Hi all,

I am currently re-wiring my small office with CAT5 cable to accommodate a computer network. I'm trying to minimize the number of holes I put in my walls. So, I'd like to have my electrical outlet sitting right next to my network outlet in the same wall fixture.

Would there would be any problem in me setting up a 2 gang wall plate with one gang being an electrical outlet and the other gang being a network outlet? I guess I'm just worried about the 110V electrical wiring sitting in the same box as the CAT5 network cable. Please advice.

Thanks

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Hi arjkhanna,

1)Try to avoid running cables parallel to power cables.


2)Keep cables away from devices which can introduce noise into them. Here's a short list: copy machines, electric heaters, speakers, printers, TV sets, fluorescent lights, copiers, welding machines, microwave ovens, telephones, fans, elevators, motors, electric ovens, dryers, washing machines, and shop equipment.

3. Do not run UTP cable outside of a building. It presents a very dangerous lightning hazard!

Hi,

"I guess I'm just worried about the 240V electrical wiring sitting in the same box as the CAT5 network cable"

I wish everyone had those kinds of instincts.

Running high current cabling near data cables cause’s problems. Data cables should cross electrical lines at 90 degree angles when possible and shouldn't terminate in the same stud cavity as a power line.

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J Suresh Kumar
Google Hacks

Hi suresh,

You might get away with it if you run the network cable down another stud and then horizontally over to a dual box. I don't see why they would make boxes like that if you couldn't

Hi,

Well if you do it my way...

A few years ago with nothing more then a CAT3 cable who was needed to get 2 telephone connections at one desk, i was searching for a manner to run the cable under the ceiling and on walls.

P25 Plastic Gutter was too expensive for my colleagues so they did not allow me to order it.

The only thing I had was a small bag of wire clips

There were only 10 left...

So i decided to go for the electric stapler who was lying around in that room.
Set on different force settings tested on a thick wooden stick until i got a neat result.

The first few shot straight through the cable, cutting it in 2 in the process!

After setting it on the lowest force it was able to jam a staple in without even denting the outer insulation.

So i stapled that cable around.

I would advise you: NEVER do it with CAT5 cable who is in use for Ethernet signals!

Hi,

I would never use, for example, an Arrow T-29M--another cable stapler I have used for years to run telephone wire/RS232C connections--to staple CAT5 cable. However, the two staplers I mentioned work great with CAT5 cable. No adjustments are needed. The cable is loose enough that it can be pulled through many staples in a straight line with only a little force. In fact you could replace a cable without plugs without restapling it. Also, because of an upside-down, U-shaped die at the bottom, front of the staplers, it is rather difficult to put a staple into the cable; I've tried to do it intentionally.

Hi all,

thank you all for your recommendations. They were very insightful, well though out, and helpful.

I have one quicker question. Would there be any problem in running CAT5 cable through my walls without feeding the CAT5 through conduit?

When you post your response, please specify where exactly I need to have the CAT5 cable fed through conduit (walls only?, walls and ceiling crawlspace?). Before I put up the drywall on the ceiling and walls, I want to make sure I have all my’t’s crossed and is dotted. As you can tell, I'm a newbie to doing this kind of stuff.

Any additional info would be much appreciated.

Hi,

Conduit is optional, typically you run it if you think you'll need to run additional cables later. I ran cable in conduit when I helped at my friends house in the basement where he said they get moisture now and then (he also had conduit there so we didn't need to buy it).

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J Suresh Kumar
Google Hacks

Hi,

There may be fire code rules in your local/state building codes. For example you may have to fill holes between floors with fire stop material and you may need plenum cable for some wiring. As for my house... "What me worry"...

BTW, I use CAT5e cable as CAT6 cable, jacks, etc. are a bit pricey for my budget. However, if I were to build a new house and had open walls and financing, I might reconsider. As I live in a ranch-style house with access to the basement/crawl space and attics and I can access all cables running to our three home offices, etc., I can replace it if there becomes a need in the future.

Hi,

As a network administrator at a web hosting company, and also as somebody who is about to add network outlets throughout my home I have some advice for the original poster.

You say you want to combine electrical outlets with network outlets.

If you run a network cable right along side a power cable you will induct frequencies in to the network cable slowing speeds down or making network talk impossible.

It's always a bad idea to run electric cables right along side twisted pair, so try and keep them as far apart as possible.

In a project if I had to run power by network I'd keep at least 3 feet separation if ran parallel to power. In attic runs, only pass power cables by intersecting them at oblique angles.

Just a word of advice. I'd hate you to to bother with a Ethernet network drop and only obtain 1-2 mbps max.

HI,

Three feet is more separation than you need. A good rule is not to put them in the same studs hollow space (16 inches for Indian "stick-built" construction) or at least, for 240 V, not on the same side of the same stud

Hi,

I guess I need to go back to the drawing board and see why AC can affect a Cat 5 cable, but DC is just fine. POE injects up to 48V @ up to 15.4w down the center of the cable with no performance loss. So I guess my point is why it would matter much if you run along side an AC cable when I am pumping 48V DC down thousands of cables. Perhaps its a harmonic difference caused by the 60hz frequency of the cable

It matters. An expanding or contracting magnetic field is created by a changing current through a conductor. AC reverses the current 60 times per second in the U.S. An expanding and contracting magnetic field induces a voltage in adjoining conductors. DC does not except when it is initially energized or denergized (or, when it is not really DC). One cannot use transformers with DC; an AC line next to an Ethernet cable forms a transformer.

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J Suresh Kumar
Google Hacks

AC affects Cat5 because of the magnetic field produced around any varing current carrying conductor. Principle of mutual induction that produces cross talk.

But FYI, there is the "WaveTrap" communication system between electrical stations that use the same power transmission line for communication.....