Business Low Voltage Cabling Types

In modern structured cabling systems for business there are many types of cabling that may seem unnecessary, excessive or downright confusing. In this article we will dive deep into the types of communication cables a business typically needs or uses, and demystify the types of cables that contractors use. So whether you are planning to renovate an existing building, preparing for a tenant improvement project or building a new location from the ground up, this will help you make some important decisions in the process.

Below are the types of devices that require communication cabling, that you may potentially have in your building

• Analog and VOIP phones
• Desktop Computers
• Data Storage and Servers
• Mobile Devices
• Wireless Access Points (WAPS)
• Network Switches
• Security Cameras
• Displays and TVs
• Speakers and Music Playback Devices
• Fire and Life Safety Devices
• Motorize Shades
• Intrusion Detection Systems (Security System)
• Announcement System (Public Address)
• Point of Sale (POS)
• Credit Card Readers
• Printers
• Digital Signage
• Locks, Keypads and Card Readers (Access Control)
• Dimmable Centralized Lighting
• People Counters
• Thermostats
• Video Conferencing Systems

Already you can see there can be quite a bit of technology in a single building. Even the smallest of businesses can easily have almost all of this technology in one form of another. So let’s dive into the type of cabling that will support each technology and explain why it’s necessary. 

Cat5e / Cat6 / Cat6a / Cat7

CatX cables are a broad spectrum of cables that find themselves in nearly every single building in the world. They consist of 4 pairs of conductors that are individually twisted and sometimes wrapped in foil. The conductors are usually colored brown, green, blue and orange and all the wires are bound by a PVC jacket. Because they are so commonly used, and because the cable itself is low cost and readily available, manufacturers have created a variety of devices that operate using this type of cable. While conventionally CatX cables carry data through a protocol called Ethernet, they also can carry electrical power, infrared signals for controlling AV devices, HDBaseT data for video distribution, balanced analog audio, POE power for security cameras,  digital audio, analog video, control signals such as RS232 and RS422 for controlling AV devices and other serial enabled components, security system data, dry contact closure for security devices and automation components, and even DMX which is a type of signal used for theatrical and entertainment lighting. 

There is really not much you can’t communicate with over a Cat6 cable. For this reason, we highly recommend at least one Cat6 cable going to any location you will likely have a piece of technology. And one more Cat6 for every type of device at that location. Since Cat6 supports so many types of communication you really don’t need to worry about “why” you are including that cable, just know that when you need it, it will be there. 

Caoxial Cables (RG6, RG59, RG11, RG8X, LMR400)

Coax Cables are very specific cables, and their case use needs to be considered when including them in an installation. They carry high frequency modulated signals. Unlike CatX cables, Coaxial cables don’t carry data directly. They carry modulated RF signals that need to be converted into data. Think about your cable or satellite box at home. From outside your house an RG6 cable enters your home and eventually makes its way to your satellite or cable box. That box converts the modulated signal into a data video stream that is sent via HDMI to your TV. HDMI cable carries the data directly, but the Coax (RG6) cable carries the modulated signal. Same goes for your broadband internet which is converted from RG6 to Cat6 by way of your modem. 

Not all signals are the same. Some signals like those from wireless microphones need a very low loss cable like LMR400, while other signals like those produced by old analog cameras need the cable impedance to be 50 ohms like the RG59 cable. RG6 can also be used to carry analog unbalanced audio that you would see coming out of  a media streaming device, bluetooth receiver or computer. We at Audio EnVision don’t expect you to know everything about Coax cables, which is why most manufacturers will tell you which type of cable to use for which device. Please consult with the manufacturer about cable type for each piece of equipment you intend to use. Or better yet, call Audio EnVision. 

For basics though, we do recommend at least one to two RG6 cables at every TV location. We also recommend two RG6 or RG11 coming from the entry point of the building into your network closet. If you plan on having live entertainment or believe that you will need a wireless announcement microphone, you should also have two LMR400 running to the ceiling of every large space in your building. 

Analog Cable (16/2, 16/4, 14/2, 14/4)

These types of cables are generally used for carrying high current analog signals and power to devices such as touch screens, motorized shades, and speakers. The first number before the slash XX/Y, is the gauge of the cable. The second number after the slash is the number of conductors. Typically you will want lower gauge cable for higher power or higher current situations, or if your devices are very far from the power source you will also want lower gauge cables. 

These types of cable can also be used to actuate locks in access control systems where door strikes and magnetic locks are used. For shades 16/4 is recommended for each window and door as some locations have two motors or need a third conductor to reverse the motor direction. 

For speakers, 16/2 is generally acceptable for almost every type of commercial speaker out there. The cable supports 8ohm speakers with a power rating of up to 800 watts for 150 foot runs. It also supports nearly every 70V and 100V speaker system on the market. We use 16/4 when we are dealing with stereo pairs of speakers. This is generally reserved for special cases such as massage rooms and concert venues. For large high power PA speakers you generally will want gauges as low as 10 or 8, and the cable designation would be 8/2 or 10/2. 16/2 can also be used to power touchscreens which require 12V or 16V power supplies. Running this cable to future touchscreen locations will prevent the installer from having to place the power supply on the wall underneath the touchscreen. 

Fiber Cable (Single Mode / Multi Mode)

Fiber is definitely becoming a more commonly known type of cable that business owners and tenants are asking for. Most people want fiber because they know it supports very very fast data rates. High data rates are definitely one benefit, but there are many more reasons to use fiber, there are also plenty of reasons to not get out of control when it comes to fiber usage. Not every location in your building will need fiber, I’ll explain this in a minute. 

Fiber cable is a glass fiber that is surrounded by a protective sheath. The fiber inside reflects light internally and can carry it long distances without signal degradation. Because the signal is light based, and not carried by electricity, the signal is not subject to electromagnetic interference like other types of signals. Also, the color of the light, which is measured in nanometers such as 850, 1300 and 1550nm can be considered the carrier signal which is a much much higher frequency than any signal carried by RF (coax cables). So the data you can push through the fiber is virtually unlimited. 

Fiber is generally used as a fast, high throughput conduit between network components such as routers and switches. Because a single fiber cable can carry the data connections of hundreds if not thousands of computers, printers, WAPS and cameras, it is the go-to choice for connecting network components together between locations. Fiber is also used when network switches are so far apart, they exceed the distance limited by CatX cables, which is about 300 feet or 100 meters. Fiber cables can be run so far, they are often and almost exclusively used to connect backbone networks of cities and countries. They can also be used to interconnect buildings and building floors. 

There are so many benefits to fiber, why wouldn’t you want to run one to every device and location in your business? Simple, it’s overkill and it’s going to cost you a lot of money. Fiber is not easy to splice, meaning you need to hire a professional every time you want to add a connector to a fiber cable. Fiber is not supported by most electronic devices, in fact fiber connections need a special converter called an SFP adapter to work with the component, and that component also needs to support SFP. Fiber splice boxes take up a lot of space. Also, fiber is just not necessary for basic network devices. A fiber cable can support Terabytes of data per second. At their basic operation, they support 10 Gigabytes per second. Consider this, an IP camera uses about 20 Megabytes per second, that is a fraction of what the fiber can support. A 4K video streaming off Netflix needs at most 40 Megabytes per second. Now you can start to understand why fiber at every location in your business might be too much. 

Fiber is great for aggregating data and interconnecting large network infrastructure components such as switches, routers and modems. But it might be cost prohibitive to be run to every location. We recommend fiber be run between buildings, between MDF’s and IDF’s on each floor, and between network closets and locations where multiple CatX cables terminate. Fiber should also be run to large high resolution video displays and audio racks where lots of data may be required. Jumbotrons for instance, should have a fiber, video walls as well. 

Other Types of Cable (18/2, 22/4, 22/2)

22/4 cable is a 22 gauge, 4 conductor cable that is generally used for touchscreens, security systems and automation systems. The data rate for these cables is extremely low, for this reason this cable should only be used when its purpose is well known. If there is any doubt as to whether or not this cable should be run, it’s best to run CatX instead or contact one of our engineers at Audio EnVision. 22/4 cable is compatible with most security motion detectors, security keypads and door/window contacts. 22/4 can also be used for smoke detectors, flow sensors, relays and small actuators in industrial applications 

18/2 cable is reserved mainly for fire and life safety purposes. Your fire installer will advise on where this cable should be run, but for general knowledge the cable is used between smoke detectors, dampeners, sprinkler flow sensors, and heat sensors, as well as alarms. 

22/2, which is typically shielded, can be used for balanced audio, especially in the case of microphones and powered PA speakers. The cable is useful for live entertainment venues where many signals from the stage must be routed to an audio mixer which combines the signals and sends the “final mix” to the PA (public address) system. It also can be used to carry DMX signals which is a protocol for theatrical and DJ lighting as in the case of a theater or nightclub. 

Conclusion

We hope you found this article educational and informative. If you are planning a renovation or a new construction project, give us a call today and we will make sure your business is ready and wired to do business.