r/lowvoltage 19h ago

Do I have any option other than notching this?

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6 Upvotes

I'm trying to run cat 6 above a door and through these studs. There's a purpendicular wall and door on the left side of the door I'm trying to go above and the framing is in between studs I'm trying to bore through. I was planning on a 1.5" hole because I want to run ~12 6mm cat 6 wires through. There's just under 2" of room available in the studs for drilling

What's the best way to do this?


r/lowvoltage 21h ago

Rate, advise - beginner looking to learn

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20 Upvotes

Attached is my first server closet redo. (Before and after) I also attached my first conduit run with bends.

I'm coming from the tech side of things, moving into low voltage.

Would love to hear everyone's thoughts, advice, what I could do differently, or better, and if there is, complements lol

Thanks!


r/lowvoltage 2d ago

Roast my work

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58 Upvotes

Been a systems tech for 6 years, residential electrical apprentice for 3 before that. Small but well known family company in my area. This is a pretty standard fire/security install. Any tips or criticisms appreciated, always looking to improve my work. What would you have done different?


r/lowvoltage 3d ago

Making a Floor Plan Markup / wire distance measure program. Any features you would want to see? So far it can import a pdf, you can add icons as needed and export to pdf and as an image file. Maybe an option to add a floor and its 3d so you can get more accurate cable measurements?

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15 Upvotes

r/lowvoltage 3d ago

Leviton patch cables - inconsistent sizes

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15 Upvotes

Ordered 400 6" 6a patch cables... red, blue, yellow and black. Every one of them is a different size. I've never experienced this with them before.


r/lowvoltage 4d ago

Low voltage box with Starlink

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9 Upvotes

r/lowvoltage 4d ago

Can I avoid cutting more drywall?

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4 Upvotes

I'm rubbing cat 6.There's a mechanical chase beyond the wall on the right and the rack is behind the wall on the left. The lower drywall is already cut and removed because of flood damage.

Can I follow the green line in order to avoid cutting the drywall along the red line? Any downsides beyond using the extra cat 6?

Note: ideally I'd just run above the top plate of the wall but a portion of the wall has electrical lines running that way already.


r/lowvoltage 4d ago

Do you trust the firmware off the HikVision’s website?

9 Upvotes

Once I used it and it bricked the nvr


r/lowvoltage 4d ago

How To Find Work

7 Upvotes

I have 15 years working in IT in an upper level as a Network Technician dealing with all types of cabling and systems. I'm working independently, mostly doing home camera NVR installations, but I need more reliable workloads. How do you find cabling work as a small business owner? I'm in the Tallahassee area.


r/lowvoltage 4d ago

Service Loops

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73 Upvotes

Is there an industry standard for service loop lengths, or leave it to the customer? I have left 8’-10’ on all my work…


r/lowvoltage 5d ago

For a relay wire, do you break the positive or negative?

14 Upvotes

I've most broken the positive voltage wire for maglocks, electric strikes, motion sensors, exit button etc. and havent had an issue with it. But I often see electrical engineers draw schematics breaking the negative wire for a relay. Is there a practical difference in low voltage?


r/lowvoltage 5d ago

Too real

296 Upvotes

r/lowvoltage 5d ago

What is turning on and off this system daily?

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11 Upvotes

I don’t see a timer or a photo control plugged in but it turns on and off daily. It’s my neighbor’s system and I am rewiring some lights. I know I’m missing something obvious but it’s hardwired into the house. Where is it hiding?


r/lowvoltage 6d ago

New to this- Programming Honeywell vista20p Wireless sensor. What does IN:AD and AW:07 Mean??

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10 Upvotes

r/lowvoltage 6d ago

DIY programming honeywell vista20p wireless sensor, window

5 Upvotes

DIY programming honeywell vista20p wireless sensor, window

I am programming a wireless sensor on my vista20p, and in the installer menu, I have the option of setting it as ATM STAY, ARM AWAY, INTERIOR FOLLOWER, INTERIOR W/ DELAY, or PERIMETER?

I am assuming arm stay means that when I arm the system in stay mode, this will not go off?

Vice versa Arm Away means this is essentially going to set off the alarm if this zone faults. BUT whats the difference between this and perimeter then?

And what are interior follower used for then? Just as you are arming the house and walking out (like motions) which will go off as youre en route out?


r/lowvoltage 7d ago

Warehouse / larger project wins

11 Upvotes

How are you all going about getting the bigger projects? The warehouses, big box retail stores, etc? RFPs? Start on smaller projects? What’s your strategy?


r/lowvoltage 7d ago

how do you stay organized ?

10 Upvotes

Hey all,

I mostly work in servers rooms with my foreman, wiring and installing alarm stuff. my foreman doesnt want me to bring a packout in the truck as it takes to much space. i personally think we waste a lot of time doing back and forth to bring our basic tools, screw etc... but the van isnt mine. hes extremely messy and so am I but I want to improve on that. I know I could be way more organized with a packout set (doesnt have to be milwaukee) but right now since I dont have a truck for myself, thats not an option

so how do you stay organized ?


r/lowvoltage 7d ago

BICSI the best route?

8 Upvotes

We’re trying to pivot as a company into LV and structured cabling.

We’ve got great connections to GC’s and have an electrical engineer to consult for us on the IT and design side.

I’m currently covering my guys financially to get BICSI tech certified. Is this the best route to get my guys educated quickly? Any info would help. Thanks fellas


r/lowvoltage 7d ago

Bid

12 Upvotes

We got 126 dual cat 6 drops, 53 single cat 6 drops. Composite cable to 37 locations- We are building the Data room, mounting racks/patch panels, pathways, terminate / test , label both ends 15k sq ft office/ healthcare space

We subbed out with an AV company for a gnarly crestron system and alarm/access control /cctv company for that spec Our team is running all the cable for the trades. For us to run cable me and my partner are going back and fourth. 50 k ft cat 6 & 10k ft composite is my estimate I want to come in low around 80k My partner is grinding but he came in way higher

We are a team and bring in dudes to help pull

If anyone has time on how they price /guestimate I’d surely appreciate it! I scrolled posts on here and got a lot of info TY 👍🏻🤞🏼👍🏻🤞🏼👍🏻


r/lowvoltage 7d ago

Happy GroundFault Friday!

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24 Upvotes

We found it boys time to clock out early and get the weekend started!! Oh wait I’m on call…


r/lowvoltage 7d ago

Second interview prep

5 Upvotes

Well, I just got the second interview for a job installing CAT lines and networking for security systems. Is there anything I need to know going into my second interview? I have experience in cable and fiber installation from my time with Spectrum. I wouldn’t imagine it to be super different. I have an Associates in Cyber Security which gave me some practice with troubleshooting and subnetting, but nothing hands on. Thanks in advance for any advice.


r/lowvoltage 8d ago

Ohio company

6 Upvotes

Hey guys, I am apart of an Ohio (NE) based low voltage company, Willing to travel. We have some techs available. We are looking for some more work and connections. Bicsi certified, Specialized in cabling (copper&fiber), devices installation, TR/rack build out, installation and configuration of switches and networks. All around smart hands. Please any information or opportunities DM me! I appreciate it all thanks!


r/lowvoltage 8d ago

What is it called?

11 Upvotes

This might sound dumb but I wanted to get more into the “programming” side of low voltage like those guys who are in the IDF rooms with their computers. How would I get into that and what area is that called?


r/lowvoltage 8d ago

Running CAT 6 above door and through studs

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7 Upvotes

I'm planning to run cat6 while our house is undergoing repairs from flooding (thanks Helene!). I've got some experience running catx cable through attics but not through framing. I'm seeking some validation of my plan.

The first part of the runs would ideally run horizontally through the studs behind the gray wall. There's no access to the area above the ceiling unless I cut more holes. I'm trying to avoid that. There's a framed/drywalled mechanical chase beyond the right side of the first photo. I'm planning to run wiring left to right, above the door, through the studs and inside that chase (but not in the duct) to get to the walls where I will be terminating with brackets, wall plates and keystones.

Holes in the studs will be centered, 1 1/8" with EZ guard bushings (picture #3) to protect the wiring.

The existing network rack is left of the door on the other side of the wall. I'll put a 3-gang low voltage bracket and wall plate by the rack to dress the hole I'll be making by the rack.

  1. Does this look like a solid plan? Any critiques are welcome.
  2. Can I drill two holes in each cripple stud? I'm trying to determine how many wires I can actually run.
  3. Is CMR cat 6 ok since I'm not running inside the duct itself?

r/lowvoltage 8d ago

Had a MM fiber puncture my fingertip and come out the other side next to my nail. NSFW

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45 Upvotes

You can see it protruding next to my fingernail. I got pretty damn lucky it went all the way through. Even more luck I was able to remove it in one piece. 10 years of worrying this nightmare would happen. I was being careless and paid the price.