Hooking up a transformer
- Thread starter grendel54
- Start date
If this cable is running through any air ducts you must use CMP rated wire. Any cable that runs through walls or floors must use CMR.
sebastiantombs
Known around here
With that kind of power capability I'd run romex, probably 14 gauge assuming AC, just to be on the safe side. You have a nominal 1800 watt power source there. CAT cable, 23 gauge, would act like a big resistor and easily overheat under dead short conditions. Even if you ran two CAT cables and used all the conductors of each for each side of the output of your transformer I wouldn't be comfortable with it, if it were me.
Looking at the thread area, I assume that you meant to say 30VA not 30A. A very large difference but you'd still need to use multiple conductors to be safe. Nominal wire size for a doorbell is 18 gauge. Why not use some 18/2 thermostat wire and be done with it. You could pull a CAT cable along with it to future proof for a PoE doorbell in the future.
Looking at the thread area, I assume that you meant to say 30VA not 30A. A very large difference but you'd still need to use multiple conductors to be safe. Nominal wire size for a doorbell is 18 gauge. Why not use some 18/2 thermostat wire and be done with it. You could pull a CAT cable along with it to future proof for a PoE doorbell in the future.
sebastiantombs
Known around here
Get some 18/2 from Lowes or Home Depot or Amazon. 12/2 will be a problem behind a door bell getting the camera to sit flush.
For the record (and I concur with @sebastiantombs on conductor recommendations above), you are correct in stating CMP must be used in plenums or air ducts BUT you can also run CMP where CMR is required but you should not run CMR where CMP is required.