Nate1647545505 Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Looking for a direction on finding local code for running low voltage (Ethernet/cat tv/quad wire phone, etc) cabling in a residential application as electricians seem to shy away from it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) I am not an electrician or code guru. Contact your local electrical inspector(s). Most places they are superbly helpful. Does whatever you are doing have to meet code? Honestly it's low voltage (probably relatively low current and power too), so I personal wouldn't fret too much over it. Use common sense and in wall rated wires and you'll be just fine. Edited August 4, 2015 by Trouble Maker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate1647545505 Posted August 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 I was referred to a few articles in the NEC to start out with and had made an appointment to meet with the electrical inspector - just trying to see if there is anything modern being tought to installers/techs as the NEC is somewhat dated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattKatz Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Just Run it....Tell me what your doing. Make sure to attach where needed, use grommets to protect from chaffing where ever. If you want to be bad ass and the walls are all open, make a low voltage conduit run everywhere you need it and mark it as such and I don't think it gets inspected at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbs3000 Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 assuming it's going to carry less then 25volts their are no rules essentially and it doesn't require inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffro Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Don't have access to the NEC, but if its going into a ceiling or wall it needs to be fire resistant. We have some cheapo cat 5 at work that is fine for running cables along the wall or under desks, but cannot be in the ceiling or walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Don't have access to the NEC, but if its going into a ceiling or wall it needs to be fire resistant. We have some cheapo cat 5 at work that is fine for running cables along the wall or under desks, but cannot be in the ceiling or walls. I think you are confusing ceiling and walls with needing to be plenum rated, whenever it will see an area used as a return air system for HVAC. A lot of commercial ceilings are considered a plenum in that way. The NEC gets updated every 3 years so I'm not sure how it would be outdated, I haven't done electrical work in 10 years so I'm not up on it anymore at all, but we always ran low voltage basically the same as running normal wire. Carefull not to pinch it or run it near the higher voltage stuff to try and keep interference to a minimum. Like it has been said calling the local inspector and asking what if anything he/she would want to see, I doubt it's much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate1647545505 Posted August 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 I think you are confusing ceiling and walls with needing to be plenum rated, whenever it will see an area used as a return air system for HVAC. A lot of commercial ceilings are considered a plenum in that way. The NEC gets updated every 3 years so I'm not sure how it would be outdated, I haven't done electrical work in 10 years so I'm not up on it anymore at all, but we always ran low voltage basically the same as running normal wire. Carefull not to pinch it or run it near the higher voltage stuff to try and keep interference to a minimum. Like it has been said calling the local inspector and asking what if anything he/she would want to see, I doubt it's much. I am the fail at the Googles, as I ended up on some random pages that cited article 800 from a dated copy of the NEC. When I spoke to Joe Holebrah (Delaware County) he stated anything lower than 50V is not inspected per state and he mainly inspects the cold air returns to verify no cable is run. Plans for work: Running Cat6 to all the rooms, putting a small wall mount cabinet for a POP, running the Coax connections, HDMI in-wall - that stuff. Now it's just dealing with Time Warner, ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmrmnhrm Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Plans for work: Running Cat6 to all the rooms, putting a small wall mount cabinet for a POP, running the Coax connections, HDMI in-wall - that stuff. For that kind of stuff, pretty much anything goes. The only caveat, as has been noted, is that if you are running through any sort of air duct, the wire must be plenum-rated. Past that, just make sure you don't put too many holes in load bearing beams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.