I had run 14/2 low voltage wire in 1" conduit underground for some landscape lighting. i am thinking about adding a TV outside and want to run the cable tv wires in the same conduit. Can I do this and is there and specific cable wire I should use for outdoor?
Low voltage + Cable wire in same conduit
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Low voltage.... both 12V and 120V are considered 'low'. 120V would not be allowed together with the coax.
For the coax, I try to use similar as what the cable company installs which is RG6. (I often pull out and re-use their cable as needed.)
For the coax, I try to use similar as what the cable company installs which is RG6. (I often pull out and re-use their cable as needed.)
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My cable provider, Charter Cable, uses the orange RG-6 (has gel coated braid) for underground runs, whether directly buried or in conduit. Try to get that kind for your run to keep your provider happy. Most big box stores have it in different length with the f-connectors already on.
And yes, it's ok in the same conduit as the 12 or 24 volt wiring. In fact, the cable companies use the coax for a combination low voltage/signal cable and use a capacitor network to separate the RF from the 60 hz.
And yes, it's ok in the same conduit as the 12 or 24 volt wiring. In fact, the cable companies use the coax for a combination low voltage/signal cable and use a capacitor network to separate the RF from the 60 hz.
That's a little misleading. It's true that parts of NEC consider voltage up to about 600V to be "low", but it is talking about industrial voltages such as the 9600V we have on-site.
But there certainly is a distinction in NEC for voltages below 50V or so. That's the point when you are allowed to share a conduit with datacomm wiring, for instance.
So yeah, what OP wants to do is legit.
Heck, you can have exposed hot conductors - think a power rail for a garden railway. But it must be <=15 volts.
Really? All the providers I know would use RG-11 for something buried or even a power pole to house.
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Most of this area went in with 6 and still has it except for when it fails. They don't change it until it fails or if there is some indeterminate problem where they decide to use the shotgun approach and replace everything bandwidth related.
The phone company is moving right along with fiber so maybe we'll get some competition to the cable monopoly as it now exists.
RG11 for the main feed/drop typically. After the demark point, RG6 is pretty standard.
I have run RG11 between buildings on a property when distance and signal drop were a concern. Probably less of a concern now with analog TV being gone.
I share in that, despite NEC not being my code. It seems every segment of trades that handle wiring have their own low/med/high classifications and it drives me nuts :vs_smirk: Just call the voltage by its value. Its a safety issue.
I wish my safety department would stop slapping "DANGER - HIGH VOLTAGE" stickers on darn near everything 240-600V when there is in fact 4-6kV on a few sites - marked no differently.
Thanks. Looks like standards stores like HD dont carry the orange RG-6 wire. Was hoping I could just pick it up vs ordering
Fiber is a different kettle of fish. If the fiber does not conduct electricity, it's allowed to share power conduits 
You could literally bring it down the weatherhead
You could literally bring it down the weatherhead Yeah, "DANGER - MEDIUM VOLTAGE" doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it?
The stuff my provider typically staples to the outside of houses is most often white and carries the marking 'Commscope Brightwire'.
Haha! Nope. There's better signage options for shock hazard. A voltage label is in the very least informative.Yeah, "DANGER - MEDIUM VOLTAGE" doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it?
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