Question running network cables

[corvairbob]

i have to reinstall my security system due to my house burned and they tore it down and now i have to redo the system,.


what i plan to do is install j-hooks in the floor joists in the now crawl space that was once the lower level that we are not replacing. anyway from each network wall box then run to the center of the floor and then to the garage thru a 2" fire stop type metal tube that i have to fill with some type of fire proof putty.

can i place what will wind up being 8 cat5e network cables in those j-hooks and run then along the center of the house to the garage wall and thru that 2" metal pipe and then to the network box? that will make for a neater and easier run for me. and not worry about crosstalk? i will not make them tight or wire tie them tight but leave them lose and however the finally lay in those j-hooks.

if not then can i run any of them in j-hooks and maybe how many might i dare to place? along each other in j-hooks and thru that pipe? or should i just run them all about 1/2" apart on the floor joists with cable straps and then drill 1/4" holes along the floor about 1/2" apart and the to garage and then gather them haphazardly and the run them to the network box?

i would like to do j-hooks as that will be way easier working in a crawl space on my hands and knees. i was going to put the j-hooks about every 2nd or 3rd floor joist. so 32 to 48" apart .

or is there some device that i can loop over the j-hooks and run the cables thru those to keep the wires away from the metal j-hooks? like maybe large o-ring type items? if the metal may interfere with the network signals.

in the old house i had them mostly all separate and i ran them down a 1 1/4" pvc pipe about 4' from the ceiling down thru that pvc and then to the network box and all seemed to work good.

 

[gowtham sundar]

Yep, you’re totally fine running those 8 Cat5e cables through J-hooks and into that 2" metal pipe, especially if you're not pulling them super tight. Cat5e handles crosstalk pretty well as long as you don’t kink or crush the cables. Loose and comfy is the way to go!

Your plan with the J-hooks on every 2–3 joists (around 32–48") sounds solid, and it will be much easier in a crawl space than strapping each one down separately. Just make sure the J-hooks aren’t sharp, or grab the plastic-coated ones to be safe.

That 2" fire-rated pipe should handle 8 cables. Just pack some firestop putty at the end, like you said, and you’re okay.

No need to overthink it. What you’re doing is clean, neat, and totally makes sense. Go for it!

 

[corvairbob]

thanks. i thought it would be just fine but in some research there was talk of not bundling them close together. but it seemed if they are in cable trays theya re pretty close. anyway by doing j-hooks i can run them faster thanks.