atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring strain relief

Suppose you dropped a piece of (kellum grip) supported SJ cord from the ceiling and then fastened your Cat 6 cable to it with velcro? As long as the SJ cord had a nice "L" for the first velcro strap(s) to grip you should be OK. Especially of you wrapped the Cat 6 around the SJ on the way down.

The "look" would fit in with the Techno design and still be supported safely.

Sam

I've wired up areas like this. What we did was to use some Panduit plastic gang boxes which we ran our cable to and terminated with jacks and faceplates. We affixed the boxes to the ceiling tile with long machine screws, oversized washers and wing nuts. Prior to mounting we simply drilled two 1/2 inch holes side by side on one long side leaving a quarter inch gap between them. Then we took the patch cables, looped then, zip tied the loop to the makeshift fastening point and then made a J out of the connector end length and plugged it in. It formed an instant drip loop too. Very neat configuration and easy to add or move boxes. Just leave plenty in the ceiling if you expect to relocate them.

How about a consolidation point with armored cable running from the consolidation point down to a jack at the equipment? More materials, higher cost, but much higher reliability. If you aren't dealing with enough drops for a full on consolidation point, you could use a multi-port surface jack and just patch between the runs that go to the TR and the runs that drop down to the equipment.

With the armored cable you can pretty well do anything you like to fasten it without deforming the cable, and it certainly would look industrial.

https://www.superioressex.com/communicationscable.aspx?id=8706&ekmensel=c580fa7b_10_66_4244_1

https://www.panduit.com/Support/Sea...;Text=consolidation+point&Filter=All

How about something like either Carlon line-voltage flexible conduit (the grey stuff) or low-voltage "Resi-Gard" tubing (the orange stuff)?

Or pass the Cat5 cable down inside a section of Greenfield, with a single-gang utility box, equipped with a Decora faceplate & jack/insert at the bottom?

I'm going to throw this out and see what everyone thinks.
If cat5e is adequate, they make an outdoor aerial version (air core so no messy gel to deal with) with a steel messenger cable. You could terminate a piece of this with jacks at either end and form a loop in the messenger for hanging from a hook. Use a 1' patch cord to connect to the jack on the ceiling and whatever length patch cord that is required on the other end. Run the lower end into an 1110 type box and anchor the messenger to the ground screw. A receptacle style jack mounting frame and flush metal cover will finish it off cleanly.

Someone might have to advise on the use of outdoor cable indoors since it will not be riser rated cable. I think a case could be made that it would be acceptable as long as it wasn't permanently attached to structure or passing through walls.

I don't think the aerial cable would be a problem here. It's not being run in any pathways. What you've described is exactly what I was getting at with the armored cable, but the aerial cable would probably be easier to source locally.

Charles, or anyone else, can you give me a brand of aerial, or maybe a link? I would like to check it out.


Thanks!

Google is your friend aerial Cat5e cable

Hmmm, messengered cable would work. REMOVE the messenger for all but like 24" at the top. Separate the messenger from the cable for like a foot from the top end BUT DON'T CUT IT OFF. That foot of unmessengered cable is your loop that you put a plug on and plug into your ceiling mounted jack. Now, take that foot of separated messenger and loop it around a hook attached to the ceiling next to the jack. For the remaining messenger which is on the hanging cable, separate enough at the bottom to wrap it back around the cable and itself all the way up to where it separates from the cable at the top. This will keep it from separating on it's own.

This is really the same as what you would do when installing an aerial span to attach the cable to the supports. You would remove the messenger from the cable where it goes down the side of the building.

-Hal

I think it's a pretty good idea, but unless it is CM or better it is a violation of 800.154(C)(3). In this application, CMX will not cut it in lengths >10'. A loop of it in the ceiling for strain relief with a standard patch cord to the machinery would work though.

I like Clinton's armored cable idea (I was looking for that link yesterday). It definitely looks more industrial and would be pretty hardy. I've never installed it - I'd have to look to see what kind of connectors can be used with the armor, and if there are any grounding/bonding requirements in chapter 8 for the sheath.

I found these yesterday. Very mobile and there would be no visible service loops in the ceiling, but they sure aren't cheap.

Jack