Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - NEC for in wall speaker Cable

Hello,


My consumer book on wiring says my in wall speaker cable must be " at least six inches from electrical cable and, where neccesary, cross electrical wire at 90 degree angles".

I understand the signaling and interference issues from running signal cable on top of power cable. Is there an NEC requirement to how Speaker cable and NM wire run concurrent in the same spacer. I believe that terminating the connection, or running them both in the same conduit is unaccpetable, but what about with NM runs in wall space?

Thanks,

--David

The NEC does not cover low voltage wiring, so it wouldn't be in there.

I would not worry about running low voltage in the same stud cavity as home power, if that's your question? Just keep the 6" spacing as a general rule.

Run the power on one stud inside a stud bay and the low-voltage cable(s) on the other stud. That gives you about 14" of separation.

You need to use speaker cable that's rated for in-wall installation. (CM or CL)

Sorry to step on you, Mark, but this is from the NEC: Video and audio cables may be run in raceways with one another, but NEC prohibits running video in the same "raceway, compartment, outlet box, junction box, or other enclosure[]" with power circuits, NEC 820.52(A)(1)(b), with minor exceptions, and prohibits running audio in the same "cable, cable tray, compartment, enclosure, manhole, outlet box, device box, raceway, or similar fitting" with power circuits, NEC 725.55(A), unless separated by a barrier. Coaxial cable is required to be separated by two inches from power cable, unless either it or the power cable is enclosed in a raceway or they are separated by a "continuous and firmly fixed nonconductor," NEC 820.52(A)(2).

Thanks for this.


My question relates to throwing CL2 speaker cable across ceilings where I have limited control of where the wire lays. I have installed the speaker cable in my ceiling. In places the cable sits on top of NM wire crossing it at various angles, and in other spots will run parralell to NM wire for a few feet seperated only by a few inches.

Coaxial cable is required to be separated by two inches from power cable, unless either it or the power cable is enclosed in a raceway or they are separated by a "continuous and firmly fixed nonconductor," NEC 820.52(A)(2).

This is interesting because I know the cable companies do not avoid power lines when they fish to install cable.

Thanks,

--David