CAT5e Routing

Good Evening,

Sorry for the long post, a bit of backstory for you...

Following on from my previous post here regarding extending my existing G.Fast connection, I have received an e-mail from Openreach advising I can now get... FTTP!

I have therefore decided that when I do have the FTTP service installed I will have the ONT placed in my spare bedroom (which I use as an office) instead of the living room, where the current NTE socket is. Following this change I now need to run a CAT5e cable from said bedroom down into my living room.

I have noticed some trunking which runs from the ceiling in my hallway down into a cupboard which currently contains my Fuse board, and electric meter, this would conveniently be idea to run a length of CAT5e down and drill a small hole into the living room to feed the cable through.

My question is, can I route CAT5e next to electric cables and IF I do does it need to be shielded?

Thanks in advance.

Doesn't need to be shielded and the trunking provides the necessary physical segregation, between the power cabling and the data cabling.

One could imagine that the conduit from the electrical cupboard contains the "electric cables".

In reply to a post by Thinker27:

One could imagine that the conduit from the electrical cupboard contains the "electric cables".

Apologies I should have been clearer, indeed it does.

I am looking to run the CAT5e cable down the same conduit.

Good point might have misread it.

Power cabling and data cabling should *not* be run within the same containment, unless that containment has separate compartments for power and data or you use a conduit let’s say within the containment to keep the cables physically apart.

In that case, if the trunking that contains the power does not have separate compartments within it (and it probably won’t in this situation) then you’d have to run a conduit inside the trunking for the data cable to maintain physical segregation.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

In that case, if the trunking that contains the power does not have separate compartments within it (and it probably won’t in this situation) then you’d have to run a conduit inside the trunking for the data cable to maintain physical segregation.

Thanks Pheasant, I had a feeling that was going to be the only option.

I think the gap maybe too small. If so I will have to find another route.

Thanks again.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Power cabling and data cabling should *not* be run within the same containment, unless that containment has separate compartments for power and data or you use a conduit let’s say within the containment to keep the cables physically apart.

What if OP ran a single fibre and used bi-directional optics? That feels like it should be tolerable on the basis that fibre is made of plastic or glass and neither conduct electricity.

I have never known of issues of interference between Cat5e and mains power but as mentioned, it is a possibility. Likely? I don't think so.

If you haven't already run the cable then go for something suitable like Cat6a which is still pretty low-cost.

In reply to a post by smouty:

I have never known of issues of interference between Cat5e and mains power but as mentioned, it is a possibility. Likely? I don't think so.

If you haven't already run the cable then go for something suitable like Cat6a which is still pretty low-cost.

It's really nought to do with interference, but safety (and electrical reg's) of running mains voltages with low voltage comms cabling.