Pulling romex & cat5 - appropriate proximity

Tanner

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2001
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How close in proximity can these two wire types be?

I heard that it has to be 3' apart or something?

Can I cross the elec and the cat5? Someone typed somewhere that it had to be @ a 90Degree angle? Any truth to that?

Finishin' out the basement and wanna do it RIGHT! :)

Thanks!
 

edfcmc

Senior member
May 24, 2001
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in case people dont know, romex is the brand of wire that is used in residential ac 110v wiring. So the OP question is how close can cat5 and 110v alternating current (ac) wiring be next to each other without causing interfence on the cat 5 line?
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
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Generally, try to keep it ~18 inches or so on parallel runs, if possible..or run the power up one stud and the UTP up the next.

With todays cable technology and transceivers, it's not as critical as it used to be, but it's still a good idea to have some separation (as practical).

It's more important to avoid pulsed noise sources, or sources prone to sparking, like motors ... or flourscent lights.

Good Luck

Scott


 

cmetz

Platinum Member
Nov 13, 2001
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Tanner, as far away as you can manage. Inside a home, you'll probably find your power wiring was done with a level of cabling neatness I'll gently describe as "the electrician might have been sober that day." Power cables will go everywhere, often for no good reason. So you usually are in a bad situation as far as avoiding power, and just do the best you can. Simply put, the farther away, the better.

Parallel or perpendicular are the ideal orientations for noise cancellation. Try not to cross power cables at funny angles if you can avoid it. If you have to choose, be more perpendicular than parallel if memory serves (anyone, anyone? it's late... cutting the E field makes a normal B field, cutting that makes a normal E field, right?)
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
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parallel, I use 18" as scott suggested.
The exception to that is when running parallel to a whole line of flourescent ballasts. I give that 3' if possible.

Crossing power is inevitable, and has not posed a problem for me. I've got one failed cat6 drop out of hundreds, and I think the !@#!% alarm installers burned that run with their wire!
PS, it still passes cat5E standards:p
CAT6 testing standards compared to cat5E: like driving nails with a rifle compared to hitting clay pigeons with one out of 2 dozen pellets.
 

Tanner

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2001
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Originally posted by: skyking
parallel, I use 18" as scott suggested.
The exception to that is when running parallel to a whole line of flourescent ballasts. I give that 3' if possible.

Crossing power is inevitable, and has not posed a problem for me. I've got one failed cat6 drop out of hundreds, and I think the !@#!% alarm installers burned that run with their wire!
PS, it still passes cat5E standards:p
CAT6 testing standards compared to cat5E: like driving nails with a rifle compared to hitting clay pigeons with one out of 2 dozen pellets.

whoa! :D