Rant: I keep seeing guys run alarm wire right next to AC lines

I was on a job in Tempe last week and saw a whole panel wired with the low voltage alarm cables bundled tight with the 120 volt lines. I know some people think it's fine if you're in a hurry, but that's asking for noise and false trips down the road. I've had to fix three systems in the past year where this was the main issue, and each one took over four hours to trace and re-run. Why do we still cut this corner when the code book is pretty clear about separation? What's the fastest way you guys keep signal and power lines apart in a tight stud bay?

3 comments

3 Comments

drew_bennett2416d ago

Man that drives me nuts too. Zip-tying a couple of cheap plastic conduit clips to the stud a few inches apart works for me in tight spots. It takes two seconds and keeps things clean. Had to rewire my own system after the last guy did that exact thing, what a mess. What kind of clips do you usually grab for that?

rodriguez.felix16d ago

Oh man, @drew_bennett24, that's the kind of fix that makes you wonder if the last guy even owned a tape measure. Just a little effort saves so much headache later.

kim.zara16d ago

I used to skip clips, but @rodriguez.felix is right, a little effort really does save the next guy a huge headache.