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Is it safe to run shielded external CAT6 cable near electrical cables

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kangodan

Technical User
Feb 3, 2012
18
US
I just received a site plan indicating where electrical ducts and manholes are. I was told that the wanted the telecoms cable to run along side these power cable underground. Is it recommended to run shielded external CAT6 cable in this situation, if not i will have to recommend that they provide a different path for the telecoms cables.
 
If your planning to run ethernet in the same conduit as power cables, this is not legal.
If separate conduit it is OK, but must adhere to local code as to the distances from other cables.
Now with my experience with ethernet between building, it not a good idea. A local lightning ground strike can easily jump to the ethernet cable, even if it is enclosed in metal conduit. I lost a wire, and switches as a result of running ethernet between building in a metal conduit; the cable was also protected with surge protectors which fried. Most of the issue is how fast the ground around the conduit disapates a lightning hit, the proper grounding procedures, and the voltage differential between the two endoints of the wire should lightning hit in the area (ground/building/powerlines).
Even if you have optical isolators on each end of the ethernet, there is no guarantee you will not loose equipement.
As to lightning, ethernet or shielded ethernet make little difference, once there is a high voltage differential it will get to the copper wire.
Best off running fiber.

........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial
 
Here are some of the cabling rules from where I am:

Indoor and outdoor surface telecommunications cabling
Separation from low voltage (LV) cables by:

a.a minimum distance of 50 mm;
b.a barrier of durable insulating material or metal; or
c.a timber or metal stud, nogging, joist or rafter of any thickness; and
d.a minimum of 150 mm between open telecommunications terminations and LV electrical terminations


Separation from high voltage (HV) cables by:

a.not less than 450 mm separation from single core HV cables; or
b.for multi-core HV cables, by
i.a distance of not less than 300 mm; or
ii.a distance of not less than 150 mm where there is an interposing barrier; and
iii.a distance of not less than 175 mm around the interposing barrier.
 
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