[BradG]

I live in a co-op built in the 50's. Ceilings and floors are stone-reinforced concrete and the walls are concrete bricks. Needless to say, running or adding any new wiring is a *****.

All the electrical is run through very rigid metal pipes, maybe 3/4 - 1" in diameter which run mostly through the floors and into the walls. Is there any problem with running some CAT5 through these pipes alongside the electrical wiring? I think I could snake it from my router, through a nearby power switch in the wall, to the hallway fusebox and then from there to an outlet in the target room.

Just how difficult might this be? I'm a handy as hell, but not an experienced electrician (although I do own a cable snake). Also, might there be issues with the co-op's building code?

 

[Bocolo]

I am not an electrician either but everything I have read indicates that data lines should not be so close to electrical wiring due to interference. I think the recommended minimum distance is 12 inches. I am sure the more knowledgeable guys in here will chime in soon. Have you considered wireless?? Thanks.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

I would not advise you to run CAT5 or any other signal lines along power lines. Parallel lines are capacitors, which will cause coupling from the power lines into the data lines.
I believe it may also be against the Code to do so.

Best way to solve network connectivity problems where it is not feasible to run cable is wireless.

FW

 

[NolaTigaBait]

right, it is a code violation to run high and low volage in the same conduit without a barrier...i've heard differing opinions about how far to space them...honestly i dont think its a big deal if they are close together...thats why the cat5 is wrapped so many times...

 

[InPhase277]

right, it is a code violation to run high and low volage in the same conduit without a barrier...i've heard differing opinions about how far to space them...honestly i dont think its a big deal if they are close together...thats why the cat5 is wrapped so many times...

Kind sorta... I don't think the power wiring for a light switch will cause much interference, true. But high and low voltage can share the same pipe, IF the voltage ratings of the cables are the same. So, likely, the conductors for power are 600 V conductors, while the cat 5 conductors are 300 V. Is it a really big deal? Maybe not. Would I do it? No.

 

[NolaTigaBait]

oh, i thought they had to have a barrier no matter what...so if they both have 600 volt insulation, its ok?

 

[wirenut1110]

They both need to be rated for at least the highest voltage that can be applied. 300.3(C)(1) & 725.55

 

[InPhase277]

oh, i thought they had to have a barrier no matter what...so if they both have 600 volt insulation, its ok?

Right. The barrier only comes into play in a device box where the voltage between adjacent devices (switches, recepts, etc) is greater than 300 V. So, two 120 V switches could share a box and have 240 V between them, but two 277 V switches with 480 between them would need a barrier.

As far as wiring in pipes, as long as the insulation voltage is 600 V, it doesn't matter what the wires are used for. I've seen intercom wiring with power wire in the same pipe, but who ever did it used #14 THHN for the audio, so it was legal.

EDIT: This doesn't apply to all circuits. Only Class 1. Sorry for any confusion. Nola is right about the barrier for Class 2 and 3 circuits. Then again, the code allows for a class 2 circuit to be re-classed as a class 1 with the appropriate wiring method, so that kinda throws the barrier requirement back out. Weird wording in the code.

 

[vsheetz]

wireless

No wires - I would suggest to go with wireless networking anywhere anytime possible...

 

[williswires]

Bottom line is NO, you cannot run your CAT 5 cable from H Depot, used for data transmission, in the same raceway as the power conductors. :no:

 

[rgsgww]

Just go for wireless networking. Routers are cheap now.

 

[BradG]

The connection in question is currently wireless and I guess it will stay that way. Seems to be too many questions, although I did know enough that I was going to use insulated CAT5.

The reason I was seeking a hard line is that I'm putting a NAS at the router and will be ripping large data files to it from the remote computer.

 

[theatretch85]

Can you fish the cable through air vents? If you do make sure its plenum rated.

 

[theatretch85]

Can you fish the cable through air vents? If you do make sure its plenum rated.