ᐅ Building without antenna and satellite or coaxial cables without conduit?
Created on: 6 Jun 2020 12:18
K
kati1337
Hello,
we received the additional electrical work quote today (ouch), and the contractor is basically getting very little because we decided to remove both the antenna and satellite connections.
Now I’m wondering if we are really that far off base or if I missed something. The antenna is that old-fashioned cable through which you could only receive channels like ARD, ZDF, and some regional channels back in the ’90s, right? Are there more channels available via antenna now? Is it even necessary? Does everyone just “have one”?
We currently have a satellite dish on the roof, but I believe the last time we actually used it was... I don’t know, 8 years ago?
So we were thinking about not installing a satellite connection at all. We simply don’t watch TV via satellite. I hate commercials, and when we do watch anything, it’s through streaming services. Plus, in our free time, we mostly do other things than watch TV anyway.
Are there any compelling reasons why we should still have satellite or antenna connections installed that I might be overlooking?
Topic 2: The electrical quote states that the CAT cables will be installed without conduits. I would prefer them to be installed with conduits so they can be replaced if needed in the future. Would you go for that? Or is it unnecessary?
we received the additional electrical work quote today (ouch), and the contractor is basically getting very little because we decided to remove both the antenna and satellite connections.
Now I’m wondering if we are really that far off base or if I missed something. The antenna is that old-fashioned cable through which you could only receive channels like ARD, ZDF, and some regional channels back in the ’90s, right? Are there more channels available via antenna now? Is it even necessary? Does everyone just “have one”?
We currently have a satellite dish on the roof, but I believe the last time we actually used it was... I don’t know, 8 years ago?
So we were thinking about not installing a satellite connection at all. We simply don’t watch TV via satellite. I hate commercials, and when we do watch anything, it’s through streaming services. Plus, in our free time, we mostly do other things than watch TV anyway.
Are there any compelling reasons why we should still have satellite or antenna connections installed that I might be overlooking?
Topic 2: The electrical quote states that the CAT cables will be installed without conduits. I would prefer them to be installed with conduits so they can be replaced if needed in the future. Would you go for that? Or is it unnecessary?
We discussed the CAT topic again today.
The electrical team said they would install the cabling inside conduit if we insist, but they advise against it.
The general contractor (GC) would cover the additional costs included in the basic package, but we would have to pay for any extra costs related to our additional CAT cables ourselves.
The main points of their argument (as I understood it) were:
- The DIN standard states that cables should be installed inside conduit, but it also says that no bends over 30° should be used, which is unavoidable with current construction methods in new builds. Specifically, the representative mentioned that they have only limited space to use the floor area (because the underfloor heating takes up a lot of space) and they mostly have to run cables along the walls, where 90° bends are unavoidable.
- Even with conduit, cable replacement is hardly possible or very difficult due to these unavoidable 90° bends.
- Possible visible cracking in the walls. I could imagine this being problematic because those cable conduits have an outer diameter of 20mm (0.8 inches), and according to the GC, we’ll get about 1.5–2cm (0.6–0.8 inches) of plaster cover. I imagine 20mm conduit in 20mm plaster is difficult, or is there something between the wall and plaster?
- Additional risk of condensation forming inside the conduit, which could damage the cables.
- The likelihood of any damage to the cables inside the wall after successful commissioning is low (unless the wall is drilled into, but the conduit wouldn’t help in that case either).
What do you think?
The electrical team said they would install the cabling inside conduit if we insist, but they advise against it.
The general contractor (GC) would cover the additional costs included in the basic package, but we would have to pay for any extra costs related to our additional CAT cables ourselves.
The main points of their argument (as I understood it) were:
- The DIN standard states that cables should be installed inside conduit, but it also says that no bends over 30° should be used, which is unavoidable with current construction methods in new builds. Specifically, the representative mentioned that they have only limited space to use the floor area (because the underfloor heating takes up a lot of space) and they mostly have to run cables along the walls, where 90° bends are unavoidable.
- Even with conduit, cable replacement is hardly possible or very difficult due to these unavoidable 90° bends.
- Possible visible cracking in the walls. I could imagine this being problematic because those cable conduits have an outer diameter of 20mm (0.8 inches), and according to the GC, we’ll get about 1.5–2cm (0.6–0.8 inches) of plaster cover. I imagine 20mm conduit in 20mm plaster is difficult, or is there something between the wall and plaster?
- Additional risk of condensation forming inside the conduit, which could damage the cables.
- The likelihood of any damage to the cables inside the wall after successful commissioning is low (unless the wall is drilled into, but the conduit wouldn’t help in that case either).
What do you think?
Blah blah blah. They should just admit that they can’t do it and don't want to. Everything they bring up as a counterargument is completely unfounded. If you want to, you can do it, and it works. You’re not concerned with the entire electrical installation in the conduit, but only with CAT cables or all data cables. That should definitely be possible.
And the cables/conduits don’t necessarily have to be embedded in the plaster but inside the wall. That way, you won’t have any space issues.
Here’s a quick example of how it can be done:
Edit: Now @rick2018 was faster and basically wrote exactly the same thing, almost word for word.
And the cables/conduits don’t necessarily have to be embedded in the plaster but inside the wall. That way, you won’t have any space issues.
Here’s a quick example of how it can be done:
Edit: Now @rick2018 was faster and basically wrote exactly the same thing, almost word for word.
Yes, that is quite noticeable. Almost everyone I ask for their opinion agrees with you.
They have now also offered to install it inside a conduit, which is good.
I just have some concerns about cracking. I don’t want any cracks in the wall later on. They can’t install it extensively over the floor for us, as we are getting underfloor heating with this denser system. So they said on the phone that it has to go through the walls.
From a logical point of view, if they chisel a channel into the wall and install a pipe there instead of a cable, it shouldn’t have a negative impact on the plaster, right? I mean, where would it come from? Both pipe and cable are round, only the channel diameter would have to be somewhat larger. Could this negatively affect the plaster?
That doesn’t make sense to me. But maybe someone has experienced something like this before?
They have now also offered to install it inside a conduit, which is good.
I just have some concerns about cracking. I don’t want any cracks in the wall later on. They can’t install it extensively over the floor for us, as we are getting underfloor heating with this denser system. So they said on the phone that it has to go through the walls.
From a logical point of view, if they chisel a channel into the wall and install a pipe there instead of a cable, it shouldn’t have a negative impact on the plaster, right? I mean, where would it come from? Both pipe and cable are round, only the channel diameter would have to be somewhat larger. Could this negatively affect the plaster?
That doesn’t make sense to me. But maybe someone has experienced something like this before?
In the TV area, we have a complete cable duct inside the wall (these are 24cm (9.5 inches) interior walls). None of it is visible at all.
Edit: Additional question for the experts. Are data cables now required to be installed in protective conduit according to VDE standards?
Edit: Additional question for the experts. Are data cables now required to be installed in protective conduit according to VDE standards?
What do you mean by a tighter system? The underfloor heating is installed on a completely different layer within the floor structure. There’s insulation and other materials involved. Unlike individual cables, you can’t just press down the insulation; you actually have to cut it out a bit.
You will have cracks anyway, but not because of the cables or pipes. The cutting depth of the milling machine can be adjusted so that the pipes are flush with the wall. On top of that comes the plaster. The same applies to a conduit. Depending on its depth, it is set a few centimeters (inches) into the wall and then plastered over.
They are feeding you nonsense, unbelievably.
You will have cracks anyway, but not because of the cables or pipes. The cutting depth of the milling machine can be adjusted so that the pipes are flush with the wall. On top of that comes the plaster. The same applies to a conduit. Depending on its depth, it is set a few centimeters (inches) into the wall and then plastered over.
They are feeding you nonsense, unbelievably.
Similar topics