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Undertoad · 11-30-2009, 12:15 PM

I was curious about this so I did some research.

They say interference will never be a problem if the cables are separated by a foot (30 cm).

Because TCP/IP does error checking and retransmits data, a cable with interference on it may never be noticed. This may be why there is no real world data. Modern switches don't even measure error rates and such!

Current is more of a problem than voltage, and just running a light is almost nothing.

The very worst problem is what happens if an errant nail manages to pierce both cables and send line voltage down the data cable. As long as you are willing to take that risk, I think you get away with this 100%.

11-30-2009, 12:15 PM	#2
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I was curious about this so I did some research. They say interference will never be a problem if the cables are separated by a foot (30 cm). Because TCP/IP does error checking and retransmits data, a cable with interference on it may never be noticed. This may be why there is no real world data. Modern switches don't even measure error rates and such! Current is more of a problem than voltage, and just running a light is almost nothing. The very worst problem is what happens if an errant nail manages to pierce both cables and send line voltage down the data cable. As long as you are willing to take that risk, I think you get away with this 100%.