adapter while the unit is powered on or connected to mains power.

Remove the six outer screwsTurn the Hades Canyon upside down and remove the six screws on the underside of the chassis. Lift the bottom cover away and set it aside.

Remove the internal shieldInside the chassis you will see a metal shield covering part of the motherboard. Remove the single screw holding the shield in place, then lift the shield away from the system base. Set the shield and screw aside — you will need to refit them during reassembly.

Locate the 20-pin Internal Common IO headerWith the shield removed, locate the 20-pin header on the motherboard labelledB(Internal Common IO header). The exact position of this header varies between Hades Canyon models — consult your NUC's Technical Product Specification if you are unsure which header to use.

Connect the CEC adapterPlug the CEC adapter into the 20-pin header. Ensure the connector is fully seated and correctly oriented — pin 1 on the adapter should align with pin 1 on the header, which is usually marked with a triangle or dot on the motherboard.

Route the HDMI connectorThe adapter has a short HDMI tail that exits the chassis. Route this carefully so it does not get pinched when the shield and cover are refitted.

Refit the internal shieldLower the shield back into position over the motherboard and refit the single screw to secure it.

Refit the bottom coverReplace the bottom cover and refit the six outer screws.

Connect the HDMI cableConnect your TV to the NUC using the adapter's HDMI connector as the output. The adapter must be in the HDMI signal path between the NUC and the TV for CEC to function.

Software Installation

Once the hardware is installed, install libcec to enable CEC control.

Download libcec 7.1.1Get the installer from github.com/Pulse-Eight/libcec/releases. Choose the 64-bit installer (libcec-x64-7.1.1.exe) unless you are running a 32-bit operating system.

Run the installerFollow the on-screen prompts to complete installation. Make sure all components are ticked on the component selection screen. CEC Tray will be installed alongside libcec and will appear in the system tray after installation.

Verify the adapter is detectedOpen CEC Tray, go toFile → Enable Advanced Mode, then click theCEC Testertab. Confirm the adapter is listed and that power on/off commands work correctly with your TV in standby.

If the adapter is not detected in CEC Tray, ensure the 20-pin connector is fully seated on the motherboard header and that your TV is powered on and connected via HDMI before opening CEC Tray.

Troubleshooting

No video or audio output after installation

Disconnect the CEC adapter from the HDMI path and connect your PC directly to the TV to confirm the source and display are working correctly. If direct connection works, reconnect through the adapter using short, known-good HDMI cables. If the problem persists with the adapter in the path, contact Pulse-Eight support.

The adapter is not detected in CEC Tray

Check that the 20-pin connector is fully and correctly seated on the Internal Common IO header. Ensure your TV is powered on and connected to the adapter via HDMI. Try closing and reopening CEC Tray. If the adapter is still not detected, check that libcec installed correctly by reinstalling using the steps above.

CEC commands are not working

Confirm that CEC is enabled on your TV. Depending on your TV brand, this setting may be labelled Anynet+ (Samsung), BRAVIA Sync (Sony), SimpLink (LG), or VIERA Link (Panasonic). If CEC is enabled but commands are still not working, try upgrading the adapter firmware — see Upgrading the Firmware of the CEC Adapter.

Need help with your Hades Canyon CEC adapter?
Contact Pulse-Eight support with your NUC model number and a description of the issue.

UK: 01202 413 610 | US: (858) 748-8250 | support@pulse-eight.com