Questions about planning, installing, and servicing all kinds of electrical cabling, such as power, phones, computer networks, speakers, antenna, and so on. See also the [data-wiring] tag.
40
votes
14answers
6k views
What should I consider regarding LAN wiring before building a house?
I am planning a small house (4 rooms, 2 floors, no basement, no attic, 120 sq.meters) and I want to run a lot of LAN cables throughout because of poor WiFi experiences in my apartment.
Because the ...
17
votes
7answers
9k views
How do I run ethernet cable through a wall cavity?
I want to install an ethernet jack in an interior wall of one room. I'd like to run the cable up through the wall cavity (so it is hidden) into the crawl space and back down another wall to another ...
17
votes
5answers
2k views
What is the proper way to run Category 6 underground?
I'd like to run some Category 6 cabling underground, for a distance of about 120 ft, between a main home and a 2nd unit, for ethernet connectivity between the two homes. I've run Category 5 indoors ...
16
votes
7answers
2k views
How do I run cable through my ceiling?
I have a cable that I need to run through the ceiling. I'd like to go under the floor, but I have a split level house, and this is the lower floor, so I don't believe there is room in the bottom half ...
13
votes
6answers
4k views
Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical cables?
I am building a new house and am planning to hardwire network cables into each room.
Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical wires without introducing any general safety issues or losing much ...
8
votes
3answers
982 views
Is “don't mix data and power cables” and “don't loop power cables” still valid nowadays?
There are two sayings I keep hearing when talking about wiring e.g. home cinema or computer hardware;
Don't wrap data/network cables and power cables up in the same loop because the power cables ...
7
votes
3answers
598 views
How do I crimp an F-connector onto RG-6 cable?
My current home project is putting RG-6 in the walls instead of through the cold-air returns and across the carpet between rooms. Thanks to some forethought during previous remodeling projects, laying ...
7
votes
5answers
4k views
What type of ethernet cable do I need for outdoor use?
I want to run about 100 meters of Ethernet cable out my attic and down a drainpipe. The cable will be exposed to the elements, and attached to a gigabit switch (indoors) at both ends.
What kind of ...
5
votes
1answer
136 views
What do you call a very flexible rod?
At work, the guy next to me goes to sites and does cable installs. He is having an issue with one site where there is a 90 degree bend and a traditional rod is not flexible enough.
He has been trying ...
5
votes
2answers
117 views
How can I find an interior wall from the crawl space?
I want to run some component cables from one room to another by fishing down the wall into crawlspace and then back up the other wall. When I'm under the house there's no way to tell where the inside ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Do I need to “protect” low voltage cables that are run through an insulated wall?
I'm planning to run speaker cables from a new outlet at an uninsulated wall to a new outlet at an insulated wall. I've already run Cat5e and coaxial cable to the uninsulated wall, and am comfortable ...
4
votes
1answer
139 views
What steps should I take when cabling a drain?
We have a drain that backs up when a few gallons of water are put down it over time. The back pressure forces the water out through the toilet drain seal, leaving the water pouring into our basement. ...
4
votes
1answer
61 views
How would I ground an internal ethernet surge protector?
I have a Cat-6 cable running to an external PoE security camera that I'd like to have surge protected, but I'm unsure how to ground the protector. It has a prong coming off that I assume is the ground ...
3
votes
1answer
500 views
How can I split my rg6 cable runs without losing my signal?
So I've been working on this for months as I finish my basement. We don't have cable tv or satellite. We just get broadcast tv using a digital roofmount antenna and then in the house a digital ...
3
votes
4answers
269 views
How to add another network cable?
I am buying a house and it has cat-5 cable going to all the rooms. However, it has an RJ-11 plug on it. I'd like to leave that in place and run an additional one or two cat-6 cables. How can I do this ...
3
votes
2answers
135 views
Can I use the wiring from a disabled home security system to power wireless cameras?
My home has an old security system which has long been disabled.
I'd like to be able to use the wiring for the sensors to possibly provide DC power to some wireless IP security cameras in various ...
2
votes
1answer
140 views
How can I make use of this non-standard network cabinet in my garage?
I have a network cabinet in my garage, but I've discovered that it seems to be a non-standard size, and I can't find anything to fit it.
It looks to have been installed by the previous owners for ...
2
votes
1answer
331 views
How are homes typically wired for cable service distribution and what can I do so that each of my home's outlets works?
I've recently moved and the new home has cable outlets in several of the rooms. Cable service was recently installed and works for one line entering the home, but not for any of the home's existing ...
1
vote
3answers
137 views
what sort of cable should I use to add extra tv outlets
So I need to split the cable coming down from the aerial into 3 outlets. What's the best way of doing this?
I was thinking of using a 4-way splitter:
Would this be the best way with minimal signal ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
How can I connect coaxial cables to my wall?
I have cables that my cable company laid running all over the place. How do I connect these cables to the wall? What is the name of this part, so I know what to buy?
0
votes
3answers
100 views
What is the official name for wiring hole stops/plugs and where can I buy them?
We have several holes in our house (floor and external wall) that are used for cables (coax and cat5e). The holes are bigger than the cable that goes through them so we'd like to minimize the excess ...
0
votes
2answers
88 views
What future-proofing should I include when refurbishing an apartment?
I will soon be renovating my apartment, going to the bare bricks (removing the floor, electricity, plumbing). Would you have some advice on what not to miss, from the perspective of cabling and ...
0
votes
1answer
211 views
How can I join these audio cables? [closed]
Backstory: I had a pair of headphones with a faulty 3.5mm plug on one end, and a 3.5mm audio cable that was so long, it picked up an insane amount of interference.
Solution: Cut both cables! Join ...
-1
votes
1answer
94 views
What wires do I need to run to my wall mounted tv?
I'm in the planning stages of a home theater setup. What do I need to run to the tv so I can hook up various components? I planned on running power, HDMI cables, RCA cables, coax, and an ethernet ...
