Routers, CAT5 and electrical wiring

[testing123]

I'm about to upgrade my main panel to 200 amps. Since code requires that the meter and mast be located at the front of the house, the main feed will have to be routed to the main at the back of the house. Wire size is 2 aught (2.0).

I have a few options for routing the main wire, one of which is the attic, which will be the easiest. The (potential) problem is that I have several routers and cabling sitting on a shelf about a foot below the ceiling directly under the path the main wire would take. The ceiling is 5/8 sheetrock with R30 Roxul (specialized rockwool) insulation.

The question:

Will the wiring running a foot over the router shelf cause network interference?

Thanks for any info.

 

[tgl]

Doubt it. The AC power will be 60 Hz or so, depending on where you live exactly. That's quite a few orders of magnitude different from the frequencies wifi uses.

 

[bbunge]

I'm about to upgrade my main panel to 200 amps. Since code requires that the meter and mast be located at the front of the house, the main feed will have to be routed to the main at the back of the house. Wire size is 2 aught (2.0).

I have a few options for routing the main wire, one of which is the attic, which will be the easiest. The (potential) problem is that I have several routers and cabling sitting on a shelf about a foot below the ceiling directly under the path the main wire would take. The ceiling is 5/8 sheetrock with R30 Roxul (specialized rockwool) insulation.

The question:

Will the wiring running a foot over the router shelf cause network interference?

Thanks for any info.

Should not cause any EMF interference. AC in parallel cables tend to cancel out any EMF. Your run will likely be three conductor with ground. The ground being strands wrapped around the conductors: two hot and a neutral. Make sure the run is connected to a ground rod at each end. Local codes are minimum requirements. And, for 200 AMPS you will need 4/0 aluminum cable which is less expensive than 2/0 copper.

 

[degrub]

Get a licensed electrician to do this job.

We cannot advise on this forum for electrical and code issues. This was talked about years ago here. It is a liability issue for the forum.

General advice -
You do not want nominal 200 amp cabling running through your attic without protection if you have need for mechanical access in the attic - HVAC, storage, etc. Likely should be in conduit.
Lightning hit on power line - i would rather have the drop outside in conduit or underground in conduit. Preferably underground. Put in a lightning surge supressor (MOVs) box at the main panel while you are at it. Make sure they do all conductor pairings.

Get a licensed electrician to design and install your upgrade.
@thiggins

 

[testing123]

Thanks for your comments. I'm not too concerned about the wifi...only use that for devices when in office. My concern was the routers and the (CAT 5) cabling (of which there are several running up the attic rafters grouped or in PVC conduit).

Am I interpreting correctly that this shouldn't be a problem?

 

[testing123]

Get a licensed electrician to do this job.

We cannot advise on this forum for electrical and code issues. This was talked about years ago here. It is a liability issue for the forum.

General advice -
You do not want nominal 200 amp cabling running through your attic without protection if you have need for mechanical access in the attic - HVAC, storage, etc. Likely should be in conduit.
Lightning hit on power line - i would rather have the drop outside in conduit or underground in conduit. Preferably underground. Put in a lightning surge supressor (MOVs) box at the main panel while you are at it. Make sure they do all conductor pairings.

Get a licensed electrician to design and install your upgrade.
@thiggins

I wasn't aware that this forum dealt with electrical? The electrician is coming next week to do the Job. My only concern is deciding where to have my him route the new main in relation to my network setup, as illustrated by the red texted question in the OP.

 

[tgl]

I wouldn't necessarily set equipment right on the power line, but it sounds like you have a foot or two separation, which should be plenty. The reason people were alarmed upthread was it sounded like you might be planning to do the power wiring yourself. Don't.

 

[testing123]

Should not cause any EMF interference. AC in parallel cables tend to cancel out any EMF. Your run will likely be three conductor with ground. The ground being strands wrapped around the conductors: two hot and a neutral. Make sure the run is connected to a ground rod at each end. Local codes are minimum requirements. And, for 200 AMPS you will need 4/0 aluminum cable which is less expensive than 2/0 copper.

Aluminum wiring is against code here. My electrician proposal states 2.0/copper. Thanks for your comments. I think that tells me what I need to know...they can run it through attic shouldn't be an issue for my network. Thanks.

 

[testing123]

To the moderators...I see my account has been placed in Moderator approval. My questions have nothing to do with DIY or Electrical, nor do any of my posts ask how to do the job. Degrub made an incorrect assumption.

 

[Digilog]

Thanks for your comments. I'm not too concerned about the wifi...only use that for devices when in office. My concern was the routers and the (CAT 5) cabling (of which there are several running up the attic rafters grouped or in PVC conduit).

Am I interpreting correctly that this shouldn't be a problem?

It shouldn't be a problem.
The only times I had issues with interference on network cabling is when I had to rewire a welding shop that moved into a place with an existing cat5 network. Which I ended up running cat 8 to shield it nicely.