Installation Help and Accessories

ideas on how to run cable?? ever think of a crossbow?

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rdawg - 13 Feb 2008, 01:36 am

Doe anyone have any good idead on how to run cable through ceiling tile? I am looking for other ideas other than a ball and rope. I thought of using a crossbow(not a hight powered one) has anyone ever tried such a thing.

rory - 13 Feb 2008, 01:42 am

There are push rods, then there is also this:

Check out:
http://www.greenlee.com/product/index.html

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVhc9JKvy6I

VST_Man - 13 Feb 2008, 07:18 am

I use the cane pole extension type. Mine is 25ft. long and it works great.

The point and shoot type look fine but I can tell you that it won't "push" past AC duct or other obsticales. I have yet to find a false ceiling with nothing in it......

RickA - 13 Feb 2008, 08:20 am

Have used the gun, works good if you have enough room to arch the shot for any distance. :)

Scruit - 13 Feb 2008, 10:05 am

I have a handheld crossbow that I have used to 'shoot' a string through a space so I can pull wire. Bear in mind you must have access to the other side.

RickA - 13 Feb 2008, 10:29 am

You mean ya don't want to shoot into a blind spot, :shock:

cachecreekcctv - 13 Feb 2008, 12:03 pm

I take a 20 foot length of 1/2" schedule PVC and tape the cable to one end. Open up the first ceiling tile or two, and the PVC bends enough (use schedule 40) to allow the cable/wire to go under ducting, etc. About the cheapest way to do it. The PVC will "skim" across the top of the ceiling tile supports, most of the time. Ceilings are always full of ducts, conduit, piping, etc. etc.

survtech - 13 Feb 2008, 03:13 pm

My personal favorite (although we don't use it often) is.....

The Original Sling-A-Line� - Span Caster

For ultimate accuracy and leverage, shoot the yoke horizontally.

The Sling-a-Line� is the original span caster first introduced in 1982 by Labor Saving Devices Inc. Other manufacturers have tried to imitate it, but none offer the versatility in range and the retro feel of the original. The Sling-A-Line has a beautiful birch wood yoke with 10lb. test fish line to accommodate most wire pulls. Simply depress the caster reel, pull back the surgical tubing strap with the lead weight and shoot. The sling-shot action allows you to vary your range from 10ft. to over 100ft. Attach your wire or a pull cord and pull it back to you.

Product Hi-Lite
Eliminates multiple ceiling tiles & ladder movements!

scorpion - 13 Feb 2008, 08:20 pm

I am missing out on all of the fun!!

I am still using the glow rod method!!

Rebco - 14 Feb 2008, 04:22 pm

I am with scorpion, i still use the glow rods that put splinters into you hands, I need a new toy.

Smit9352 - 14 Feb 2008, 04:24 pm

QUOTE:
I am missing out on all of the fun!!

I am still using the glow rod method!!

I've been using glow rods as well... Maybe this "gun" thing isn't such a bad idea huh Scorpion?

Ha ha

rory - 14 Feb 2008, 08:08 pm

I just hire an electrician and let him have the headache :D

griffonsystems - 14 Feb 2008, 08:54 pm

i'm working on training a very small monkey to run across the drop ceiling pulling the wire

rory - 14 Feb 2008, 08:58 pm

QUOTE:
i'm working on training a very small monkey to run across the drop ceiling pulling the wire

perhaps a cat would be better ... faster :)

survtech - 15 Feb 2008, 09:51 am

QUOTE:
i'm working on training a very small monkey to run across the drop ceiling pulling the wire

You have stolen my idea, sir :shock: . For years I was thinking either a monkey or a small dog!

RickA - 15 Feb 2008, 10:15 am

And all this time I thought that was what we had children for :shock:

survtech - 15 Feb 2008, 11:51 am

This discussion brings to mind some web pages I have read.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cable+Monkey:
"1) Pulling cable doesn't take much intelligence... a monkey could do it."
"2) We need some cable monkeys to add some more cable drops. Joe, you get to breathe some asbestos!"

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=815056:
"Through selective breeding, cloning, and other advanced genetic engineering techniques, a new breed of monkey could be created. The monkey would have excellent colour and shape matching abilities, giving it the requisite skill to wire up a PC in seconds. Due to it's small size and flexible body, crawling around under desks would be no problem."

and, relating back to my previous post:

Slingshot Flying Monkey With Scream Sound
"The Slingshot Flying Monkey is nothing short of outrageous! The monkey can be shot long distances using his elastic arms. Put two fingers in the hand pockets, pull back and let go. The soft, furry monkey is pretty funny with his cape and mask, like some sort of super hero monkey. As an added bonus, every time you shoot him, he let's out two loud monkey calls. We don't know why he does this, he just does. If your office needs some seriously funny props, you have to get the Slingshot Flying Monkey."

mr.surveillance - 15 Feb 2008, 07:23 pm

We used to use a large Radio Shack remote contol 4x4 (with lights, cheap ebay wireless camera and various cable attachments) Unfortunatly it disappeared one day from a customers place in the famous town of Oakland, Ca. I currently use the fiberfish rods but plan on customizing another rc 4x4. ( I may put a car alarm on it)

Lolo Wolf - 15 Feb 2008, 10:14 pm

small pipe crawler comes in handy, you can build one using their kit great for limited access drop ceiling and attic spaces, even duct work as well inspection for tight areas where nobody left behind a drawing or a mess of wire thrown up over a grid, oh the things you can find in a overhead...., the mini got a pull rating of 23kg (50lbs ) per track http://www.roboprobe.com/CATALOGS/C20-LISTOFALLPIPECRAWLERS.HTML

Rebco - 16 Feb 2008, 10:56 am

If Peta monitored this forum you guys would be in alot of trouble..
By the way how is the monkey idea going? :D

griffonsystems - 16 Feb 2008, 11:41 am

put him up in the ceiling and cant find him now... looks like i need to get a small dog now to track down the monkey

survtech - 16 Feb 2008, 12:49 pm

QUOTE:
put him up in the ceiling and cant find him now... looks like i need to get a small dog now to track down the monkey

If you also lose the dog, you can retrieve him by dangling a cat up there :lol:.

Scruit - 16 Feb 2008, 01:23 pm

[quote:3c87bd4eb3="survtech"]

QUOTE:
put him up in the ceiling and cant find him now... looks like i need to get a small dog now to track down the monkey

If you also lose the dog, you can retrieve him by dangling a cat up there :lol:.

How do you get the cat back?

"There was an old woman who swallowed a fly"

able1 - 17 Feb 2008, 10:02 pm

If I may join in. This may help someone when all else fails.

A number of years ago I had a long narrow hallway with 1'x 1' ceiling tiles. The hall was about 75-80 feet long. There were 2 small hatches at either end that gave access to a space that was about 18" high. The ceiling tiles had 12" fiberglass batts from end to end.

Couldn't snake my fish that far, use my pole, sling shot, ball with string or any other tool that I had in the van or otherwise.

Soooooooo what to do???????????? I had to get a wire to the other end and surface mounting at the ceiling/wall was not an option.

So I picked up the local Merchandiser paper. Looked under toys/games for sale. Found some kid that wanted to sell his BIG Wheel R/C Truck.

yeee hawwww!!!!

Took the body off and strapped on my flashlight, tied on a pull string and wire and drove the sucker to the other hatch opening. It went over the fiberglass batts like sand dunes. Start to finish was about 90 seconds.

Well worth the $100 bucks I paid the kid. Turned into a fun toy as well. :lol:

On a different thought I did hear that someone used a pet rat to pull cables in a old school. Built a special harness for the rat tied on a string and stuffed him in a wall. Used some cheese and calls from other end and the rat came out at the right spot. :roll:

Anyhow hope that little trick helps someone in the future.