I would like to know the minimum distance between phone wiring and the
power breaker panel.

The phone line and the power line all come to my house through the same
location. Currently the phone distribution block is just one feet away
from the power breaker panel. Many phone lines are actually running
parallel with power cables within inches away. So far, I haven't
experienced any ill effect of the fact that the phone lines and power
source are very close to each other. Having said that, I prefer to keep
them separated, and I have the opportunity to do just that.

I am going to re-organize the phone distribution block for some other
reasons, and I need to move the phone distribution block away anyway. I
want to use this opportunity to keep the phone lines away from any
power source. I am wondering what is the safe distance between a phone
distribution block and a power breaker panel.
Any idea?

Thanks.

Jay Chan

wrote:

I would like to know the minimum distance between phone wiring and the
power breaker panel.

The phone line and the power line all come to my house through the same
location. Currently the phone distribution block is just one feet away
from the power breaker panel. Many phone lines are actually running
parallel with power cables within inches away. So far, I haven't
experienced any ill effect of the fact that the phone lines and power
source are very close to each other. Having said that, I prefer to keep
them separated, and I have the opportunity to do just that.

I am going to re-organize the phone distribution block for some other
reasons, and I need to move the phone distribution block away anyway. I
want to use this opportunity to keep the phone lines away from any
power source. I am wondering what is the safe distance between a phone
distribution block and a power breaker panel.
Any idea?

Thanks.

Jay Chan

I believe that kind of info is in the NEC Code book.
I dont have one handy but its worth having one, they
are available in book stores.
Eric

--
In Washington you must be a resident for 60 days to vote.
King County registered homeless people and their place of
residence was the King County Elections office. Of course
absentee military ballots were disqualified...
Can you say FRAUD?

wrote:
I would like to know the minimum distance between phone wiring and the
power breaker panel.

The phone line and the power line all come to my house through the same
location. Currently the phone distribution block is just one feet away
from the power breaker panel. Many phone lines are actually running
parallel with power cables within inches away. So far, I haven't
experienced any ill effect of the fact that the phone lines and power
source are very close to each other. Having said that, I prefer to keep
them separated, and I have the opportunity to do just that.

I am going to re-organize the phone distribution block for some other
reasons, and I need to move the phone distribution block away anyway. I
want to use this opportunity to keep the phone lines away from any
power source. I am wondering what is the safe distance between a phone
distribution block and a power breaker panel.
Any idea?

Thanks.

Jay Chan

Hi,
In my house they're all in the basement right next to each other.
The breaker panel, phone terminal block, and cable TV cable splitter.
Alarm logic box is installed right next to the other side of panel.
Tony

They can't be in the same pipe, other than that it is not a problem.
60hz power and twisted pair does not "couple" that well, under any
circumstances. It is mostly urban legend that power lines cause noise in
communication circuits. The only thing you are really worried about is actually
having them short together and put AC on the signal line. That is why they
can't be in the same box or raceway.

I had a phone company problem, but in trouble shooting he saw phone block
was a mess (though not the problem) He was kind enough to tear it apart and
rebuild it, about 6 inches from the circuit box. My phone reception is
great.

From:


I would like to know the minimum distance between phone wiring and the
power breaker panel.

The phone line and the power line all come to my house through the same
location. Currently the phone distribution block is just one feet away
from the power breaker panel. Many phone lines are actually running
parallel with power cables within inches away. So far, I haven't
experienced any ill effect of the fact that the phone lines and power
source are very close to each other. Having said that, I prefer to keep
them separated, and I have the opportunity to do just that.

I am going to re-organize the phone distribution block for some other
reasons, and I need to move the phone distribution block away anyway. I
want to use this opportunity to keep the phone lines away from any
power source. I am wondering what is the safe distance between a phone
distribution block and a power breaker panel.
Any idea?

Thanks.

Jay Chan

The distance they're at now is safe. What do you expect to happen, a bolt of
electricity is going to "jump" out of the power circuits and into the phone
line or something?

wrote:
I would like to know the minimum distance between phone wiring
and
the power breaker panel.

The phone line and the power line all come to my house through
the
same location. Currently the phone distribution block is just
one
feet away from the power breaker panel. Many phone lines are
actually running parallel with power cables within inches
away. So
far, I haven't experienced any ill effect of the fact that the
phone
lines and power source are very close to each other. Having
said
that, I prefer to keep them separated, and I have the
opportunity to
do just that.

I am going to re-organize the phone distribution block for
some other
reasons, and I need to move the phone distribution block away
anyway. I want to use this opportunity to keep the phone lines
away
from any power source. I am wondering what is the safe
distance
between a phone distribution block and a power breaker panel.
Any idea?

Thanks.

Jay Chan

The existing is fine; in fact, the phone wires can be run
alongside metal sheathed or couduit, just not inside the same
enclosures in any way, which is really to prevent shorting
between phone/mains wiring. Being what's called twisted-pair,
phone wiring is pretty much immune to inductive products from
Mains wiring.

Where you might want to watch out is around floursecent ballasts;
getting too close to those can sometimes induce hum because of
the stronger magnetic fields (xfmr windings in the ballasts). A
transformer is a lot more likely to induce into a phone line
because of the wound shape; where Main wires are simple straight
wires, comparatively. So if you do get a hum on the lines,
suspect a xfmr with hight output voltages such as a flourescent
light fixture first. Twisted-pair phone wires are inherently
'immune' to a lot of transference, but there is a limit when
magnetic fields get close enough. Normal house wiring isn't much
of a problem though. A couple or so inches is surely more than
sufficient for wiring. Heck, I have mine wound around conduit in
the basement to make it easy to keep it from sagging, and the
lines are perfectly quiet. It's about 130' of wire from the
demarc to my computer and it shows line noise here as zero.
Makes for good modem connections g.

Pop


Pop

Thanks for everyone who has replied.

Seem like phone wires can be placed close to power line without any
problem as long as they are separated by a couple inches. This is good
to know that. This means I don't need to move the existing phone
wiring.

Also thanks for pointing out that the phone wiring need to be kept away
from floursecent ballasts. I am sure mine doesn't have this problem
because there are only three floursecent lighting fixtures in my house.
I will double check just to be in the safe side.

My home networking wiring book recommends keeping wiring at least 8
inches from the power line. I probably got the impression of the need
of separating phone wiring from power line from that book. Now, I read
the book again; I have a feeling that it is actually referring to data
network wiring, not phone wiring. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Thanks again.

Jay Chan