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How to pass low voltage ethernet cables through drywall with insulation (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by HurlingDurling@lemm.ee to c/diy

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Hello everyone, I am pulling my home's existing ethernet cables from the garage and into my home to install a network rack. Currently my garage does not have insulation (for a future project), so it get's too hot during summer for my router to live there, so I want to install it in my mudroom where there is insulation. My question is if I drill a hole to put some sort of cable cover (ie. https://a.co/d/1hHosME) will it affect my home's insulation too much where I should be doing something else? If so, what should I do to improve the cable runs?

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[–] agegamon 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If you are looking for a permanent cable run, rather than those fuzzy-brush covers (which have zero insulation or fire-block potential) you can get in-wall ethernet wall plate ports that will seal air out and provide a permanent ethernet receptacle in the wall. The advantage of these is that once you install them, you can disconnect the cable from either side of the wall if necessary, rather than having to snake the cable back out of the the wall again. In your case, even if you're just going from one side of the wall to the other, this is worth doing if the cable would stay there permanently or if you plan to pipe Ethernet in even after moving the modem to the garage later (not that I recommend that - just keep it inside if you can).

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Category-6-Jack-in-White-10-Pack-5016-WH-10PK/305193884

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-White-1-Gang-1-Decorator-Rocker-1-Duplex-Wall-Plate-1-Pack-5001-WH/206428112

If you use foam to fill any voids or gaps around the cable, make sure you use fire-blocking foam inside the wall (can get it at any hw store). It's required by code in some areas, better safe than sorry. This is for inside the wall, i.e. you don't want to see it because it's typically a bright orange color.

I recommend you use a shielded and outdoor-rated Ethernet cable if possible to cut down on interference. Most good quality cables now are shielded, but wanted to mention just in case.

[–] HurlingDurling@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks, but I actually need to run 10 cables to the garage. I think you can do upto 6 one one plate correct?

[–] agegamon 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, the most I've ever seen is six on a single plate. I wouldn't go that route either.

Honestly if it was me I'd just make one or two runs through the wall and add a network switch on whichever side needs 10 runs. But if you need 10 separate runs then I'd throw a larger piece of conduit through the wall next to a stud, anchor it, make it look nice on either side, and shove some fire-block or some loose foam in (not sure if loose foam is to code but I hate fire-block spray foam so much lol) to keep air from flowing. Pretty much exactly what you originally planned honestly.

There are downward-facing hoods that IMO are a little prettier than the fuzzy wall plates, but if those don't bother you then that's probably fine.