"How to Run Ridiculously Long Ethernet Cables in Packed Conduits" : Silver Cymbal Workshop

[mat200]

How to Run Ridiculously Long Ethernet Cables in Packed Conduits
Silver Cymbal Workshop

Jan 15, 2026 3 products
Think running computer network cables is hard? How about 600' of copper CAT5 cable run outdoors, unground in a crowded pipe? Here I show you how to become a cable run master in the worst situations with less frustration and explain fiberglass versus steel tapes.

 

[TonyR]

Nice video! I can only add:

• In underground conduit ALWAYS use cable with a jacket rated for flooded burial or direct burial....note the water in his pullbox which means the wires are always submerged in water!
• Never use the yellow 1/4" or 3/8" polyethylene "ski" rope to pull anything in conduit. I've seen it slice through the thick thermoplastic insulation of conductors and insides of conduit bends and if pulled very fast it can literally MELT its way through.
• I probably would have used slightly larger pullboxes for this reason: I personally would not run any cable(s) or wire(s) directly from one conduit entrance to the other....if there's room I'd make at least one complete loose coil with no kinks. And most present-day fiber has a bend radius that allows it, but maybe not in a small box.

 

[Simas123456]

Wire lube can be pretty important if you have an easy pull. It's not to make your pull easier -it's used to keep you from burning through existing cables. It's also good for making hard pulls easier, but if you are pulling slowly on a hard pull, you probably won't create enough heat to damage existing wires.

The verbal version of the video;
Use a fiberglass fish tape of you must push a fish tape into long conduits with existing wires. It doesn't ripple up inside the conduit and get stuck as easily as the metal fish tapes.

 

[tigerwillow1]

I used a conduit body every 100 or so feet, and minimum 1-1/4 inch conduit. Fortunately before its price had gone to the moon.