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Which Is More Common Plenum or Riser Cable?
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Getting a feel for the overall market on ethernet cable can be a tricky scenario. Some of the popular questions we come across is which is a more common plenum or riser cable? In this article, we will help cover this topic and provide insight into these two popular cables.
Getting into the question of which is a more common plenum or riser cable we can say that it depends. The more common cable we work with and get requests for is riser-rated cable. Riser-rated cable is some of the most popular cables because its the most popular choice for residential installations. However, Plenum cable is just behind it in terms of its common place in the market. This is because of its ability to handle temperatures better than any rated cable when it comes to networking. To better understand which is the more common cable let's get into more detail on these two cable types.
Maximum Cable Pulling Force
Let's jump right into it by detailing the maximum pulling tension. For ethernet cable such as Cat5e or Cat6 the maximum pulling force is 25 lbs (110N). This pulling tension covers cables in pull boxes and cable reels. So whether the cable is Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A or Cat8 you should watch that you are not pulling more than 25 pounds of force.
Now that we got the recommended tension number of 25lbs for your cable you might be asking how we go about measuring that?
How To Measure Pulling Force?
Whether you're installing cable in your home or a job site the question will come around on how we can measure pulling force on our cables. There are a couple different ways you can do this.
If you're on the professional side of installations doing this on large jobs its possible you might have tools to measure this for you. Some of the common tools that can measure pulling tension for you is a fishing scale, tension gauge or push pull gauges. These tools can help in giving you good estimates of the pulling tension on your cables. The thing about these tools is that you may or may not have them. Especially if you are a DIY at your home. Having these tools is unlikely. Click here.
Things To Keep In Mind
Having some helpful guidelines can make the pulling process that much easier. Here are some tips you want to keep in mind when installing your cable:
Using conduit can make it easier to pull. Whether in your walls or even underground. This also helps if you ever have to replace your cable.
Reducing the amount of bends in your cable run and conduit. Especially 90° bends.
Adding support to long runs of cables. This is especially true for bundle cable that can possibly weight down each other.
Try to limit the amount of objects and corners you are pulling through.
Grab a friend or family member. A 2nd or even 3rd person can help make pulling cable easier by monitoring the boxes and giving you multiple pulling spots. Ideal for larger installations.
Final Thoughts
Everyone wants a good connection with your ethernet cable. Practicing patience and some of these tips can go a long way in giving your network the best possible performance. Remember to keep the pulling tension under 25 lbs. by not pulling too hard and giving it a more controlled pull. If you're bundling cable together the same can be said as well. Bundled cables should be pulled with the same care as a single run. Visit us.