Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Coax Cable Question (heat resistance)

Sooo, I thought I would refer this one to you all before I run out and buy anything. I need a 25' coax cable, and it needs to run for about 15 feet right underneath a baseboard heater. The heater is not electric, it's a 1" pipe with attached fins, and it sits about 2 inches above the ground and out from the wall. (Covered with a metal housing, obviously.) I plan to gently tack the cable down around the floor so it's not actually touching the heater anywhere, but it will be pretty close to it. My question is, anyone know of a cable that shouldn't melt? I'm guessing a decent outdoor rated cable should be fine for the job, I just don't know what to look for.

Unfortunately I have viable alternative way to route the cable.

Check out "plenum" cable which is rated for it's fire safety capabilities....

Mark is right, Plenum is what you want.

That's what is used in hospitals, because it's essentially fireproof

Ouch ouch.

Plenum rated wire isn't essentially fireproof (why can I see guys using a fireplace chimney as a conduit? "Ravi said it was fireproof"). It burns at a higher temperature - how much higher depends on the exact makeup and cable type (for instance, 8ga AC mains will burn at a higher temp than CAT5) and produces less smoke, and the smoke it does produce is less acrid. (Burn a chunk of pine in a bucket and give the smoke a good huff... now do the same with a vinyl garden hose - which one feels like you just inhaled a lungful of pins and needles?)

I just got my refresher course in CMP (communications plenum rated) wiring recently from the contractors pulling cable in the new arena - what else can you talk about when you're giving them a hand on a ladder yanking miles of cable all day?

In your case, that should be fine for under either a hot water or steam radiator. Just wanted to clarify how burn resistant CMP is before someone set their house on fire.

Bren R.

Thanks for the input, sounds like that's what I need! I'm certainly not planning on lighting it on fire.

Aww, man! You're no fun...

Ken - maybe you can set your place on fire and finally get those M60s so you don't have to defend the M50s ever again.

Bren R.

You're just not a very nice person, Bren. I'm hurt. Besides, there's already a burnt out house in my neighborhood I'm trying to get rid of.

This is where one or two of the non-audio M80s would come in handy.

You feel emotions, Ken? *laughs*

Just taking a poke at those who take a poke at your speakers.

Bren R.