Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

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BredStik

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Hi guys!

I'm currently building a dedicated home theater in my basement and I have some questions regarding in-wall wiring. In my case, I'll use a suspended ceiling to allow access to pipes and electric wires. Since I'll be using a ceiling mounted projector, the DVI cable will have to run over the suspended ceiling to get to the projector. I've read lots of things but cannot come up with a clear answer... Can using a PVC pipe of some sort to run speaker and DVI cables in my ceiling make it legal or respect the National Electric Code? I'm confused... I've read on many forums that people use pipes to run cables in walls or ceilings. I would think at least one of you guys has experienced this kind of problem.

Thanks
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

No requierment for low volt wire to be in pipe. if you need to know about electrical wires have your electrican read 334.12
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

Originally posted by wyatt:
No requierment for low volt wire to be in pipe. if you need to know about electrical wires have your electrican read 334.12
Click to expand...
Hi!

Do you mean as long as the wire is cl-rated?

Thanks
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

What kind of pipe?
Who is doing the work, you or an electrician?
I know that there are thousands of digital projector s and flat panel TV's being installed incorrectly:
No permit
Wrong type of wire in walls

Just because its low voltage doesn't make it safe.
Read the post by moderator Ryan about the fire from low voltage that caused $100,000 in damage.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

At the risk of exposing my ignorance (which I frequently leave hanging out for all to view and ponder), how can you start a fire with RG-6 or Cat-5e?

I can see how heat is generated in the low-voltage lighting system that caused Ryan's fire. I fail to see how a "DVI cable" (what is that?) can start a fire.

If a DIY'er wants to install these cables, my initial advice would be go for it. If he wants to venture beyond that, I'd say call an electrician.

Wyatt, read 334.12 closer if you're thinking what I think you're thinking. :D
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

Originally posted by georgestolz:
At the risk of exposing my ignorance (which I frequently leave hanging out for all to view and ponder), how can you start a fire with RG-6 or Cat-5e?
Click to expand...
Last week I had an inspector want to see the specs on the RG and Cat cables we are installing....a bit late to start asking for that after he already signed off on 24 units rough inspections :roll:

Nevertheless, we produced the paperwork he asked for.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

An incorrect cable type can contribute to fire and smoke due to its combustable nature, and
improper penatration of fire walls

And for a coax cable, if the installation does not have a lighting arrestor and bonding the the earth, then it can cause a fire from lightning.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

No disrespect intended, but that seems highly inapplicable to a basement finish in a dwelling unit. It seems unlikely (though possible) that the dropped ceiling in this scenario is to be used as a plenum. If so, then we have issues.

I fail to see a reasonable chance that the RG-6 could start a fire when struck by lightning.

Respectfully awaiting education here. :)
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

Originally posted by georgestolz:
[QB] I fail to see a reasonable chance that the RG-6 could start a fire when struck by lightning./QB]
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George it is quite possible for the CATV cable to be struck by lightning as most are transported overhead. If the service drop were not grounded, and did not have a protection device installed, then when and if lightning were to strike nearby, the charge would enter the building and find a discharge path in your home. The fault current likely produced could ignite the insulation, or the device it discharged through.

I should also add since CATV services are many times shared with POCO power on the poles, the possibility exist of accidental contact between POCO and CATV lines.

[ February 05, 2006, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: dereckbc ]
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

I would have to agree with Dereck on the fact that if catv is not grounded properly, the that leave no place for a bleed of any power that happens to travel on the wire.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

I don't know what to say. I've never been asked to ground CATV runs. I've never seen the CATV folks ground their service to a house.

If this is in error, then I guess I stand corrected. Should I be opening up the CATV company's equipment and connect it to my grounding system?

:confused:
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

Mike Holt lost thousands of dollars of home entertainment equipment due to his CATV cable box not be bonded to his electrical grounding system. The CATV installer ran the wire into the dirt.

George the NEC requires in Art 820 the CATV protector to be bonded to the electrical grounding system. IF you get EC&M, the last issue had a great article on this by Mike Holt.
Perhaps the electrician is the one to do this, he will get the violation, not the cable guy.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

Originally posted by day by night:
...if catv is not grounded properly, the that leave no place for a bleed of any power that happens to travel on the wire.
Click to expand...
Let's be clear that grounding the entrance block or splitter only grounds the shield of the cable. To protect against possible damage to equipment and the remote chance of fire, you need a coaxial surge arrestor which is usually a spark gap type device.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

"The fault current likely produced could ignite the insulation, or the device it discharged through.
I've seen a commerical building where the coax vaporized up to the second floor when a 12.500 volt line energize the CATV line, the grounding block at the building was not bonded.
 
Re: Home theater suspended ceiling wiring...

George DVI (Digital Visual Interface) I still do cable contracting on the side I guess no one wants to gaff poles any more but its kinda fun and theres good money it. As for as our grounding is concerned We are regulated by Auditors as soon as the drop or lateral hits the house a ground block is installed in the CATV enclosure (House box). From the ground block a #10 is ran to GEC. I do not recall of any fires that have been the result of improper grounding but a lot of expensive equipment has been lost as Tom mentioned above.
 
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