sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Clearing Unused Cable in underground Conduit

I was called out to pull a 25 pair cable and a CAT5E cable from the demarc into the customers suite. (Roughly 50') When I arrived I noticed the conduit from the Demarc to the suite already had a 25 pair cable and 3 6 Pair Shielded cables squeezed into this 3/4 conduit. I tried to pull the 6 pair cables out but couldn't move them. With no other option I tried to pull a Cat5 cable through so they could get their T1 terminated but unfortunately the cable snapped 42 feet into the pull. (No I can't get that CAT5 cable back out - it won't budge)

Any suggestions on how to clear that conduit? There is no other underground conduit going into that suite.

- Tom -

I had good luck hiring Roto Rooter to come out and run a snake through a pipe with a 25 pair that was stuck in it. The snake managed to wiggle the 25 pair around enough to break it free. It didn't even damage it. This was a 1-1/2" pipe though; I don't know if they can go that small with a sewer snake.

Thanks Ed, I was thinking the same thing but besides the size of the conduit, it appears the GC installed plastic flex conduit down the wall at least 5' and connected it (hopefully) to the rigid conduit going out to the demarc. I would be really worried about tearing the flex loose.

- Tom -

Yeah, I know what you mean. One thing that I forgot to mention was that the Roto Rooter guy ran his cable through WITHOUT any kind of head attached; just a 3/8" cable. The twisting and movement was enough to break the existing cable free.

why do you need cat5 for the T1 ?

why not use existing cable ?

The CLEC is requesting a CAT5 Cable.

I have no idea whether the 6 Pair cables are CAT5 or CAT3. If I can't clear the jam I'm going to tell them they will have to make do with the 6 Pair Shielded cable. Let's say hypothetically it's CAT3 - will the customer or CLEC experience any issues with that T1?

-Tom-

You won't have any problems for that distance, especially if it's shielded. To play it safe, use one pair on one cable for transmit and one pair in another for receive. I have gotten away with much less stringent measures before with no adverse effects.

A Greenlee (or equivalent) cable puller (Super Tugger) will pull almost anything in our out of a conduit. If you're unfamiliar with them - get someone who knows how to use them to do it - they can be VERY dangerous in inexperienced hands.

However if the conduit is not fastened properly it will be pulled apart.

Sam

I thought t1 only required cat 3

thats all Ive ever provided

The T1 goes for miles on CAT-nothing. I've got locations with 200+ft between the NIU and the equipment and it's all CAT3 with no problems.

Then again who are you to care about what goes in the pipe? They didn't call you for your opinion, they called you to put in the wire CAT5 won't hurt, so put it in and your customer is nice and happy.