Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [cables]

168 questions
41
votes
1 answer

What is this cable in my yard, why is it exposed, and what can I do about it?

UPDATE 5/25 - The electric company spliced and re-buried the cables. It's a 120V line and should have been buried at least a foot below ground. They'll come by again to locate the rest of the line leading up to our electrical box and trench it…
Bucket
  • 553
  • 6
  • 11
25
votes
8 answers

Is twisted and taped splice on cable, objectively any less stable than wire-nuts or terminal blocks?

In Brazil, electrical connections are almost always done splicing electrical cables by twisting the strands together and insulating them with electrical tape. Here is a video showing some of the connections the way they are done in Brazil. Terminal…
Luiz Borges
  • 2,305
  • 14
  • 65
  • 80
21
votes
3 answers

How do I feed an ethernet cable through a doorway without damaging the door or wall?

My wife and I recently moved into a new apartment. We've had it for just a few days. When our internet company came to hook up our landline, I had them hook it into one of our bedrooms and set up my home office. Now my wife wants to set up her…
Zibbobz
  • 315
  • 1
  • 2
  • 10
14
votes
5 answers

What is the technical term for the rings that protect holes for electrical through woodwork like cabinets?

I drill holes in cabinets or desks for electrical. I usually drill about a 3/4" hole and I have these little plastic rings I put in to protect the woodwork and just so it looks nicer. Electrical is armored... So I have seen other examples at…
DMoore
  • 47,296
  • 15
  • 79
  • 187
14
votes
7 answers

Can I run CAT6 FTP cables parallel to electrical cable in the same conduit?

Can I run CAT6 FTP cables beside to electrical cable (220v 1 amp) in same PVC Trunking ?
Hamza
  • 157
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
11
votes
3 answers

What size extension cord should I use for multiple computers?

We're hosting a LAN party (several computers, 50+) and I had some questions about power draw; I hope this is the right place to ask. Currently, we're assuming each PC will draw an average of 3.5 amps. We have several 20amp circuits, so we're putting…
ctote
  • 700
  • 5
  • 18
  • 29
11
votes
3 answers

How can I know if one extension cable and outlet can handle so much electricity use?

I intend to run an extension cable from an outdoor outlet to power four pond pumps. Currently I have a mess of different wires running across the yard from three places. The cable runs from the outlet, would be buried 1" underground, run to a 2 ft…
Village
  • 947
  • 2
  • 25
  • 40
10
votes
3 answers

How can I repair/reattach loose cable covers to the wall?

I recently purchased a home and several of the wall cable covers are loose. The wall anchors are essentially just resting in the wall instead of anchoring the cover. What would be the proper way to repair this? I’ve attached a sample image as well.
user43024
  • 103
  • 4
9
votes
2 answers

How should I run cables through interior wall to garage?

Please excuse me if this has been asked before, I searched previous questions but didn't find anything similar... I have my computer in our garage because of less noise, heat, dust, etc... also it's pretty cool all year, so I'm not worried about…
Eric
  • 91
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
8
votes
6 answers

Does a (non-splitting) cable splitter degrade the signal?

I have cable and cable internet in my new apartment. The cable comes in to the water-heater closet from the roof and comes out an outlet in the wall of the closet, but there is a 4-way splitter in use before the cable gets to the outlet. It's not…
Little Fermat
  • 83
  • 1
  • 1
  • 3
8
votes
2 answers

How tight should a cable clamp be?

When using metal junction boxes for electrical work, it is required to use a cable clamp to hold the cable at the edge of the box and to protect it as it passes through the potentially sharp metal. Often, a screw-clamp clamp like this is used: Image…
FreeMan
  • 37,897
  • 15
  • 71
  • 155
8
votes
3 answers

Is it okay that my Sony TV power cord replacement has a slot for a third prong that the original doesn't?

I have a Sony TV that has OEM cable on the left. I want to replace it with a longer cable on the right. The new cable fits into the TV's slot but would not have the third prong. Is this safe to do? Does the third prong of the new cable interact in…
worbel
  • 195
  • 1
  • 6
8
votes
3 answers

How do I crimp an F-connector onto RG-6 cable?

My current home project is putting RG-6 in the walls instead of through the cold-air returns and across the carpet between rooms. Thanks to some forethought during previous remodeling projects, laying the cable and getting it in the walls is the…
user4302
7
votes
4 answers

Running ethernet under ground to another building

I'm trying to run ethernet cable about 250ft underground to the garage. It is going through a hard plastic/rubber tubing under the yard and into the garage. Is there anything I should know before doing this? UTP/STP? cat 5e/cat 6? If a location of…
Aaron
  • 173
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
7
votes
2 answers

Using fire retardant sealant for low-voltage cables through walls

I plan to wire my house with CAT6 cables, running inside the walls (drywall, wood). I would have to drill through the floor and probably through fire blocks in between the studs. Lot of guides advise to pull a string in addition to the cables, so…
Slav
  • 483
  • 1
  • 5
  • 16
1
2 3
…
11 12