GRADE

11

TVL-ICT
COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NCII
QUARTER 3 – MODULE 4

Install network cables

I - INTRODUCTION

In cable management parlance, is essentially any rigid enclosed or semi-enclosed

channel that protects, routes and hides cables and wires. Surface raceway is an excellent
choice for concealing unsightly wires in a number of settings: home theaters, offices,
conference rooms, workstations, and more. But which kind is right for your application? We'll
break down the different styles of raceway we offer, and let you know the benefits of each.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Identify raceway/duct
• Understand the differences in application and properties.

II – CONTENT

Cable raceways provide a surface-mounted pathway for wiring that completely encloses the
cables and protects them from heat, dust, light and even moisture. Cable raceways are also
a great tool for routing wiring and for concealing cables that would otherwise be exposed.
These are also sometimes referred to as a latching duct solution, as the raceway itself acts
as a duct, and the 360 enclosure around the wire can have a latching mechanism to
securely hold all wiring in place.

Raceway is an enclosure in shape of channel to hold, protect and provide routing for cables.

1. Surface Raceways - Channels made of metal or plastic (PVC) which mounted on

walls and have wires running inside it, you can add more wires to it and modify
the whole wiring of your facility. It’s commonly used in offices where it may need
to change a plug position as the nature of work changes.

2. Underground Raceways - It’s the same as surface raceways but it is installed

under the floor and is commonly used in buildings which contains huge servers
and contains many cables.

Wall mounted raceways

Types of cable raceway

Not all cable raceways are created equal. There are many different kinds of electrical
raceways, and the materials used for each type directly impacts its proper application. Here
are some of the most commonly used raceways.
 1. Latching – Latching raceways, also known as surface
raceways and latching ducts, are the most common and widely
used raceways. Latching cable raceways are used for wiring
enclosures in many residential and office settings where new
wiring has been installed on the outside of a wall. With the
latching raceway, you can quickly and easily create an
organized and neat cable management system.

2. Corner Duct – These are ideal for residential use, as corner duct raceways mimic
the look of crown molding and make for an attractive cable management setup. Just like
regular cable raceways, corner ducts hide external wiring, but can be fit into wall corners
for a more discreet look.

3. Overfloor – You have likely seen one of these if you’ve

ever been to a conference or a concert where wiring is run
across flooring that gets a lot of foot traffic. Overfloor cable
raceways go, you guessed it, over the floor and protect cables
and wires from being tripped over or unplugged. These plastic
raceways are usually flatter and more low profile to avoid
creating an unnecessary tripping hazard.

4. Exterior Wire Guards – Otherwise known as outdoor

wire guards, these cable raceways are for use outside. These
are commonly found at outdoor concerts or festivals and cover
and protect the large cables that are run along the ground.

5. Flexible Wire Duct – These cable raceways are a

versatile wiring enclosure that can be used in both industrial
and commercial applications. The flexible material can be
secured both horizontally and vertically, and its flexible
construction makes it easy to use and install.

Cable Raceway Benefits

When you need simplified cable management, cable raceways are the way to go. Some of
the biggest benefits of electrical wire raceways include:
• Easy to install: Most varieties are surface raceways and can be easily affixed to any
wall in just a couple of steps. In fact, many kinds of cable raceways have adhesive on
the backside and can be quickly stuck right into place.
• Streamlined cable management: No one wants a mess of cables and wires laying on
the floor. With electrical raceways, all of your cables and wires can be fed through the
plastic duct and kept out of sight and out of mind.

• Promotes safety: Loose wires are a safety hazard. Not only can they get damaged,
they can also be tripped on or touched by people who shouldn’t have access to them
(like children). Using cable raceways makes everyone safer and ensures that all
cables and wires are protected.
Raceway vs Conduit

This is a common question when people go to shop for cable raceways. Raceways and
conduits are used interchangeably when we speak about wire management, but they are
actually two different tools.

• Electrical conduits are metal tubes that protect electrical wiring. Wiring is fed through
the tubing which protects it from dirt, dust and moisture. Once installed, the wiring
inside a conduit is very hard to access. Additionally, electrical conduits are usually
only available in a silver metallic color, making them better suited for industrial
application.

• Cable raceways are a type of electrical conduit, but are more versatile, flexible and
suitable for a broader range or uses. Cable raceways allow you to still access wiring
after install, they’re easy to use and install, and they come in a variety of materials
that look good in residential use.

Cable Raceway Use Cases

Cable raceways are used in a wide variety of industries. Some real-life use cases highlight
just how versatile the electrical raceway can be.

• Industrial Use – Loose and free hanging cables and wires in an industrial setting can
be a disaster waiting to happen. Unfortunately, contractors may need to run cables
across areas to power supplies and circuit breakers. They will, of course, do the best
they can to keep cable and wire out of the way, but it doesn’t always work out that
way. This network of cable and wire can be exposed, and could be pulled on, tripped
over and, quite simply, be the source of management headache.
Cable raceway designs can eliminate the risk. With cable raceway and raceway
accessories, contractors and maintenance pros have the capacity to put in complex
wiring designs without leaving the company open to potential fires from damaged
wire and lawsuits from injuries that were the result of tripping over exposed cable.
The installation of these products promises to extend the life of cable and wire and
protect the company as well.

• Commercial Use – Cable raceways are the perfect product to use when working in a
commercial setting. If you run a store or a factory, you are going to have a lot of wire
and cable going from machine to machine. To keep your workers safe and provide a
more pleasing view for your customers, a raceway can be installed that blends into
the wall.

A cable raceway presents a clean look that can be run along any wall in your
building. Instead of seeing a massive jumble of cables or wires, the raceway will
make everything look smooth and tidy. Using a cable raceway also keeps your
workers, customers and the wires themselves safe in the always busy commercial
setting.

• Residential Use – The average household contains several feet of wire. Wires
connect your TV, computer and lamps to power sources that let you watch TV or surf
the Internet without fumbling for the remote. Cable raceways provide a safe and easy
way to keep any wire from becoming a safety hazard.
Electrical raceways come in many sizes and shapes to fit the overall decor of your
home. Once you have the right raceway, you can install it on your own in a single
afternoon. With absolutely no experience at all, you should be able to extend power
to outlets or fixtures and cover all external wiring in your home.
 • Aviation Use – There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes in the aviation
industry that most people don’t think about. Whether you have a private airport, a
helipad for tours, or anything else, you know that you’ve got people walking around
all the time – and there are a lot of cables and cords that may be in the way. If wires
are not organized, they can easily get caught up under foot and someone could fall
as a result. If you don’t organize the wires from a safety standpoint, do it from an
operational one. If a cord gets pulled out of the socket, it may cause damage to the
unit or to the plug itself – and this can get expensive.

III - EXERCISES

ACTIVITY I

Directions: Find the hidden words inside the box that is related in installing network
cables. Write the correct answer in your answer sheet. (Do not write anything in this
module)
J P C A B L E W O

R P E U U L J A V

R A C E W A Y W E

I Q X G B T H N R

N O I T O C X O F

L X I D Q H Q H L

C O N D U I T E O

W T E C H N I Q O

U I P N F G O T R

1. _________________________________________ 2.
_________________________________________ 3.
_________________________________________ 4.
_________________________________________
5. _________________________________________

ACTIVITY II

Directions: Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False

___ 1. Cable raceways are sometimes referred to as a latching duct solution

___ 2. All cable raceways are created equal
___ 3. Materials used on electrical raceways has directly impacts on its proper application
___ 4. Cable raceways are easy to install
___ 5. Loose and free hanging cables and wires in an industrial setting is not a disaster
waiting to happen
IV– SUMMATIVE EVALUATION

A. Directions: Identify what is being defined, describe or asked. Write the letter of the
correct answer on your answer sheet.

1. What is a great tool for routing wiring and for concealing cables that would otherwise be
exposed?
A. Latching
B. Cable raceways
C. Overfloor
D. Conduit

2. What are metal tubes that protect electrical wiring?

A. Electrical conduits B. Cable raceways
C. Corner duct
D. Overfloor

3. Which of the following is also known as outdoor wire guards?

A. Safe guard B. Corner duct C. Overfloor
D. Exterior wire guards

4. What is the most common and widely used raceways?

A. Latching B. Overfloor C. Corner Duct
D. Raceway

5. Which of the following is an enclosure in shape of channel to hold, protect and provide
routing for cables?
A. Latching B. Overfloor C. Corner Duct
D. Raceway
6. What are usually flatter and more low profile to avoid creating an unnecessary tripping
hazard?
A. Conduit B. Overfloor
C. Flexible duct
D. Raceway

7. Which of the following cable raceways are a versatile wiring enclosure?

A. Conduit B. Overfloor
C. Flexible wire duct
D. Raceway

8. Which of the following raceways are ideal for residential use?

A. Conduit B. Latching C. Flexible wire duct
D. Raceway

9. What is installed under the floor and is commonly used in buildings which contains huge
servers and contains many cables?
A. Surface Raceway
B. Underground Raceway
C. Flexible wire duct
D. Raceway

10. Which of the following is commonly used in offices where it may need to change a plug
position as the nature of work changes.?
A. Surface Raceway
B. Underground Raceway
C. Flexible wire duct
 D. Raceway

B. Directions: Identify the category used for Unshielded Twisted-pair cabling. Write your
answer on your answer sheet.

____ 1. Cable raceways are the perfect product A. Underground Raceways

to use when working in a commercial setting.

____ 2. Contractors may need to run cables B. Overfloor

across areas to power supplies and circuit breakers.

____ 3. It is the same as surface raceways but installed C. Residential Use

under the floor.

____ 4. protect cables and wires on the floor from being D. Commercial Use
tripped over or unplugged.

____ 5. The average household contains E. Industrial Use

several feet of wire.
C. Directions: Differentiate raceway and conduit based on your understanding and
capacity. Write your answer on your answer sheet.
1. Raceway (5pts)
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________.
2. Conduits (5pts)
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________.