Use caps from cable boxes as grommets during cable distribution

Jan. 1, 1998
When you route cables through a steel-stud top plate, the cables can easily snag or tear against the sharp edges of the hole drilled into the plate.

Steven Taylor,

Precision Network Cabling Inc.

Problem

When you route cables through a steel-stud top plate, the cables can easily snag or tear against the sharp edges of the hole drilled into the plate.

Solution

You can use the cap from a cable box as a grommet in the plate to prevent snagging.

Procedure

1) Drill a 3/4-inch hole into the top plate, through which you will route the cable.

2) Place the cap from an old cable box into the hole.

3) Using a knockout punch or a screwdriver, punch a hole into the cap.

4) You can now route cable through the top plate without concern about the cable`s snagging or tearing.

Click here to enlarge image

The cap fits neatly into a 3/4-inch hole drilled into a metal-stud top plate. With the grommet in place, cable can be routed through the hole without snagging or tearing.

Steven Taylor is a project manager with Precision Network Cabling Inc. (Culver City, CA). This tip was a runner-up in the Installer Tips Contest at Cabling Installation Expo `97, held last October in Charlotte, NC.

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