Hello everyone, I am pulling my home’s existing ethernet cables from the garage and into my home to install a network rack. Currently my garage does not have insulation (for a future project), so it get’s too hot during summer for my router to live there, so I want to install it in my mudroom where there is insulation. My question is if I drill a hole to put some sort of cable cover (ie. https://a.co/d/1hHosME) will it affect my home’s insulation too much where I should be doing something else? If so, what should I do to improve the cable runs?

    • jkrtn@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      Hey, what do I need to do to meet code if I run ethernet like this? Fire blocking where it goes through the plates? If I do a tube, is there a code limit to number of cables running in it since they’re PoE?

      • infinitevalence@discuss.online
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        9 months ago

        They make fire block spray foam that you can spray where tubing penetrates between floors and exterior walls. Most internal walls don’t require any additional fire protection.

        For low voltage even poe they’re is no limit I know of other than the physical number of cables that will fit.

  • agegamon@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    If you are looking for a permanent cable run, rather than those fuzzy-brush covers (which have zero insulation or fire-block potential) you can get in-wall ethernet wall plate ports that will seal air out and provide a permanent ethernet receptacle in the wall. The advantage of these is that once you install them, you can disconnect the cable from either side of the wall if necessary, rather than having to snake the cable back out of the the wall again. In your case, even if you’re just going from one side of the wall to the other, this is worth doing if the cable would stay there permanently or if you plan to pipe Ethernet in even after moving the modem to the garage later (not that I recommend that - just keep it inside if you can).

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Category-6-Jack-in-White-10-Pack-5016-WH-10PK/305193884

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-White-1-Gang-1-Decorator-Rocker-1-Duplex-Wall-Plate-1-Pack-5001-WH/206428112

    If you use foam to fill any voids or gaps around the cable, make sure you use fire-blocking foam inside the wall (can get it at any hw store). It’s required by code in some areas, better safe than sorry. This is for inside the wall, i.e. you don’t want to see it because it’s typically a bright orange color.

    I recommend you use a shielded and outdoor-rated Ethernet cable if possible to cut down on interference. Most good quality cables now are shielded, but wanted to mention just in case.