Questions tagged [cables]
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194
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42
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What is this cable in my yard, why is it exposed, and what can I do about it?
UPDATE 5/25 - The electric company spliced and re-buried the cables. It's a 120V line and should have been buried at least a foot below ground. They'll come by again to locate the rest of the line ...
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27
votes
8
answers
11k
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Is twisted and taped splice on cable, objectively any less stable than wire-nuts or terminal blocks?
In Brazil, electrical connections are almost always done splicing electrical cables by twisting the strands together and insulating them with electrical tape. Here is a video showing some of the ...
- 2,325
22
votes
3
answers
89k
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How do I feed an ethernet cable through a doorway without damaging the door or wall?
My wife and I recently moved into a new apartment. We've had it for just a few days.
When our internet company came to hook up our landline, I had them hook it into one of our bedrooms and set up ...
- 325
14
votes
5
answers
6k
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What is the technical term for the rings that protect holes for electrical through woodwork like cabinets?
I drill holes in cabinets or desks for electrical. I usually drill about a 3/4" hole and I have these little plastic rings I put in to protect the woodwork and just so it looks nicer. ...
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14
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7
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Can I run CAT6 FTP cables parallel to electrical cable in the same conduit?
Can I run CAT6 FTP cables beside to electrical cable (220v 1 amp) in same PVC Trunking ?
- 157
13
votes
5
answers
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How to straighten new coiled Ethernet cord?
I recently purchased a 50 metre Ethernet cable to run from the modem downstairs to the bedroom upstairs (along the walls as I’m currently in a renting situation), but I can’t straighten the cord to be ...
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3
answers
10k
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What size extension cord should I use for multiple computers?
We're hosting a LAN party (several computers, 50+) and I had some questions about power draw; I hope this is the right place to ask.
Currently, we're assuming each PC will draw an average of 3.5 amps....
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10
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3
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How can I know if one extension cable and outlet can handle so much electricity use?
I intend to run an extension cable from an outdoor outlet to power four pond pumps. Currently I have a mess of different wires running across the yard from three places.
The cable runs from the outlet,...
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10
votes
3
answers
3k
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How can I repair/reattach loose cable covers to the wall?
I recently purchased a home and several of the wall cable covers are loose. The wall anchors are essentially just resting in the wall instead of anchoring the cover.
What would be the proper way to ...
- 103
9
votes
2
answers
12k
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How should I run cables through interior wall to garage?
Please excuse me if this has been asked before, I searched previous questions but didn't find anything similar...
I have my computer in our garage because of less noise, heat, dust, etc... also it's ...
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8
votes
3
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Is it okay that my Sony TV power cord replacement has a slot for a third prong that the original doesn't?
I have a Sony TV that has OEM cable on the left. I want to replace it with a longer cable on the right. The new cable fits into the TV's slot but would not have the third prong.
Is this safe to do? ...
- 205
8
votes
6
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6k
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Speaker Wires Through Wall
Through ceiling, really.
I've set up my new "office" in a 2nd floor room with accessible (insulated, blown-in) attic space above. At some point I'd like to set up my 5.1 computer speaker ...
- 4,232
8
votes
4
answers
27k
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Running ethernet under ground to another building
I'm trying to run ethernet cable about 250ft underground to the garage. It is going through a hard plastic/rubber tubing under the yard and into the garage. Is there anything I should know before ...
- 183
8
votes
6
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Does a (non-splitting) cable splitter degrade the signal?
I have cable and cable internet in my new apartment. The cable comes in to the water-heater closet from the roof and comes out an outlet in the wall of the closet, but there is a 4-way splitter in ...
8
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3
answers
9k
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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 ...
user4302
8
votes
2
answers
3k
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How tight should a cable clamp be?
When using metal junction boxes for electrical work, it is required to use a cable clamp to hold the cable at the edge of the box and to protect it as it passes through the potentially sharp metal. ...
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7
votes
2
answers
3k
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Using fire retardant sealant for low-voltage cables through walls
I plan to wire my house with CAT6 cables, running inside the walls (drywall, wood). I would have to drill through the floor and probably through fire blocks in between the studs.
Lot of guides advise ...
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votes
2
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30k
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how to properly remove these cable connectors
Do I twist or pull them off
I tried by hand and wasnt getting anywhere so next step is going to be the pliers and i just want to make sure im not breaking it.
- 281
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3
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20k
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Can I use existing telephone wire as a pull for new cables?
I am moving into a new home shortly, built in the 1990s, and it has telephone jacks with POTS wiring that I do not plan on using. Ideally, I would love to run twisted pair cabling where the telephone ...
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6
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1
answer
8k
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5
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2
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4k
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Is my plan for wiring ethernet reasonable?
I would first of all like to start off by saying that I am a software developer by profession, so my networking knowledge is relatively basic. My question is therefore aimed at figuring out if I am ...
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5
votes
2
answers
892
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How to repair basic cable/wire issue for household appliances
I have a set of very old computer speakers that works fine except for one problem. One of the wires connecting to the volume control dial is loose, so that if the wire is jostled or flexed, the ...
- 153
5
votes
5
answers
5k
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What is this cable popping out of my lawn?
There's a black cable cutting diagonally across one side of my front lawn (askew to my house, not going towards it, also not going towards the local electric transformer or my neighbor's house). The ...
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3
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4k
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Why doesn't duct tape work well on cables?
In the past, I've used duct tape on cables (e.g., Power, LAN). For instance, I taped cables to a wall, I taped cables together for storing etc.
The taping often failed after some time: The taping ...
- 153
4
votes
1
answer
939
views
Consolidation of many circuits from breaker panel using nearby junction box
I am combining a bunch of underutilized circuits, pulling them out of the breaker panel into an 8x6x4 junction box above it where I will combine about 10 cables into 3 circuits fed to the breaker ...
- 43.7k
4
votes
3
answers
244
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Cable TV, Antenna, Coaxial - what is this thing?
I'm looking to add an OTA antenna to my home. Over the years, many different cable and dish installers have left thier mark on the home, prior to my ownership. In fact, a dish and all its cables are ...
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4
votes
1
answer
14k
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What to use to seal an exterior cable penetration in brick?
A Comcast tech came to our 3-unit building, ran a new cable into the utility room, and pulled out the seal that was there before, leaving it open as we're getting cold and wet for fall.
What should I ...
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3
votes
7
answers
3k
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How can the slightly-warped rails of a bed frame be pulled together?
A twin-sized bed frame that I assemble on-demand for guests is made of pine. It hasn't seen that much use, and yet one of the two 75" beams has buckled just slightly. There is still plenty of ...
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3
votes
5
answers
215
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How can I get bulk riser cable back into the box?
I recently ran a cat-6 cable from inside my house to the office, and I bought a bulk box of 500 feet. I pulled lots more out of the box than I ended up needing, and so now I have about 100 feet of ...
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3
votes
3
answers
1k
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How to safely secure AC adapter wire to a skirting and a door frame?
I purchased an adapter for my doorbell and need to secure it to skirting and a door frame before it is fed through the door frame to the doorbell outside.
I thought it would make sense to use a ...
- 325
3
votes
6
answers
2k
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Pulling cable through insulated exterior wall
I am trying to run ethernet cables for external security cameras in my home.
I have drilled a hole in the exterior brick wall and pushed rods up.
I have also made a bigger hole in the breeze block ...
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3
votes
5
answers
1k
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Wire my house for Internet
As an IT student I have a first chance to plan a basic Internet topology in my own home. We have fiber-optic Internet and a telephone line to our home. We would like to ask for advice about changing ...
3
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7
answers
10k
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How to safely pull Internet cable out of soil?
My internet company installed a heavy 70 ft long cable across my lawn 6 months ago. They dug up a trench about a foot deep using a trench digger.
I would like to move the middle section of the cable ...
- 1,045
3
votes
2
answers
5k
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How do I untwist a very long, very twisted Ethernet cable? [closed]
A few years ago I bought what should be a 45m flat Ethernet cable.
After a long period of disuse the cable has gotten very tangled but I need to use it again. I've unknotted the cable so it is now one ...
- 353
3
votes
3
answers
9k
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How to poke coaxial cables out of a wall nicely?
I have coaxial cables that are poking out of walls in numerous places all over the house. I don't use them and I don't know why there's so many coming out of each hole. These were left by the previous ...
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3
votes
1
answer
2k
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can I put this cable inside the wall to hide it
Theres this cable popping out of my wall and it looks ugly, i bought a cover and was wondering if it should be ok to just push this cable inside the wall and close it with the cover
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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What to do on the siding around a cable going into the house
I had AT&T Fiber installed today. The technician had to create a hole on the side of my garage for the fiber optics cable. As you can see, it doesn't look pretty. But I'm not really concerned with ...
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3
votes
2
answers
54k
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How to remove old wires of utility companies
I have a bunch of old wires between my house and a pole across the street. How do I get rid of them? I don't even know what companies they belong to. I only know that I use the electricity cable ...
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3
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1
answer
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I have a CAT5e cable with only 3 pairs (6 wires working) and need to do POE over it
I have a cat5e cable that has 1 pair (orange / stripped orange) damaged -- it's a 100 foot line and the damage is like 40 feet in behind a wall [repairing it is not an option].
I need to power a unifi ...
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3
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4
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16k
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Can SER labled XHHW-2 be buried in conduit
I've read many good answers here regarding what types of cables (conductors) can/cannot be buried. I've come across blanket statements like "SER cannot be buried, even in conduit." I want ...
- 1,406
3
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3
answers
8k
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Can I Connect RGBW LED Strips With LAN Cable?
I'm in the process of remodeling my kitchen. I plan to install RGBW led strips on the top of the upper cabinets, below upper cabinets and below ground cabinets. I have to close off any wall holes and ...
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3
votes
2
answers
716
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Removing NTL Internet Provider Boxes (UK)
We're doing some redecoration, have stripped wallpaper and want to replaster and paint over.
We've got one of these old NTL boxes on the wall, with the cables coming in. Are we fine to plaster these ...
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3
votes
2
answers
20k
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How to run cable down wall near where the slope of the roof meets the ceiling?
I can't really get my body close enough to the point where the hole needs to be to drop down the wall since the slope of the roof meets the ceiling in the attic and leaves only about a foot-and-a-half ...
- 145
3
votes
1
answer
25k
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Is it safe to cut and put a compression end on a live cable TV wire?
Just moving into a new US location. The location has both Verizon and Comcast available. I am trying to use Comcast. The Verizon installer appears to have cut the Comcast cable that went to an ...
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3
votes
3
answers
7k
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Running electrical cable within dry wall
First of all, I'm a beginner.
Secondly, I've a renovation started in the basement (see picture here), so I need some help.
So in the bedroom, there's actually a socket already present just as you ...
3
votes
1
answer
743
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How to run single ethernet (no PoE) in trench through garden?
I've never buried a cable before, or even run a conduit in a wall/floorspace, so this is all new to me.
I've dug half the trench across the garden so far. It's only 6" deep in some places as below ...
- 561
3
votes
1
answer
217
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Electrical cable between buildings
I have a building (still under construction) with 220V power to it.
I have a second building, already constructed also with 220V power to it.
Between them is a path and rocky ground.
The path needs ...
- 598
2
votes
4
answers
984
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Threading cable through existing pex-like tubing
My apartment (top floor) has runs of 3/4" (-ish) pex-like tubing (photo attached, Switzerland if it's relevant) running from a central point. One such tube carries an existing coaxial cable (landlord ...
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2
votes
2
answers
2k
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What is the best practice for grounding a shielded cat 7 ethernet cable?
I'm in the process of ducting the aforementioned cable through a conduit that I've "trenched" between my house and my office which is in an outbuilding 30m away.
Since buying the cable and starting ...
- 561
2
votes
2
answers
873
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Hiding cables when moving network switch down from attic
We had an installer put in security cameras a few years ago (PoE-powered), and he decided the best place to install the network switch would be in the attic, since that made wiring the cameras easier (...
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