kustomjs
join:2006-12-12
Coldwater, OH | best way to run cable inside of a wall?
Hey Guys
can anybody tell me the best way to run cat 5 cable inside of a wall with fiberglass insulation inside of the wall? |
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Serbtastic
You Know How Many People I Have Buried?
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Stoney Creek | I'd run it between the vapour barrier and the drywall. Do you have access from either above (attic) or below (unfinished basement)? |
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kustomjs
join:2006-12-12
Coldwater, OH
1 edit | reply to kustomjs
I have access to the attic. but the question is what equipment would I use to fish the cables down in the wall? |
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Tonice2007
Premium
join:2005-12-20
Brooklyn, NY
| said by kustomjs  :I have access to the attic. but the question is what equipment would I use to fish the cables down in the wall? From my experience working for a telecom company, that does some of the wiring for corporations, in the tristate, we normally use a metal snake, it works pretty well, from my experience but it a *itch to tie it backup.
And this was for wiring in running in the ceiling of offices, and in the wall for drop boxes, where we normally just wire the cable down and then fish for it. |
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Serbtastic
You Know How Many People I Have Buried?
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Stoney Creek | reply to kustomjs
»www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1···Id=10053 |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | reply to kustomjs
fish tape (as already posted) or glow rods. I prefer glow rods for shorter distances...I just don't like messing with winding and unwinding the tape. |
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CaptSternn
Sternn Heavy Industries
join:2002-05-24
Overland Park, KS
| reply to kustomjs
As Serbtastic said, buy the steel fish tape.
My advice would be to cut the hole in the wall where you want your outlet, then run the fish tape from the attic down to the hole. Feed your cable up from the bottom.
I also run a piece of string with my cable that is twice as long as the distance between the wall plate and attic. That way, if you ever need to run an additional cable, you don't have to fish for it. |
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fox7
join:2001-02-12
Culver City, CA | reply to kustomjs
For doing what he said specifically, down inside a wall, I like the fibergalss rods. They seem stiffer.
fox7 |
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Serbtastic
You Know How Many People I Have Buried?
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Stoney Creek | reply to kustomjs
For an exterior wall (which I assumed because of the insulation) a fiberglass rod may be difficult to use because of the roofline right above it. |
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kustomjs
join:2006-12-12
Coldwater, OH | reply to kustomjs
I found out the hard way of doing this with fiberglass insulation and I tried steel fish tap and its pain in the butt go get the fish tap go down. Is there any other things I can try? |
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JFletcher
join:2009-09-17
Williamsburg, VA | »www.magnepull.com/index_003.htm |
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rweeb
join:2009-10-13
Cleveland, OH
| reply to kustomjs
Coiled fish tape not contained in pipe has a mind of its own. I like to use insulated 12 guage solid wire, more flexible can be straightened. Measure off a good reference point, amazing how you can drill a hole then find out your in the wrong joist. You should pick a joist with no electrical already in it to start with. Create an oval loop at the end, keep it smooth and insulated, never know what you may hit in the wall. Use electrical tape if necessary, you want it to easily slide between the insulation and drywall and not catch regardless or whether you are feeding or pulling. Two people, one at each end can save a lot of time. |
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Red_Menace
join:2001-11-03
Littleton, CO
| reply to kustomjs
The thin fiberglass poles are the way to go for an insulated wall, but if a fish tape is all you have you might try running it down next to a stud (make sure the leading end is as straight as possible). Another thing I've done is to take a 45 degree PVC elbow and use it where the fish enters the wall to help guide it between the insulation and drywall. |
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kustomjs
join:2006-12-12
Coldwater, OH | reply to kustomjs
what I probley is going to do is take a telephone line that is already dropped and run it back up with fish tape and cat5 then after the cat5 its up I will drop the telephone line back down. |
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cochise7969
join:2009-04-22
Anaheim, CA
 ·Charter Pipeline
| reply to kustomjs
I've used this tool in residential installations. It uses magnets to make pulling cables behind walls easy. Here's a you tube demo video.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrYoxsX7JJY |
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jeffmoss26
join:2002-07-22
Beachwood, OH
| reply to kustomjs
Yeah, as rweeb says, always measure. I've sworn I was in the right wall cavity more than a few times, and been wrong. For insulated walls I like the Greenlee fiberglass glow rod I have. I think it's 1/8 inch in diameter. A fish tape tends to get caught up. All I can say is take your time and you should be ok. |
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Kilroy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-11-21
Ann Arbor, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to cochise7969
said by cochise7969 :I've used this tool in residential installations. That's pretty cool and looks easy enough. How well does it work in the real world?
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When will the people realize that with DRM they aren't purchasing anything? |
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jmann
join:2009-08-28
Cleveland, OH
1 edit | reply to kustomjs
The products made my Labor Saving Devices are awesome (the product in the video is one of them.)
I typically drill a 1/2 in hole in the header and send in a snake in 6 foot sections. Then I cut a hole in the destination wall the size of the electrical box that will go it. Then I stick my hand in the wall, grab the snake and I am done. Attach the wire to the snake and pull.
Also, get yourself some nice long drill bits. You'd be surprised how many times you drill into a wall from above and find multiple headers and other garbage part way down the wall in the way. |
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nevtxjustin
join:2006-04-18
Dallas, TX
| reply to kustomjs
I've always wondered just how strong the magnetic pull of the magnetic roller tool. Did you see the way it jerked his hand when the roller found the drop leader magnet?
Coiled fish tape can be a PITA at time when trying to drop through insulation. I have several #438-5H 50' tapes and this #438-2X 25' one that is a 1/8" wide flat metal tape that works better than the 438 family. I'm looking at getting a #540-50 50' fiberglass tape.
»www.greenlee.com/cat_docs/Fishin···wrez.pdf
Further down you see the fiberglass sticks. The 540-12 "Fish Stix" is a fair substitute for a more rigid extending fiberglass pole assemble. I have six of them and can reach out 24 feet.
The fiberglass glow sticks are very, very flexible. A tad stiffer than the coiled fiberglass tape, but less stiff than the "Fish Stx" |
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