Measuring tape eases cable routing through walls

Nick Tjotjos,

logos Communications

Problem

When you are fishing an insulated wall with fish tape for cable routing, problems can occur when the fish tape bends or turns. This problem can make fishing a wall difficult, time-consuming, and frustrating.

Solution

An installer can use a 15-foot x 1/2-inch tape measure to provide the straightness and rigidity needed to fish the insulated wall, eliminating the bending and twisting that are prone to occur when using ordinary fish tapes.

Procedure

Prepare the tip of the measuring tape by cutting it into a point, like the tip of an arrow. This will provide easier penetration and routing through insulation. Also, wrap a piece of tape around the end of the measuring tape to prevent it from retracting into the case when you have finished using it.

1) Slide the measuring tape into the junction-box hole.

2) Push the measuring tape up the wall between the drywall and the insulation, above the suspended ceiling.

3) Using the access hole in the suspended ceiling, the installer ties a pull string to the tip of the tape measure and uses it to pull the pull string, with cable attached, to the junction box opening.

This procedure turns your tape measure into a dual-purpose tool, making it more convenient to carry it with you on installations.

Click here to enlarge image

A measuring tape provides the rigidity needed to fish insulated walls for cable pulling. The inset shows the end of the tape measure, which has been cut into an arrowhead shape to facilitate fishing. Tape wrapped around the end of the measuring tape keeps it from retracting into the tape measure case.

Nick Tjotjos is a cable engineer with logos Communications (Westlake, OH). He submitted this tip at the Installer Tips Contest at the Cabling Installation Expo `96, held in Charlotte, NC, last October. This tip was compiled by Dennis Mazaris, registered communications distribution designer (rcdd), a design consultant at PerfectSite, 100 Glenn Drive, Suite A-11, Sterling, VA 21065, tel: (703) 450-8986, fax: (703) 450-9343, e-mail: dmazaris@perfectsite.com.