Satellite internet wire and chink question (not racist!!)

[Richard]

Ok, so we're preparing to chink the house. In case you don't know, chink is essentially fancy caulk that is used between the logs to seal the gaps from the weather (helps me keep my toes toasty warm during winter)


When the satellite internet (NOT tv) guy came out and installed the wire, he ran it down one of the channels that we are now preparing to chink.


Have some questions...


Will it matter to "bury" the wire under a layer of chink?


I can still unscrew most of it and pull it to the outside of the log however, lil-wifey-poo wants it to be hidden.


If something happens (after burying it) and it means we need to do it over, I would THEN, simply run it along the log, leaving this one buried. I will not redo the chink to fix/replace the wire so it's a risk I'm willing to take.


Second... notice in the picture where the corner is. I can't make this a good 90 degree bend. I might chink behind it letting the wire "cut the corner" and allow that 2-3 inches worth be visible. This is on the back side of the house and it's about 12/15' up in the air so nobody will ever notice it once it's done.


My questions aren't necessarily about the aesthetics (my wife will drive that conversation), my questions are about it over-heating or something that burying it might cause.


Thoughts?

 

[Richard]

I might add that we're going to be adding the backer/board (forget what it's actually called) so the wire itself will be in a channel and only covered with chink on the front side.

 

[atsah]

I have a log house, Mine are mounted on the outside of the log and I wouldn't want it any other way. I don't think you will have any heat issues chinking it in the groove, I can't imagine a cable line emits heat.

 

[dadster4]

Romex power lines are run through the logs, so I doubt a cable line would have any issues.

 

[Goose69]

It will be fine under the chinking. It will take the place of your foam backer rod in that joint.
...and I would do the same thing with the cable in that corner, just be sure not to kink the cable at all.

 

[RNeumann]

The cable for sat internet is either RG-6 coax (tv cable) or Ethernet cable (fancy phone cable with 8 little wires). Either one carries almost no voltage and would be just fine under the chinking. Keep the wife happy and hide it. I see no reason it would need replaced until technology requires a different style wire.

 

[Redlands Okie]

I think some satellite box wires carry up to 24 volts at most I think so heating should not be a issue. The cement or caulking should not affect the plastic line cover. If you are even the tiniest bit worried about wire needing replace at some time then go ahead and run a separate spare wire in a different log up or down one. Then your good to go for later. I think i read some of the newer boxes have or will start to use a different wire ? Not sure on this. Perhaps others in the forum will have that info. Wireless from room to room seems to be the common thing now as far as wires in the home.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I would personally cover ALL of it up. That little piece sticking out will be a target for squirrels to chew through.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Good luck with re-doing the chinking. When I re-finished my log home, I caulked all of the log seams with logging caulk that matched the color of the log stain so you can't see it. Do yourself a favor and don't plan on using a cheap caulking gun. Your hand will give out very quickly! I bought a Ryobi cordless caulking gun and that made the job so much easier!

As for the wire in the corner, is there any chance water can run along the exposed wire and leak into the wood? If it can, you should cover the wire completely so it can't get wet.

 

[Richard]

I like the idea of covering the wire. The eaves on the house hang over something like two feet so it's well protected from the general elements, it should "never" (I know, never say never) get water on it.

Squirrels... hmmm....hadn't thought about those little SOB's... although my cat certainly has. I find their tails in my downstairs living room from time to time...rest of the squirrel missing. Hmmm... (burp) I wonder if this could be why he was overweight at one time?

He's good about doing his business though.

He's an avid hunter....wish he would slow it down a bit.