Wiring Routing Questions for Plasterboard

[JaffaCakes]

All,

I am running some Network cable in behind a plasterboard partition wall. The plasterboard wall separates two rooms either side.

Side A contains a double gang socket (ref 101) and a single light switch (ref 102). Side B contains only a double gang socket (ref 201).

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$diynot$/1.png

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$diynot$/2.png

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$diynot$/3.png

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$diynot$/4.png

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$diynot$/5.png

Hopefully the pictures help somewhat.

101 is fed upwards from the ground floor.
102 is fed downwards from the loft.
201 is fed upwards from the ground floor.

There are wires going all of the way down from the loft to the ground floor where 101 and 201 are located.

The house was cabled up before we moved in and the installers have drilled through the horizontal bracers of the stud wall so that the wires can be dropped from the loft and down through the stud wall. See the following pictures:

This is where 101 is located looking upwards towards the loft:
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$AVForums$/P1.jpg

This is where 201 is located, looking upwards towards the loft:
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$AVForums$/P2.jpg

When looking at the first picture the Westerly wall is an external, masonry wall.

My questions:

1. Will there be any concern with drilling a hole in the horizontal studs to the right of 201inbetween a separate channel (i.e. inbetween two vertical beams)?
2. Will there be any concern with drilling a hole in the horizontal stud to the left of 101 inbetween a separate channel (i.e. inbetween two vertical beams)?
3. If the above is possible how can I drill a hole in the horizontal studs? I was thinking of making a flap in the plasterboard, and then covering it up somehow?

Any help appreciated.

 

[sparkwright]

We can't complain you haven't given us enough information.

You can drill those horizontal noggins.

Sometimes if a light switch is near, you can take the box out of the wall, and drill through the noggin.

Or you could fit a network point near the noggin.

Or you can use the same hole occupying any elv wires.

Or you can notch the plasterboard where the noggin is, run your wires, then fill.

Or do as you suggested - cut a neat piece of plasterboard out, drill noggin, and replace piece. You may as well cut a largish piece out, so you can screw it back to the noggin without screwing through the wires.

 

[JaffaCakes]

Or you can use the same hole occupying any elv wires.

I assume you mean by elv wires - elevated wires? If so, I don't want to run them beside each other for fear of EMI between the electrical cables and the network cable.

So, I have made a final picture (not to scale) - but should confirm everything for my peace of mind:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1823866/$diynot$/6.png

That's what I hope to achieve - anything wrong with that?

 

[Monkeh]

ELV is Extra Low Voltage. ie. phone cables, network cables, coax for TV or satellite, alarm, doorbell.. the list goes on.

Do not worry about EMI with the power cables. You will be very, very hard pressed to upset cat5e. Just maintain the minimum separation (50mm), which is no problem if you're putting a stud between the two runs.

A holesaw is usually a good way to gain access for notching the noggins. Take a 3" holesaw, make the hole directly over the centre of a noggin. Notch out and run the cables through, then screw the piece back in. Fill and sand, and you're sorted.

 

[JaffaCakes]

ELV is Extra Low Voltage. ie. phone cables, network cables, coax for TV or satellite, alarm, doorbell.. the list goes on.

Do not worry about EMI with the power cables. You will be very, very hard pressed to upset cat5e. Just maintain the minimum separation (50mm), which is no problem if you're putting a stud between the two runs.

A holesaw is usually a good way to gain access for notching the noggins. Take a 3" holesaw, make the hole directly over the centre of a noggin. Notch out and run the cables through, then screw the piece back in. Fill and sand, and you're sorted.

That's brilliant. Cheers!

I was just going to cut a flap out from below the horizontal stud - get a spade bit on a right angled drill and drill upwards. Sort of like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=86fM05JtZdo#t=195s