Cat5e & Power Conductors in the same raceway

superdave02

superdave02

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2023 NEC Article 724.48 A - Reads maximum voltage of any conductor. So, the maximum voltage to ground or phase to phase? I am installing a Big Ass Fan, 480V, and want to install the Cat5 control wiring in the same EMT.
 
I see. So, the Cat5 going to the controller is Class 2 wiring and not permitted in the same raceway without a barrier.
 
superdave02 said:
I see. So, the Cat5 going to the controller is Class 2 wiring and not permitted in the same raceway without a barrier.
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It is either covered by 725 or 805. In my opinion it is 725, but the rules in those articles are identical as far as mixing with power.
 
The noise/bleed from anything over 50 vac will effect cat5/6. Do not run them in parallel with high voltage (50 vac and above) whether it's Romex in a home, or inside EMT or greenfield. Run EMT and zip tie the cat5/6 to the outside of the EMT. Putting 480vac in parallel next to cat5/6 com wire you can be guaranteed it will not function for the communications end. Might even damage a converter or board. .
 
How long of a distance are we talking about? Is if temporary or permanent! Visible to the public, above grid. If permanent, then run a separate conduit for comms or see if there's a comm box/raceway already installed that you can use. Hope this helps.
 
Any length. Never run CAT5/6 in parallel with anything over 50V. I have even seen cases in modbus/TCP-IP where the 24vac power cable made issues with comms. Alos transformers on plug in cords can create issues.
 
Copper to fiber converters are inexpensive. Use one of them at each end of the run and fiber in between. Problem solved.
 
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