Got told my cable runs were too tight in a crawl space

A homeowner in Tacoma pointed out I was pulling coax so tight it hummed against a floor joist. He said it sounded like a bee hive when the heat kicked on. I started leaving a full 6 inch service loop at every turn after that. Anyone else get a piece of feedback that made you change a small habit?

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3 Comments

mia5926mo ago

My old foreman in Spokane had a rule for low voltage. If you can't fit a closed fist between the wire and the joist, it's too tight. He'd check with his own hand. Made you think about vibration and expansion in a whole new way.

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thea_anderson826mo ago

Yo @mia592, what about heat buildup in that gap?

4

lane.emma6mo ago

The fist rule is a good visual, but it's for the wrong reason. Vibration isn't the main worry with a tight data cable. You're risking a change in the wire's impedance if it's pressed hard against a sharp edge. That can mess with the signal way before the jacket wears through from shaking.

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