I am in the process of building a house and am planning out the cabling. I am going to have the wiring from the second floor go to the attic and then travel down a vertical chase to the basement. My question is, in a 2x4, what is the largest pipe size you can use? I'm using an all-in-one cable holding 2 CAT5e and 2 RG6, which is about a 1/2" thick. I'm just concerned that I won't have enough room to bring all of my runs through the pipe to the basement. I'm already planning on putting on 2 pipes for data/phone and 1 pipe for security/audio. Any other tips will also be appreciated.
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vertical chase - size?
- Thread starter rick283
- Start date
since your in the process of building why not set up a IDF in the attic and terminate the second floor there then just run a couple of cables to the basemant to tie them together.
I would set up a shelf in the attic , have the electrician run power to it, place a switch there for data and a splitter for rj6
I know that all in one cable is expensive so you will probably save enough it cable costs by not running everything to the basement to offset the cost of the electrical work
you might also want to look at the cost of all in one cable verses running two cat 5e and two rj6 to each location. seems like last time I checked it was way cheaper running the cables by themselves verses the all in one.
I would set up a shelf in the attic , have the electrician run power to it, place a switch there for data and a splitter for rj6
I know that all in one cable is expensive so you will probably save enough it cable costs by not running everything to the basement to offset the cost of the electrical work
you might also want to look at the cost of all in one cable verses running two cat 5e and two rj6 to each location. seems like last time I checked it was way cheaper running the cables by themselves verses the all in one.
daronwilson
Vendor
I've not used the hybrid cable very often, although I've been called in twice when other electricians pulled the cable then didn't know how to terminate it all so we trimmed out and tested. It is a good solution IF you actually want two cat5e and two rg6 at each location. It is a little bit bulky to work with, and as I recall it is about twice the price of individual wires, though you save some time (in theory) by pulling the one jacket.
Anyway, in a house I prefer to have the cabling all home run, usually it makes connectivity easy and if you do the custom home things such as audio systems, audio controls, modulated front door camera, CATV amplivier, etc. it is nice to have that all in one location. Also, if you home run all your cable, you actually have the flexibility that was designed into the structured wiring system. If you decide you want to put a camera in the upstairs bedroom window (aimed at the outside view of course) and modulate it on your house CATV, you can use that second RG/6 in the bundle to do so. It is easy if it all home runs.
Now for conduit, that is a good idea, IMHO. I would put the biggest you could get in there, probably 3". Be sure to nail plate it where it goes thru the top and bottom plates so that they drywallers can't drive nails or screws into it. Also you should put connectors on the ends if you use EMT, or at least plastic bushings to prevent the wire jacket from being scraped as it enters the conduit.
Alternatively you could put your cables in the wall, since they are pretty much going to be permanent, and then throw in a 2" pipe for anything else you want to add that you didn't anticipate.
Hope that Helps! It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com
Anyway, in a house I prefer to have the cabling all home run, usually it makes connectivity easy and if you do the custom home things such as audio systems, audio controls, modulated front door camera, CATV amplivier, etc. it is nice to have that all in one location. Also, if you home run all your cable, you actually have the flexibility that was designed into the structured wiring system. If you decide you want to put a camera in the upstairs bedroom window (aimed at the outside view of course) and modulate it on your house CATV, you can use that second RG/6 in the bundle to do so. It is easy if it all home runs.
Now for conduit, that is a good idea, IMHO. I would put the biggest you could get in there, probably 3". Be sure to nail plate it where it goes thru the top and bottom plates so that they drywallers can't drive nails or screws into it. Also you should put connectors on the ends if you use EMT, or at least plastic bushings to prevent the wire jacket from being scraped as it enters the conduit.
Alternatively you could put your cables in the wall, since they are pretty much going to be permanent, and then throw in a 2" pipe for anything else you want to add that you didn't anticipate.
Hope that Helps! It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com
jeffbouldin
Technical User
It also depends on if it is a load bearing wall or not. Check with your framing contractor or building inspector. If it is not then you can go all the way up to about 3 and a half inch pipe. Definately use nail stop plates or EMT conduit. Put in about twice as much coduit as you plan on using. Make sure that if you have multiple 110 volt lines going into the attic they do not go up the same chase as the low voltage. Depending on how powerful your audio system is going to be you may be better off running it in a seperate pipe from your security, data, and phones.
I would run a 1" pipe for the cat5 and 1" for every 2 rg6, and don't use 90 degree elbows! Also don't forget to leave a poly-line string in th pipe for future use! Where possible, also remember to have each end of the conduit easily accessible for future upgrades and re-pulls.
jonnybb
jonnybb
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