high/low voltage in same conduit

[ctb_24]

Is there any safe and effective way to run RG-6/RG-59 cable and romex wire (power cable) through the same piece of conduit. Is there some kind of device I can purchase to restore any disturbed signal? Also, what about CAT-5 and romex wire in the same piece of conduit? Finally, if I do have to run either of these in separate pieces of conduit, would it be okay to put them in the same trench?

thanks

 

[jneutron]

Is there any safe and effective way to run RG-6/RG-59 cable and romex wire (power cable) through the same piece of conduit. Is there some kind of device I can purchase to restore any disturbed signal? Also, what about CAT-5 and romex wire in the same piece of conduit? Finally, if I do have to run either of these in separate pieces of conduit, would it be okay to put them in the same trench?

thanks

I believe you will find that it is a code violation to put anything inside the same conduit as power.

John

 

[ctb_24]

I'm not terribly worried about the code violation, just curious if it will work or not.

 

[Audioholics]

No, it won't work.

 

[Resident Loser]

Silly, silly man...

I believe you will find that it is a code violation to put anything inside the same conduit as power.

John

...that's what you get for bringing facts into the thread...

Otherwise, how's things?...Funny...I invoked your nom de QWERTY the other day over @AR in a "soundstage" related thread re: the "purity" of a stereo presentation vs. the impurities of MC

jimHJJ(...all is well-ish on this end...)

 

[jneutron]

I'm not terribly worried about the code violation, just curious if it will work or not.

You can (violate code without regard to safety considerations) put anything at all in the same conduit. The problem is, code was created to prevent us from doing very stupid things that don't appear dangerous, but in fact are.

I believe the same trench with two conduits is more than fine, however. Find a book with this stuff in it, it may help. I have this wiring basics book I bought at the HD a while back, it's pretty good.

Cheers, John

 

[jneutron]

...that's what you get for bringing facts into the thread...

Yah, go figure..

...Otherwise, how's things?...

Quite good, thanks. Finishing reno on the master bedroom tonight, puttin in ceiling speaks, tel, and cable to the lcd spot. Rugs due tomorrow.

You?

...Funny...I invoked your nom de QWERTY the other day over @AR in a "soundstage" related thread re: the "purity" of a stereo presentation vs. the impurities of MCjimHJJ(...all is well-ish on this end...)

THAT explains why my spidey sense was tinglin..guess I should pop in..

Cheers, John

 

[ctb_24]

Thanks for the replies. jneutron, I'm assuming that when you wrote "You can put anything at all in the same conduit," you meant that you CAN'T put anything at all in the same conduit. Correct me if I'm wrong. Do you mean that you can't combine anything with AC (high voltage) in the same conduit? Because I would think it would be fine to put speaker wire, CAT 5, coax etc. in the same conduit.

thanks

 

[jneutron]

Thanks for the replies. jneutron, I'm assuming that when you wrote "You can put anything at all in the same conduit," you meant that you CAN'T put anything at all in the same conduit. Correct me if I'm wrong. Do you mean that you can't combine anything with AC (high voltage) in the same conduit? Because I would think it would be fine to put speaker wire, CAT 5, coax etc. in the same conduit.

thanks

No, that wasn't a typo. What I meant was that there is nobody looking over your shoulder to make sure you do not put both types into the same conduit. So anybody can do anything they wish, and it may actually work.

But I personally will not violate code even though I may know better than those who wrote the code, because there is the distinct possibility that I only think I know more than them. There is the possibility that something I consider trivial has historically killed people or caused fires, so has been incorporated into code without explanation.

So while you could get away with it, it could indeed be a disaster waiting to happen. Safety is always the best path.

Cheers, John

PS..A nearby strike can easily cause a potential voltage to exist between a romex hot and a coax feed or cat 5 or speaker run....if it blasted through the insulation at just the right spot, it could render some things hot to ground that would be unsafe. The chances of that happening, who knows..not large, not zero. I have kids, so opt for the safest path.

PPS..I'm gonna edit that sentence, out of context it looks beddy beddy bad.

 

[jcrobso]

since I don't know where you live,

I can only give general info.
RG6 and CAT 2,3,4,5,6 are called class II low voltage wiring and in most places don't have to be in conduits for home use. John

 

[jlcct]

Try reading the NEC. It's no fun. I was exploring it and correct me if I'm wrong but they refer to the white wire as the grounding and the bare wire the grounded wire? Please someone reply cause this could solve a lot of confusion. Who the hell writes that book? No wonder you can take classes on how to read this book. Class on Shakespear or a class on the NEC. I pick watching water boil.

 

[Big T loves AV]

The NEC or National Electrical Code is published, written and modified by the NFPA or National Fire Prevention Association. The reason that the NEC does not allow low voltage and high voltage in the same conduit is to protect the homeowner from possible shock and fire hazard.

For example, with low and high voltage running through the conduit at the same time, the high voltage cable is inducing voltage into the low voltage cable. This could be noise or hum but even worse, the Romex could be inducing a 60 cycle high voltage into the low voltage cable, the voltage level varying in proportion to the intensity of the current draw through the Romex. Grab hold of your low voltage cable at the wrong time and you’ll know why the NEC does not allow low and high voltage in the same conduit.

By the way, it is also not recommended to share a hole in a stud or floor joist with low and high voltage. The two should be al least 12 inches apart if run in parallel and cross at 90 degrees. There are also rules for conduit in a trench. Different cables are laid in the trench at different levels.

The black wire is HOT or the wire that carries the 120 volts. The white wire is Neutral or the return path for the electricity. The bare copper wire is the SAFETY GROUND. Both the white and bare copper wires are tied to the same point in the service panel but as the name suggests the bare copper wire is there to help you remain safe. Please note on a 3-prong polarized plug that the safety ground pin engages first, the neutral is wider than the hot.

Contact your local building inspector and they will gladly share the correct information with you.