Which Cat6A or Cat7A to run close to power lines ? help me design nw please.

Smrtka

Smrtka

Smrtka

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Hello,

I am doing a refurb of my house and will be running new power and NW cables to the whole house. I am looking at either get Cat6a or Cat7(a), the cables will have few runs parallel and crossing electrical cables so I am thinking U/FTP or S/FTP, do this shielded one need to be grounded as well (oinly worked with shielded Cat5 before)? I dont mind spending bit extra for Cat7A if anyone can find a decent 500m Reel, or has any recommendation (once I have the floors up so it doesn't have to be changed for next 10 years :D).
I have an Cat5a crimp tool but I think it will be crimped to patch panel on cabinet side and wall plugs on room side.
Also any good recommendation for double port (as low profile as possible so i dont have to dig the wall too deep :D ) wall sockets and patch panel would be most welcome.
The cables will also be used for CCTV as well but only going to outside plastic box so will not be exposed to elements. I am also going to run 4 cables (HA) to the shed in a plastic pipe in the ground / Likely next to armored power cables.
Thanks for any suggestions
 
Although I didn't rip out the walls, I did have to put in many runs of network cables which run parallel to mains cables. In a couple of cases we used the power cables to pull through the network cables through some of the joist holes, then pulled everything back through again. I used solid core Cat 6A S/FTP cable, and used the tool-less Cat 6A keystone jacks at both ends. I used double face plates (with the ports angled downwards) with I think 35mm deep sockets. The faceplates use the Euro plug in modules

I've not had any speed issues using the ports that have the longest parallel runs with the power cables. It's only a 1G network but I still get 900+ download speeds via BT FTTP to any port.
 
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JohnStewart said:
Although I didn't rip out the walls, I did have to put in many runs of network cables which run parallel to mains cables. In a couple of cases we used the power cables to pull through the network cables through some of the joist holes, then pulled everything back through again. I used solid core Cat 6A S/FTP cable, and used the tool-less Cat 6A keystone jacks at both ends. I used double face plates (with the ports angled downwards) with I think 35mm deep sockets.

I've not had any speed issues using the ports that have the longest parallel runs with the power cables. It's only a 1G network but I still get 900+ download speeds via BT FTTP to any port.
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Do you have any links for the cables and the sockets please ? or any good brand you recommend ?
 
Yea, I was Just hoping to future proof but I can get 10gb with Cat6A once I get some gear that can actually run it so Cat6a might do for now, just need some good brand recommendation, I get 6% off on RS components, and OCUK doesn't stock drums so if anyone has good links that should not be against forum guides.
 
Smrtka said:
Do you have any links for the cables and the sockets please ? or any good brand you recommend ?
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I've fell foul of the mods by linking products before, but if you search for "keystone jack shuttered fascia" you will find the euro faceplate modules I used, which are made by Connectix. Just standard single gang 2 module Euro faceplates are needed and it was mostly connectix ones I used, though went for some stainless steel ones in the lounge to match the electrical sockets. I found that my local DIY/tool store was one of the cheapest for the single gang dry wall back boxes. I bought more than I needed in different depths, as some of the walls had more space, and returned the extra ones at the end. They were less than £1 each.

The cable - I used CCS (Connectix) Cat 6a solid core cable. Looking at it now, it was U/FTP cable I got, as this has each pair individually shielded. It's important to make sure you get the solid core cable and not the stranded patch lead stuff.

I then just bought pre-made Cat 6A patch leads in a variety of lengths and a few different colours (each room at the uses a different colour at the patch panel so it's easy to identify). You might be able to save 50p each by terminating your own patch leads, but waste hours and hours testing and re-doing them.
 
You don't need Cat6a, and the amount of electrical interference you can generate in a domestic setting is vastly overrated as far as running data cabling is concerned.
 
Caged said:
You don't need Cat6a, and the amount of electrical interference you can generate in a domestic setting is vastly overrated as far as running data cabling is concerned.
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Unless you inexplicably decide to run powerline networking along the unshielded power cables running parallel next to the unshielded data cables :D


According to an older document (2007) I just found (on the website of a possible competitor to OCUK, so not linking), the UK regs (at the time) state(d) that an unshielded power cable should be at least 200mm from an unshielded data cable; unless you have a either an aluminium or steel divider between them - steel allowing a closer distance than aluminium. If either data or power cables are shielded, that can come down to 50mm. If both are shielded, then they can run next to each other.

One presumes that in this context it also means that the shield of the data and/or power cable must also be properly earthed - so properly connected to the cabinet's earthing point which in turn must be connected to the building earth.

I believe the main concern in the regs is electrical safety, not interferance per se. If unshielded power and data cables are run parallel there's the potential for induced currents in the data cables from the power cables.
 
The above may, for the most part, be true.

Luckily there are permitted exceptions. If there weren't all of that unscreened network cable in dado trucking would be a problem (and it isn't).
 
Smrtka said:
Do you have any links for the cables and the sockets please ? or any good brand you recommend ?
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Just make sure you read the info on whatever you order (or buy a well known brand like Molex/Modtap) so you don't end up getting scammed.

I.E There are hundreds of Cat 6/7/8/9000 cables listed on Amazon and almost none of them even meet the Cat5E spec.
 
ubersonic said:
Just make sure you read the info on whatever you order (or buy a well known brand like Molex/Modtap) so you don't end up getting scammed.

I.E There are hundreds of Cat 6/7/8/9000 cables listed on Amazon and almost none of them even meet the Cat5E spec.
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I don't see these names on Amazon.
 
V F said:
I don't see these names on Amazon.
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I think you misread, I wasn't suggesting to get cables from Amazon, that would be competitor hinting. I was warning the user that most of the cables for sale by non IT focused retailers (especially Amazon) are glorified junk that don't even meet the Cat5E standard let alone whatever real/fake standards they claim to.
 
I realise this is a bit of a hijack but seemed vaguely relevant.. I’m looking to get some external cable and will definitely be moving to 2.5/5Gbs switches shortly and perhaps 10gb in the future.

As no run will be over 50 metres am I right in thinking Cat6 is sufficient? I’m just planning to run to face plates and then patch to switches, one in my garage and one in the office at the end of the garden (which will be the long run).

I could run fibre instead as my switches have Fibre modules but it seems… excessive, and I don’t have to tools (or knowledge!) for terminating.
 
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