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Running data cat5 cable in walls

1939 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Jim Port
As part of my rewiring project, I'm also adding Cat5 data cabling around my house.

I have some of the dual-gang boxes where one side is for low-voltage cable.

It's my understanding that you don't really have to do much for securing Cat5 cable in the wall?

I have been using a spade to drill a 1/2" hole through studs where the cable will pass through, and using small Cat5 nail-in cable staples just to hold the cable in place along the joists in the ceiling. I'm running the cable deliberately through different holes and along different joists from the electrical cable.

I haven't been doing any securing of the cable at the box. Just running it into the box, then stripping and punching down the cat5 jacks. When the wall is finished, I was just going to attach the cat5 jacks to the plates and just feed the wire back into the wall.

Do I need to be aware of anything at the ends of the runs? i.e. at the point where it enters the LV section of the box?

I am running all the cables to the basement into a patch panel, so I was just going to notch out a ceiling panel in the suspended ceiling, bring all the cables there, bundle them and attach them to the side of the rack, and from there have them lead into the cat5 jacks in the patch panel.

Is there any code stuff related to running cat5 that I've missed?

F
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Many boxes that are for low voltage wiring are really nothing more than frames for the hole in your drywall. There isn't anyway to clamp the cable if you wanted to. It's good to support the cable with staples or ties but you don't have to clamp it to the box.

You should secure your cables so the LV and HV don't run right next to each other prior to entering the box.
No need for boxes on the Lv, just use a ring. Boxes can cause crimps in the cables. The rings allow the cable plenty of room in the stud cavity.
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