Pre-wiring Manual
PRE-WIRING FOR SUN PEAKS CABLE & INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS
MARK OUTLET LOCATIONS
Have customer mark outlet locations with appropriate stickers or other acceptable markers
according to the house-wiring plan. If the planned locations seem inappropriate, contact the
customer.
IF NOT ON PLANS
If the outlets are not shown on the plans, ask the builder or owner to mark or specify locations.
Remember to remind builder/owner that wiring for computers should be done at this time as well.
IF NO LOCATIONS SPECIFIED
If no locations are specified, choose locations based on the number of outlets requested and on
locally accepted practice related to priority (e.g. for one outlet - family room, two outlets - family
room and living room, or master bedroom, office etc.). If in doubt, install an extra outlet. It is a lot
easier to wire an extra outlet now, than when the house is finished!
OUTLET POSITION
Unless specified, locate each outlet toward a corner near an electrical outlet and on the same
level. (height above floor).
USE APPROVED CABLE
Use approved cable for internal installation.
Use only Belden 9116 RG-6 or CommScope F660BV cable. Non-approved cable may not
be acceptable to Sunpeaks Cable & Internet, and can be refused service.
Call SPCTV&I if unsure of proper cable at 1-866-832-6020.
USE SEPARATE RUNS (Home Runs)
Each outlet must have a separate run to the customer service enclosure (CSE), mounted
externally on home or building, no more than 8 cables should be ran to external CSE, if
more outlets are required see section titled ‘More Than 8 Cable Runs’ below.
Consider aesthetics and customer preferences before beginning work.
Give consideration to accessibility, at the same time avoiding locations potentially hazardous to
the CSE (e.g. possibility of damage from the customer's car, garden tractor, or mower).
Use the following priorities when selecting customer service enclosure locations.
Priority 1: Co-locate the installation with other utilities, particularly power, to allow access to
proper grounding (ideally within 0.6m, but not violating separation requirements).
Priority 2: Mount the enclosure so that it is visible from the street for security reasons.
Contact SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET to ascertain if the service is to be aerial or
underground. If the drop is aerial, provision must be made to get a cable through the
communications stack, and into the SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET CSE. If the Cablevision
service is underground, a different configuration is used.
SUN PEAKS CABLE & INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS uses Telus duct.
SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS shares the Telus 2’ duct. There must be
some way to access BCT enclosure from Sunpeaks Cable & Internet CSE, (string, small conduit
etc…)
HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND
Determine the height of the customer service enclosure above the ground dependent on
maintenance accessibility and aesthetics (usually, 0.5 m to 1.5 m above the ground).
A flush mounted enclosure must be installed. This enclosure is the same type Telus uses.
Mount the SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET CSE beside or above the Telus CSE. Follow the
same grounding route as used on the Telus enclosure.
CABLE ROUTING AND SECURING
Pre-wire through the attic down to the outlet locations. If this is not possible, pre-wire through
basement or crawl space as second choice. Secure the cable to the sides of studs (not the outer
faces) and joists at appropriate intervals (especially when pre-wiring from basement or crawl
space upwards). Additionally, fasten it to the stud behind the outlet. Leave 1m of cable extending
beyond the securing plaster ring and place it loosely in a clip for future completion.
Do not use electrical staples. Use only proper cable clips. See SUNPEAKS CABLE &
INTERNET or Milsted Agencies at 1 800 663 4744 for availability. Do not use an ordinary staple
gun!
Do not inflict undue stress on the cable. The effectiveness of coaxial cable depends upon the
distance from the inner conductor to the outer braid. If the cable is mashed or bent in too tight of
a radius, it will cause signal loss. This could render the cable useless, and cause great
unpleasantness for both you and SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET.
INSTALLATION AT WALL PLATE
Nail a plaster ring to the stud at the wall plate location. Install it at the same distance from the
floor as the electrical outlets. Leave 0.5m slack fastened to the stud for future restorations.
Maintain the integrity of the vapour barrier as per relevant building codes. Mark the cable with
labels. Put the same number on both ends of the same cable. IE: Both the end of the cable in
the CSE and the end at the outlet for outlet 1 should be labelled "1".
Label each cable in the CSE with the location. IE: Master Bedroom, East Living Room, etc.
GROUNDING WIRE
After internal drops are installed, run a ground wire back inside the house to the house ground
and attach it with an approved ground clamp or strap. Leave enough grounding wire to reach the
enclosure, plus 200mm.
RUNNING CABLES INTO THE CSE
Feed the cables and wire through a common hole into the flush mounted enclosure. Leave
200mm of coiled cables and wire slack inside the enclosure. Mark all cable ends with the
locations of the terminating outlets.
SECURITY
When finished, secure the enclosure lid (cover), if provided, with a temporary securing device.
GROUNDING CUSTOMER DROPS & THE ELECTRICAL CODE
The grounding of service drops must be done in compliance with local and national electrical
codes. The Canadian Electrical Code will normally be used unless the local code is stricter in its
requirements.
THE GROUND WIRE
The ground wire must be capable of carrying the rated current of the outer conductor of the cable
it is protecting, furnishing a conductive path of sufficiently low impedance. Single drop cable
installations, using 59U, 6U, 11U, or .500 require as a minimum, an insulated, copper ground
wire.
GROUND WIRE INSTALLATION
Make the grounding connection to the drop cable within the customer service enclosure, or as
close to the entry as possible. Minimum sizes of insulated copper wire are listed in Exhibit A at
end of Manual. Run the ground wire as straight as possible to the ground point, following mortar
grooves or joins in siding. Attach it to the building exterior every 450 mm with appropriate clips
(for vinyl or metallic siding) or staple gun and suitable staples. Remove all paint and other
insulation from the bonding attachment point of the grounding electrode prior to installing the
ground clamp or strap. Use only ground wire with thermoplastic insulation of appropriate colour,
and protect it from the likelihood of physical damage. The following grounding electrodes are
listed in order, from most desirable to least desirable.
An electrically conductive cold water pipe grounding electrode (structure grounding electrode
system). If the grounding wire cannot be connected before the water meter, ensure the continuity
of the ground by a bond of at least #6 AWG wire across the meter or other insulating section.
Space bonding points 300mm from the meter on both sides to avoid damages caused by future
service of the water-feeding system.
NOTE: Many domestic cold water systems do not comply with this electrode requirement. If a
ground wire does not exist between the utility electrical box and the water pipe, the installation
technician must assume that no complete grounding electrode system exists. In this case, use
the second alternative.
Power service ground conductor, service equipment enclosure, or continuous metal conduit (e.g.
metal power stack). This is the preferred method of obtaining a ground in areas where a
complete grounding electrode system cannot be guaranteed.
An effectively grounded metallic structure, or an approved-configuration ground rod(s) or driven
into permanently damp earth. Drive ground rod(s), at least 2m from any other electrode where it
will reach moist soil (i.e. away from overhangs). In addition, connect a copper conductor not
smaller than #6 AWG between this ground rod and the utility grounding electrode.
AVOID GROUND RODS
Note that artificial electrodes, such as driven ground rods, are the least preferred choice for
obtaining a ground. It is preferable for the drop to enter close to and be connected directly to the
power utility's ground conductor or (better still) to be connected directly to the grounding
electrode used by the power utility. These latter preferred electrodes are commonly cold water
pipes. Steam, gas, or hot water pipes are not to be used as grounding electrodes.
SUMMARY
In summary, ground all customer drop cable shields using approved grounding electrodes.
Failure to provide proper grounds can result in legal action. There is a substantial danger
of fire, injury, or loss of life in the event of a lightning strike or power company electrical
problem.
REFER TO THE CODE
Refer to your local electrical code and the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1, Section 54 for more
detailed information on the requirements of communication system grounds. Use the most
stringent applicable code when determining ground requirements.
MORE THAN 8 CABLE RUNS
In the event that the customer requires more than 8 Cable runs, home-run all cables to a
common area in the home or building (i.e. furnace room or electrical room), locate them on wall
with enough space for CATV amplifier, splitter or other equipment that may be required for CATV
or Internet services (4’ x 4’). There must be an electrical outlet placed on same wall, near cables.
A proper ground wire must be run to this point as well.
Then, run a main cable from common area to SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET CSE located on
outside of building, tagging each end of cable appropriately. Note. Common area must be
serviceable by SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET technical staff.
EXHIBIT A
TYPE
RG-6
RG-6
RG 11
RG 11
.500
.500
GROUND WIRE LENGTH
GROUND WIRE SIZE
No more than 50% of drop length.
# 14 AWG
Above 50%, but no longer than drop
# 11 AWG
No more than 50% of drop length
# 11 AWG
Above 50%, but no longer than drop
# 8 AWG
No more than 25% of drop length.
# 6 AWG
Above 25%, but no longer than the drop
# 4 AWG
The drop length is measured from the ground block to the multitap spigot or previous grounding
point.
Compliance:
The procedures in this manual must be followed. Should it be determined the installation has
deviated from the manual, SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET may refuse a cable connection.
This would be an inconvenience to the homeowner, and to you. Incorrect pre-wiring will result in
cables being run on the exterior and/or interior of the building. This is not only unsightly, but
results in the building owner and SUNPEAKS CABLE & INTERNET being very upset.
Tech Support:
If you require further assistance Sunpeaks Cable & Internet Technical staff will be happy to help,
you can also purchase pre-wire equipment through Sunpeaks Cable & Internet at a contractor
rate (if doing pre-wires in a Sunpeaks Cable & Internet System).
Call 1-866-832-6020. and ask to speak to a technician regarding pre-wires.