Wiring installation for home network...

[onesNzeros]

I'm going to be running some cat5 cable for a home network. The house is a ranch w/ unfinished basement so I am planning to just run the wires down through the floor, to the rear of the house, and back up into another room.

Planning things out today, I noticed there is some electrical wiring running power to the wall sockets mounted in the wall I will be coming up through and they run right along the same joists that would make the most sense to run the network cable.

Since the large quantities of network cable seem to come unshielded, do I need to try to keep a certain distance between the electrical wiring and my network cables to avoid interference?

 

[amdskip]

Yeah, I would just try keeping them as far apart as possible and you should be alright.

 

[ScottMac]

Distance from power is a good thing, but don't lose any sleep over it: modern cabling and Ethernet transceiver systems can handle the common mode noise pretty well.

As a minimum, they should be separated such that they cannot contact each other (to avoid short / shock hazard in case of gnawing critters, cracked insulation, etc.).

Other rules: No more than ~12-14 pounds of pulling tension, do not staple the cabling such that the sheath is compressed (cable guides would be best, "U" nails second ... flat staples are a no-no, arched staples are OK if they're sized right).

Terminate the cabling to punch-down style endpoints at each end. Use solid conductor cabling "in the wall."

Keep the bend radius to at least four inches, if possible.

Good Luck


Scott

 

[spidey07]

I think the spec calls for just a few inches.

Now 440v, 60 amps is a whole nutter story. Even then it only calls for 24" I believe.

 

[onesNzeros]

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

Use solid conductor cabling in the wall.

I assume that means spanning across the ceiling downstairs would also be done with that, but what's the reasoning for using solid rather than stranded cable for that? I ask because a buddy of mine has some left-over cabling from a 1000' spool he bought for his parents' house, but I'm not sure which type it is. Is there a quick way to tell? And what is the importance of using solid rather than stranded cable in the walls?

Terminate the cabling to punch-down style endpoints

Are you referring to the standard wall jacks here or is there something specific I should look for?

Now 440v, 60 amps is a whole nutter story. Even then it only calls for 24" I believe.

That's not going to be used in homes though, right?

 

[spidey07]

That's not going to be used in homes though, right?

heh, that would be a no.

 

[ScottMac]

Stranded conductor UTP is for jumpers only.

Stranded has significantly more loss than solid core.

The "100 meter" rule / guideline / spec applys only if 90 meters of that is solid conductor.

Because stranded conductor UTP is meant for jumpers, there is no punch-down termination for it.

Punching stranded-conductor UTP into a termination made for solid conductor will result in sub-standard, (likely) glitchy, poor performance.

Punch-down termination = Information outlets / keystone jacks / panels.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[Kelemvor]

Can you just go down the wall in the next stud over? That would be more than enough space.

Or just go wireless... All the cool people are doing it. heh heh.

 

[onesNzeros]

Yeah, checking things out in the basement again it looks like I'll just have to drop the wire down the wall a foot or so away from the power outlet and run it along the next joist over. That should give me at least 12" clearance from the power line so it sound like I should be in the clear there (now that I know I don't have to worry about 440v, 60 amp wiring down there ).

The only thing I'll have to do is cross the cable wires downstairs which hopefully won't cause any problems for either. I should be able to keep at least 2-3" between them.

I'd have to get a wireless router and card to go wireless and since we don't have any laptops, I figured I'd just stick to hard wiring.

 

[Kelemvor]

If you have to cross the cables, to be sure nothing happens, just cross them at 90 degrees and the continue them on with separation to the other end...

But I think when I ran mine, it's going right next to some cables all the wya across my basement and I don't have any problems.

 

[JackMDS]

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

Link to: Using CAT5 for Telephone Lines, and other Media.

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