Plenum or PVC

[Aganack1]

I am networking my home this week and was wondering weather or not i should use Plenum or PVC Cables? And why?

 

[JackMDS]

If he cable is "snaked" in very warm spots (like next to hot air ducts) Use Plenum.

Otherwise the PVC is fine.

 

[Aganack1]

What brand of cat5e or cat6 is good or does it really matter?
and Whats the differance between solid and Stranded?

 

[bobcpg]

Originally posted by: Aganack1
What brand of cat5e or cat6 is good or does it really matter?
and Whats the differance between solid and Stranded?

i dont know if the kind matters. But on the solid and stranded matter: solid is cheaper but may lead to cracking, while stranded is more $ but it will hold up better. And i think this has to do with vibrations. solid should be fine as long as the cord is not going to be virbating a lot; ie. on top of some sort of motor.

I wired my office with solid and its held up for 2 years now.


-bob

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Aganack1
What brand of cat5e or cat6 is good or does it really matter?
and Whats the differance between solid and Stranded?

Link to: Wiring - I would like to wire my Networked Computers (Home Wiring).

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Originally posted by: bobcpg

Originally posted by: Aganack1 What brand of cat5e or cat6 is good or does it really matter? and Whats the differance between solid and Stranded?

i dont know if the kind matters. But on the solid and stranded matter: solid is cheaper but may lead to cracking, while stranded is more $ but it will hold up better. And i think this has to do with vibrations. solid should be fine as long as the cord is not going to be virbating a lot; ie. on top of some sort of motor. I wired my office with solid and its held up for 2 years now. -bob

FYI, stranded cable is only for short runs, for long runs inside walls and the like, solid wire is the proper type to use.

 

[buleyb]

Not a big deal for home wiring, but some fire codes require the use of Plenum cable when running above ceiling tile (because you typically don't have sprinkler heads above the ceiling. The concern is that in a fire, PVC creates toxic fumes when burned. Plenum uses a different wire-jacket that isn't toxic when burned. That is the only difference in the wire.

Also, Solid should be used for all permenanent cabling, stranded for patch cables.