Whether building a home or improving an office space, cable management is an important part you need to consider.
This is where cable raceways come in. Their main functions are to protect and hide cables and wires and improve a space’s visual appeal.
But do you know which type of raceway is best for your home?
Read on and find out!
Why are cable raceways important?
Raceway systems’ primary purpose is to protect your cables and wires.
Environmental factors like heat, humidity, water interference, and corrosion can cause damage, so raceways are responsible for preventing that from occurring.
Concealing wires and cables through raceways also increases a space’s visual aesthetics, as both are visually unappealing. Your home will also be much safer, as raceways eliminate unfortunate accidents from occurring.
What you need to know when choosing the perfect cable raceway
To choose the perfect cable raceway, carefully consider what your needs are.
Typically, there are several factors you have to look into to make the best choice:
- Size is the first factor you need to consider. There’s lots of variety out there, so once you know the number of cables you must organise and their thickness, it’s pretty easy to decide. You must also factor in the capacity and ensure it can accommodate your current and future needs.
- Material: Raceways are typically made from PVC, metal or plastic. The first material is ideal for indoor needs, while metal is best for outside or heavy-duty use. The upside of plastic is that it’s cheap, and the downside is that it’s not as durable as the other two.
- Compatibility: you will also need to ensure that your choice is compatible with your chosen surface and that you have the necessary tools to install it. If not, you can always hire professional electricians to do that for you.
- Accessibility: some raceways have a removable cover or a hinged lid. You can choose to have either of these features or none, depending on your needs.
- Aesthetics: they come in various colours and styles, making it easy to pick the one that complements your space’s decor the most.
Types of Raceway Systems
All in all, there are three main types of raceway systems.
The first one is Galvanised Steel, mainly used in the industrial and commercial sectors. Due to its immense strength and durability, this raceway protects cables and wires in corrosive environments.
Non-metallic conduit (PVC) systems are used in residential homes and underground. They’re non-conductive and waterproof.
Flexible metal conduit (FMC) raceways are ideal for wiring which needs to curve or turn in different directions during its pathway. Due to this system’s flexibility, this is an ideal choice for locations that experience many vibrations, as the FMC protects wires from sudden jolts and movements.
Latching Raceway
This kind is identifiable by its sliding or hinged cover that entirely hides the cables.
If you need to add or remove wires, slide the cover off or open the hatch. Also, make sure you’ve got all the proper tools before installation.
It’s perfect for cables around the house, such as speaker wires or TV cords, because of its different sizes.
Installing a latching raceway is the best way to cover the household wires. They can be used on decks and walls (flat surfaces).
Advantages:
- An easy installation and cable changing (if needed);
- Comes in different sizes;
- Complete line of accessories for corners and ends;
- It offers good protection against physical damage and dust;
- It can be painted with Latex or other types of paints.
However, it’s not suitable for high-capacity cable runs and the outdoors.
J Channel
That name comes from the cross-section roughly shaped like a “J”.
This raceway keeps the wires securely in place because they are pushed through from its top.
When you need to put in some new cables, the access is easy. There are some cons, however – they can’t be used for vertical wires, and the cables are not fully enclosed.
Advantages:
- The installation is easy – no need for any tools (however, no one will complain if you bring your multimeter);
- Allows easy access for removing and adding cables because of its open channel design;
- Again, it offers good protection against physical damage and dust;
- It has a low profile design that’s visually appealing;
- Easy mount on flat surfaces, like desks, baseboards, tables, and walls.
Corner Duct
The corner duct is similar to the latching raceway. The difference comes from the unique quarter-round shape.
It can be used and easily fitted vertically or horizontally on pretty much any corner.
This type of raceway is great for speakers, media, and home theatre cables located near the corner of a room or even for wires hanging from the ceiling.
Advantages:
- Strong material;
- Easy cable access;
- Suitable for apartments or condos;
- Allows future expansions or adjustments;
- It could be easily painted with latex to match your interior;
- The best option for cable runs that require a 90-degree turn.
Power Raceway
It incorporates a power source directly into the raceway, which is the main difference from the previous ones.
The other dissimilarity is that they are usually made of PVC, while the power raceway can be metal or plastic.
It is typically used for speaker wires and power cables and holds communication cabling, like data or voice wiring, fibre optics, and low-voltage cables.
Ideal for offices, labs, and schools.
Advantages:
- Extends data, power, and A/V connections;
- No need for expensive under-floor wiring installations;
- Provides superior protection against physical damage, humidity and corrosion;
- It’s best for running data or power throughout schools, warehouses, offices, etc.
While being a solid and durable option, the main disadvantages are that it’s more expensive than the other types of raceways and it requires special tools and fittings.
There are different kinds of raceways, so if you can’t decide which type is the best for your home, you can turn to a licensed handyman, who will help you to choose.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about cable raceways, you will undoubtedly pick the best choice for your individual needs.
And with that, your cables will be secure and well-protected, and your space will also look more visually appealing.
