Question about running Cat5

[rogerwh]

I have a large front yard and next year I plan to run power to several points in the yard using conduit.  I want to go ahead and run CAT5 to these locations as well.  I know that running the cat5 with the power leaves the possibility of some electrical interference. If I run the cat5 in a separate conduit but placed side by side in the in the same trench would this be sufficient?

[Rainlover]

I have CAT5 and power cords wire tied together all over my display. I have not seen any problems.
If you put them in separate conduit, it should be fine.

John

[Walter]

Would be best if you get 2 foot from the power to be safe.

[chrisatpsu]

what are you planning on running the conduit into once it makes it to where it needs to go?

[rogerwh]

what are you planning on running the conduit into once it makes it to where it needs to go?

I'm running Lynx Expresses, and haven't gone wireless.  So I would either run it into a standard electrical box (separate from the power) with a Cat5 wall mount plug, or into a bit larger box that can be sealed up.  Would then roll up some excess inside the box and just pull out the end and plug into LE when needed.

Was also thinking that if/when I go to smart strings, I could send the data via the Cat5 and use an active hub at each power plug.

[ksbcay]

Legally you may not run low-voltage (cat5) and high-voltage (120V) in the same conduit unless the low-voltage installation is rated for 600V

that does not mean you can't do it, just don't get caught, there are huge fines and requires a license electrician to remove it.  <yk..

[rayster]

If I were doing it I would run two 3/4" conduits at least two feet apart as much of the run as possible. If you were going up a post put one on one side and the other on a different side. you also might want to use metal conduit from just below ground to the boxes that way the weed whacker will not break the conduit and ruin the cables inside. I would run at least 2 cat 5e cables to jacks in a two gang box to leave a nice service loop so if I need to change the jacks I had the cable. You might wonder why at least 2 cat 5e, 1 for the RS-422 network and the others for anything else like sound, video, Ethernet, cameras.

Ray

[Dennis Cherry]

Learned along time ago, when you run cables always run one extra of each type.

Future projects will go easier, or if a cable fails you have the backup already installed.

[rogerwh]

Legally you may not run low-voltage (cat5) and high-voltage (120V) in the same conduit unless the low-voltage installation is rated for 600V

that does not mean you can't do it, just don't get caught, there are huge fines and requires a license electrician to remove it.  <yk..

I wasn't planning on putting them in the same conduit.  My main conern was whether I had to dig two trenches to to get some separation of the conduit runs.  Seems like the "best" thing to do is two trenches, but man I hate digging two ternches across my yard.

[chrisatpsu]

at least when you're done, you don't have to run it anymore!


I'd also recommend calling your state's  "one call" program before you dig, just in case...

[dmaccole]

I'm not an electrician and I don't even play one on TV; that said ...

It seems to me that if you used aluminum conduit for the 120v, the conduit would provide enough shielding that there would be no radio frequency interference with any Cat-5 cable that might be in the neighborhood.

That said, personally, I would dig one trench, use aluminum conduit and then use Cat-5 direct burial cable (I'd even zip-tie it to the conduit). If I were really concerned about RF, I'd upgrade the Cat-5 to FTP (foiled twisted pairs), which would then provide a secondary shield.

I would not dig two trenches.

\dmc

PS: And yes, it only took one instance of pulling just one Cat-5 inside a wall for me to never make that mistake again (in my defense, I did pull two cables but one was for POTS and I should have pulled three).

[chrisatpsu]

I would try to get wwwgator to chime in.  He'll tell you straight what you can and can't do with running the cables...

[wwwgator]

Sorry......Im at work....

You cannot mix the voltages in the same pipe unless the insulaion ratings are equal to or above highest voltage present. The other qualifier is that they are to be intergral to the same system. Tempory holiday lighting is not considered an permanent system so  would be prohibited even if insulation rating was satisfied.



That being said, I have 2  3/4" PVC pipe ( 1 power/ 1 data)buried in the same trench. Power at 36" (below frost line) and the data at 24". This provides excellent separation and all in one trench.
Unless you are pulling big power, you shouldn't have any induced voltage.
Remember to upsize your wire to overcome voltage drop ( rule of thumb is anything over 150' upsize...dont want to bore you with all that math stuff....)

The horizontal runs are sched 40 and switch  to sched 80 for stub ups.
I use the power year round, but the data for holidays ( Christmas, Valentines, Easter, Halloween)

I always pull either spare cables/wires or install a pull string....even in empty spare conduits both at work and at home.... just makes life easier.

ALWAYS call your digger's hotline before you dig.....it's a free insurance policy that you dont hurt yourself or get your neighbors mad at you....

[zwiller]

Would anyone care to offer some good install ideas for cat5 from inside to outside house?  I just throw it between a window but would like to have a better solution.  I am old school and will never go wireless.  I am knowledgeable about installing electric but never can come up with a cat5 plan. 

[shaunkad]

I plan on just running two keystone jacks one on each side of the wall. on the outside an in use cover and the inside use a spare spot on my media wall plate.