[SOLVED] Shape and range of sizes of PVC pipe for 1 single UTP CAT6

thosecars82

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Dec 12, 2009
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Hello

I would appreciate if anyone could tell me what shape (rectangular, round....) and what range of sizes would be fine for a PVC pipe that will hold 1 single round UTP CAT6 Ethernet cable.

I already have the round CAT6 UTP cable but I still need to buy the PVC pipe.


Thanks in advance.
 
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Solution
Google "cable hiding kit", or "raceways".

All sorts of sizes and options are available along with elbows and Tee's to fit corners or permit a multi-cable installation to branch. Some trays have tape on the back. Pull off the protective strip and stick the tray into place. Not recommended.

Eventually one of two things happens: 1) the trays unstick and fall off, or 2) removing them pulls paint off of the wall.

I prefer to use small flat head screws to secure the runs. Bit tricky to get the cover unsnapped and opened up to get the screw in. Generally you only need a screw at each end about 1/2" (4 to 5 cm) and especially so if the run is resting on top of the floor molding.

Example product...
Hello

I would appreciate if anyone could tell me what shape (rectangular, round....) and what range of sizes would be fine for a PVC pipe that will hold 1 single round UTP CAT6 Ethernet cable.

I already have the round CAT6 UTP cable but I still need to buy the PVC pipe.


Thanks in advance.
3/4 or 1 inch is usually recommended. You can get grey ENT conduit (often called smurf tube) if it is just inside walls. Or grey PVC electircal conduit. It has the female flared end already made.
 
Just wondering: Is the pipe for cosmetic purposes, protection, ease of access/installation?

Is the pipe going to be routing the cable through exterior/outdoor spaces?

Will defer to @kanewolf but if the UTP is going to be "exposed" then you need UTP exterior rated cable whether it is PVC or ENT protected or not.

Again, depending on the installation environment keep in mind the possible need for plenum rated UTP cable. Fire codes....

In any case, do consider leaving in a strong "fish" line should you find yourself needed to pull through a 2nd cable.

Not at all uncommon to (sooner or later) discover the need to pull another cable through....
 
Just wondering: Is the pipe for cosmetic purposes, protection, ease of access/installation?

Is the pipe going to be routing the cable through exterior/outdoor spaces?

Will defer to @kanewolf but if the UTP is going to be "exposed" then you need UTP exterior rated cable whether it is PVC or ENT protected or not.

Again, depending on the installation environment keep in mind the possible need for plenum rated UTP cable. Fire codes....

In any case, do consider leaving in a strong "fish" line should you find yourself needed to pull through a 2nd cable.

Not at all uncommon to (sooner or later) discover the need to pull another cable through....
The PVC pipe is ONLY for driving Ethernet cable indoors in a home environment between different rooms along the walls, right on top of the baseboard. PVC pipe as the one displayed on the following picture is best option I thought of to drive the cable indoors.:

https://www.leroymerlin.es/fp/12352312/canaleta-adhesiva-tehalit-blanca-12x200x1-2-cm


May be you can suggest anything else that is better than this PVC pipe.

Sorry, I do not understand really well what fish line means in this context.

Anyway, if I leave space for that fish line you recommended, what shape and sizes range would you suggest ?
 
That is not what most people on this forum call pvc pipe. Think more like a piece of water pipe. You can't just push the wire in one end and get it to come out the other unless it is very short. You normally suck a piece of string though the pipe with a vacuum and then use that to pull the wire though.

What you are talking about is more a cosmetic wire protection/hiding system. This is mostly going to be your personal preference in to what looks the best. Functionally you can just use the special wire staples and connect the wire directly to the baseboards if you wanted.
 
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Google "cable hiding kit", or "raceways".

All sorts of sizes and options are available along with elbows and Tee's to fit corners or permit a multi-cable installation to branch. Some trays have tape on the back. Pull off the protective strip and stick the tray into place. Not recommended.

Eventually one of two things happens: 1) the trays unstick and fall off, or 2) removing them pulls paint off of the wall.

I prefer to use small flat head screws to secure the runs. Bit tricky to get the cover unsnapped and opened up to get the screw in. Generally you only need a screw at each end about 1/2" (4 to 5 cm) and especially so if the run is resting on top of the floor molding.

Example product:

https://www.amazon.com/slp/wiremold-raceway/95vgtqjjr9uw62u

Because the longer pieces unsnap to allow you to just lay in the cable, a fish line (to pull cables through) is not needed.

You simply lay the cable in place and snap the cover closed. Cheaper products tend to start splitting or cracking if opened and closed too much.

And you can use cables with plugs already on the ends as you do not need to have tray room to force the plugs through.

You can google for similar products and options. Size as if you are going to install two wires.

The original "Canaleta adhesive TEHALIT blanca" tray is small. 1 cm x 1.2cm x 200 cm.

Could be tough adding a second cable later. Of if covering a thicker power cable.

Hopefully you have some means to go a store or two to actually look at the products. The images always make the trays look longer and roomier.

There are a number on online videos showing to install the trays (raceways). Again I prefer small screws to avoid damage from the adhesive. And/or to allow me to "rearrange" if a do-over becomes necessary. watch a few such videos before you buy.

Wall staples are a good option.

Wall staples come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Flat for telephone, rounded for ethernet.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Power-G...ERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-202018409-_-203709059-_-N

Likely cheaper and overall easier especially if the cable run is not too long. And if the cable color is matched to the wall color or floor molding color the cable could simple blend in and be unnoticed. Removal is easy and only little tiny wall holes to patch.

Key is to not crush the cable when you nail down the staples.
 
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Solution
Hello

In case I decided to go for raceways, big enough to hold at least two CAT6 UTP Ethernet cables in case I needed to add a second cable in the future, and with their own adhesive or by adding some universal mounting glue to prevent them from coming off,

Would mixing one UTP CAT6 Ethernet cable with a power cable within the same traceway be a good idea in case I wanted to do that at some of the walls the Ethernet cable goes through?

Thanks in advance
 
In general it is not recommended you run power cables thought the same. If it was actually enclosed in the wall it is against electrical code. Since it is basically a extension cord you can get away with it.

It is not a good idea but it will likely cause no issues because there is not big power surges being pulled. Generally it would be if you hooked a ac or refrigerator to it. The surge when the motor starts can cause induce currents in the ethernet. This is all theory though because ethernet is designed to stop this and nobody runs these in parallel for long distance.
 
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