Is there a possibility to install another (much smaller) trunking that follows the same path etc as the power cabling trunking?

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

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.

Correct, it becomes a fire accelerant - even though its effects are low, but can spread if you have a 20m run for instance, so you have two fires instead of one, and a lighten conductor to boot.......

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Is there a possibility to install another (much smaller) trunking that follows the same path etc as the power cabling trunking?

as somebody else alluded to a fibre run in the same trunking and media converters would work.

You refer to both conduit and trunking ... slightly differnt products by same uasge.

Interference unlikely although if you have solar there could be high frequency noise which may cause and issue. Twist in the pair negates most of it though but a screened would be better.

The main concern would be if it is a tight fit - in which case don't. IN large trunking you should be OK but 25mm NO. One reason being that the insulation should be up at 600v - the same as power wiring. Some Cat5e/6/6A is some is not so you cannot take a chance.

Edited by MHC (Sat 14-Dec-24 11:56:43)

In reply to a post by CJT:

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.

For reference, here’s the extract from 528.1 Proximity to Electrical Services in the 18th Ed wiring regs:

In reply to a post by MHC:

Interference unlikely although if you have solar there could be high frequency noise which may cause and issue. Twist in the pair negates most of it though but a screened would be better.

Indeed. In reality regular unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is perfectly fine from a noise immunity perspective.

A long time ago in a galaxy far away when AT&T were trying to convince specifiers and installers of the virtues of putting in their new UTP Cat 3 and later Cat 5 cabling across offices and installations around the world, they would demonstrate by wrapping an entire tote box of cable (305 metres of it) around an office fluorescent light fitting and showing us the BER’s from the analyser as the flicked the lights on and off successively.

Saying that here in lovely Britannia in the present day, there are multicore cables with Cat5e + power conductors, within the same overall cable - often used to connect domestic EV charge point with smarts - the (earthed metal) screening within the cable is how they meet the IET regs (528.1 part vi).

https://www.doncastercables.com/cables/17/78/EV-Ultr...

As used by the installer of our EV Charging socket.

Cheers!

The insulation around the data cores will be rated up at 600v which makes it suitable along with te integral screen.

Perfectly fine running network cable in same trunking as mains cable.

I wouldn’t advocate that, unless you chuck the data cable inside some Kopex etc.