How to Safely Run Ethernet Cable Next to Power

In this week's video our Technical Manager, Don Schultz, and Technical Specialist, Dave Harris, share with you the top 2 things that you should consider when running Ethernet cable next to power.

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Video Time Codes:
[0:00-0:21] - Intro
[0:22-2:29] - Safety & Data Integrity
[2:30-5:29] - Considerations in Commercial Situations
[5:30-6:10] - Closing Thoughts

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[Bobby-lhsx]

Was almost going to run Ethernet net cable through power cable conduit, then thought I should search it up. Thanks for the video.

[James_Knott]

Here's my experience with some of this. On one job, in a warehouse, both Ethernet & AC power shared the same utility box. However, there was a barrier between the 2 sections. The entire box, including the barrier was steel. The Ethernet cable entered the box through conduit that ran up above the drop ceiling. I have not seen those shared boxes anywhere else. On another job, where I was installing IP cameras in apartment elevators, I had an unusual configuration. Shielded Ethernet cable was used to connect a PoE switch in the elevator machinery room to a DVR in the security office. There was an industrial grade PoE switch and then a media converter that connected to coax and provided power for the cameras. The elevator techs ran special coax cable to the car, where there was another media converter to convert back to Ethernet to connect to the cameras. I did this work in several buildings, with multiple elevators in each building.

BTW, as Dave mentioned, it's current, not voltage, that's induced in nearby conductors. Also, Ethernet ports have transformers between the cable and circuitry, which provide some protection. In addition, the frequencies used by Ethernet are well above 100 MHz, which is much higher than the 60 Hz AC power. Also, the original twisted pair Ethernet, StarLAN, was designed to share the same 3 pair CAT3 cable with telephones and so was built to withstand induced ringing current. Sharing the same cable puts that 90V, 20 Hz ringing current much closer to the data pairs than you'd ever get AC power. StarLAN became 10baseT. You can read about it on Wikipedia.

[Jollyprez]

What if the run is short? I have a small opening between walls, about 6". I need to run both power and 8 ethernet through the opening, but they'll only be in close proximity for maybe a foot. Do I still require shielded cable? This if for 120vac power, and I will be running POE on a couple runs. Thanks.

[tekgnosis]

I can't seem to find empty stud bays in my house. My issue is that the AC lines are going horizontal, not vertical, so I can't go up through the wall and into an attic without coming very close to the AC. This video does a great job of explaining the typical, parallel-wires scenario, but showing horizontal runs of AC vs. vertical ethernet (i.e.: perpendicular) would score bonus points imo

[eddiemarano]

Good job boys! I'm planning on running ethernet and I ran into a situation where I have to run my ethernet up through a concrete pad that supports a fireplace hearth. The thought of drilling a hole up through there is not something I am relishing. There is a hole there already but the electrical conduit up to outlets and the fireplace is in there. If I have to run ethernet up that hole, in very close proximity (they will be rubbing up against one another almost) is there anything I can do to mitigate the possible interference? Thanks

[grizzlypaws]

I need to run 4 Ethernet cables in my unfinished basement parallel with the floor joists. What should I use? J hooks, cable clips etc? Thanks!

[cdunne]

What if the power cable is an armoured power 240v cable which is buried beside the Ethernet ducting. Wouldn’t the metal windings in the armoured cable prevent the electric field interfering with the Ethernet cable?

[TechThusiast]

Hi I'm based in the UK and I was going to drill a hole and run 2 weatherproof cat5e cables from inside the house to the garden to power 2 PoE cameras. I was also going to use the same hole to pass a 3 core flex cable which is plugged in the wall to power 2 floodlights outside. Would this cause an issue for cameras?

[fgfgdfgfgf]

Is shielding Ethernet cable by default bad for any reason? Other than the extra cost.

[mikethebear]

If i have no option but to run ethernet and power in the same conduit is there a way I can shield the ethernet cable?

[EthanGate-nnnj]

I'm planning to run an ac power extension cord(240volts) parallel to an unshielded cat5e and I'll only use the power extension to plug a cctv. Can I run them parallel without distance? Would it still affect data integrity?

[TheNaviOlly]

Would it be fine to run multiple unshielded Cat6A cables right next to each other, while keeping away from power? Does there need to be minimum distance between the ethernet cables as well?

[christopherdillard]

So what about a trench situation. 240v run in grey conduct and a shielded Cat 6 ethernet run in separate conduct. Do I need to worry about separation since they are in there own conduct and shielded. I would assume that the power will be run in a 2in or larger and the Cat will be in 1in. Im trying to see if I can use the same trench as the power run.

[billyy]

Hi, if you had for example 10 240v wires together running along a section of a wall, is it still an 8 inches distance recommended ?

[bramsegers]

what if you run use a shielded power cable (230VAC) next to a shielded network cable in the same electrical tube (for about 10 thanks

[bobmills]

I'm running power to my shed 100 feet away from my box with 6 guage. Can I run cat6 in a seperate pvc pipe along next to it?

[DMOTVE]

Would this also apply to having an ethernet cable in parallel to a power strip and it's cord which is earthed. What about the power cables of modems/routers?

[JasonFox-qq]

if we do not have the space for the separation and are running conduits... would running network and power in separate metal conduits work help for this? say 3"x3" square steel conduits side by side

[nsc]

I know in the video you said Ethernet is fine if it's ran in a separate wall cavity, but does the 8" rule still apply to unshielded Cat6a cable when ran along the other side of the same stud that the power is attached to? There is the separation between the stud itself, but I didn't know if the different cavity was just a rule of thumb in-regards to distance or if there was some isolation happening because of the material (the wood stud). Does that also change if the ethernet is contained in a structured wiring enclosure?

[ctrlaltdebug]

Isn't twisted pair and differential signalling supposed to cancel out low frequency interference at 60hz? Reddit is full of homegamers running utp next to power without an issue.