Running power and data?

[fromeast2west]

I'm rebuilding a shed/man cave in the back yard and want both power and water (would love plumbing, but then the SO knows I'd never come out).

To keep things simple I'd love to run just one length of conduit to carry both 110v and Cat6.

Will using STP keep the data clean over a 50' run?

 

[Starshooter10]

it should suffice, I would recommend getting something thats good for a bazillion years (yes thats a technical term )

the level 2 stuff is beasty.

http://www.ubnt.com/toughcable

 

[scotinexcile]

it should suffice, I would recommend getting something thats good for a bazillion years (yes thats a technical term )

the level 2 stuff is beasty.

http://www.ubnt.com/toughcable

Would that cable let you go over the 333ft limit of CAT5?

 

[Starshooter10]

Would that cable let you go over the 333ft limit of CAT5?

the cable itself will go WAAAY over 333'

but the signal.....

I found that up to 350 is fine, you might be able to get it up to 400 feet,

but really if you going that kind of distance you should look into fiber or if you need cheap

I've never used this product, but this could do the job

they also make fast Ethernet to VDSL back to fast Ethernet thats supposed to be good for half a mile

 

[}Dragon{]

I wouldn't mix the network cable and AC.

Any reason you can't go wirelessN to the shed?

 

[Diezel]

I wouldn't mix the network cable and AC.

Any reason you can't go wirelessN to the shed?

THIS. Run wireless. Wireless N should be good for 100ft through walls. External Gain antenna's will increase the distance/transfer rate.

Running Cat5/Cat6 along with 110vac. WILL increase "crosstalk". There is a reason why you never see this done (I think its against NEC).

IIRC, at 110v @ 15amp, the suggested (if not CODE) separation is 6". DO NOT run them in the same conduit.

 

[Starshooter10]

6" is a rule of thumb... you can get that LV 2 toughcable and be fine, if you going to run the romex in the same pipe I would make sure you ground it with there esd? touch crimp ends.

 

[}Dragon{]

THIS. Run wireless. Wireless N should be good for 100ft through walls. External Gain antenna's will increase the distance/transfer rate.

Running Cat5/Cat6 along with 110vac. WILL increase "crosstalk". There is a reason why you never see this done (I think its against NEC).

IIRC, at 110v @ 15amp, the suggested (if not CODE) separation is 6". DO NOT run them in the same conduit.

It's against NEC and NFPA codes.

Unless you are running a server in the shed that needs wire-speed bandwidth, consider wireless-N. Besides external (c)antennas- depending upon the brand of wireless router you have, there are a ton of tuning mods you can do, fairly easily with a third party firmware update.
Google DD-WRT.

 

[Diezel]

It's against NEC and NFPA codes.

I thought so, but I couldn't remember anything 100% specific. Then again, the newest book on NEC I have is from the 90's. I guess I should buy a new one.

The rule of thumb that I knew. Was: Same trench, different conduit = ok. 6"+ away from power OR gas / water in same trench = ok. Again, this was a while back. When INDOORS, 1 "cavity" (stud) separation recommended. Cat5/6 into same gang box as 110v ONLY ok if box is divided.

 

[}Dragon{]

I thought so, but I couldn't remember anything 100% specific. Then again, the newest book on NEC I have is from the 90's. I guess I should buy a new one.

I'm in the same boat- I can't quote the specific codes- but I know someone who can. The last time I built a data center (all under floor wiring/fibre) was 10+ years ago.

 

[Marlowe]

You can run Cat6, even in the same conduit if you want, but STP doesn't solve your major problem:

Ground loops.

You'll need protector blocks on both ends suitable for Cat 6, as well as solid state secondary protectors to deal with sneak currents and the like, which you will absolutely inductively couple into the cable from the AC power.

While technically doable, running copper (safely and correctly) between two buildings, is almost never worth it. If you're going to do this, I'd suggest running (and having a professional terminate) multimode fiber, or use wireless.

Fiber's a nice way to go, it's EMI/RFI immune, doesn't need protector blocks on both ends (which are getting rare and expensive these days), fast, and not really any more expensive than good outside plant cable.

Also, realize if you're running power out to a shed, you'll need to pull permits, have it inspected, and you'll owe some application fees.

I certainly don't recommend it, but I've seen plenty of people (even contractors that should know better) do it. Shoot, I've even seen one try to run Cat5 600' joint buried with 200A service. Wondered why the phones weren't real happy.