Running landscape lighting with Cat5 and cable

[ckrzysko]

I'm building a detached garage and already had someone some one come out and directional bored 5 lines. (1. Main power, 2. another power feed for house switch to control lights on garage, 3. water, 4. gas and 5. another chase for low voltage.). I know I can't run the Landscape lighting with the main power or with the other power feed. My question is: can I run (2) Cat5 lines, coax cable along with low voltage landscape wire in the same chase? The run is around 140 feet from the house.

 

[goro]

edit: my bad!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I'm building a detached garage and already had someone some one come out and directional bored 5 lines. (1. Main power, 2. another power feed for house switch to control lights on garage, 3. water, 4. gas and 5. another chase for low voltage.). I know I can't run the Landscape lighting with the main power or with the other power feed. My question is: can I run (2) Cat5 lines, coax cable along with low voltage landscape wire in the same chase? The run is around 140 feet from the house.

Yes u can.

Make sure to use underground rated CAT5e and Coax.

You could but only on short distance otherwise voltage drop will be a major issue.

Cat5 wires are 24awg. Try this example Voltage Drop Calculator: http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

I think u misunderstood what he asked.

Hes not using the CAT5e for landscape lighting. He wants to run the CAT5e and lighting cables in the same conduit.

 

[Ron_CA]

Why run the low voltage from the house? If you are puting landscape lighting around the garage, why not just get another transformer

 

[theoldwizard1]

Cat 6 would be better because it is larger gauge (IIRC, 22 vs 24)

Both have 4 pairs. Use 2 pairs (4 wires) for one of the low voltage wires and the other 2 pairs (4 wires) for the other low voltage wire.

I would check the voltage under load at the remote end.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Cat 6 would be better because it is larger gauge (IIRC, 22 vs 24)

Both have 4 pairs. Use 2 pairs (4 wires) for one of the low voltage wires and the other 2 pairs (4 wires) for the other low voltage wire.

I would check the voltage under load at the remote end.

U misread the post as well.

CAT5e isnt being used for low voltage lighting...

Hes asking if he can put all the wire he listed in the same conduit...

 

[justsam]

Cat 6 would be better because it is larger gauge (IIRC, 22 vs 24).

Actually it is 23 gauge.

 

[ckrzysko]

I still have 300 Watts available on the house transformer. I would like the lights to go on and off at the same time. Plus only one system to maintain. Another transformer would be the alternative.

(Not using Cat5 for landscape lighting.)

 

[rmanrman]

You can run low voltage lighting with cat5 or 6 because the cat5 wire has twisted pairs and will not induce power from the lv lighting. I've done this at my house and it works fine but I went 75 feet. I'd be more concerned about the voltage drop for the lv lights. Should not be too much of a drop if you use led outdoor fixtures. The incandescent lights draw too much power and do not last even a year before bulbs burn out.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . . do you really have TWO hot runs of electricity to garage ???

Most code requirements anywhere in USA say only ONE electric run to detached.

 

[ckrzysko]

OP . . . . . do you really have TWO hot runs of electricity to garage ???

Most code requirements anywhere in USA say only ONE electric run to detached.

One hot run for the main power, the other chase is to link the detached garage out door lights to the house photo sensor so all exterior lights go on at the same time and can be controlled from the house.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You can run low voltage lighting with cat5 or 6 because the cat5 wire has twisted pairs and will not induce power from the lv lighting. I've done this at my house and it works fine but I went 75 feet. I'd be more concerned about the voltage drop for the lv lights. Should not be too much of a drop if you use led outdoor fixtures. The incandescent lights draw too much power and do not last even a year before bulbs burn out.

Actually, the twisted pairs in the CAT5e dont have anything to do with code allowing it in the same conduit.

The code allows it because of the voltage level and class of wire.

OP . . . . . do you really have TWO hot runs of electricity to garage ???

Most code requirements anywhere in USA say only ONE electric run to detached.

Code allows a separate switched feed for lights as long as source originates from garage.

 

[ard]

had someone some one come out and directional bored 5 lines.

The run is around 140 feet from the house.

Curious about the directional bore of 140 feet.

If I might ask, how much did this cost?

Does it leave a 'wire ready' PVC conduit??

Ive always been a trencher or backhoe guy....