Wood Structured Wiring Panel

[eonibm]

Structured wiring panels, panels that house the patch panels for cat5e internet cables, RG6 cable TV cables, and other low voltage cables are available from a number of manufacturers and are always made of metal and cost $100 and up. I can make the same panel for about $10 out of plywood.

Can anyone see a safety hazard in making the panel out of wood? These are all low voltage control wires and nothing else. I am thinking that there is only a market for metal panels because they have all of the holes drilled in the right places for the modular components installed in them and they have wiring straps, etc. In other words, they are 'plug and play' and make it easier for the installer.

[sitelights]

The higher amps associated with low voltage (12v-15v) lighting result in a 10X factor at a switch or splice. The spark from a loose splice at, for example 25A, is 10 times hotter than the spark at 2.5A. Thus is it is dangerous (as one earlier DIY poster suggested) to attempt to switch a low voltage lighting load with an ordinary 15A switch.

The wooden panel idea seems like asking for trouble; a metal splice box is a necessary safety item. Buchanan (Ideal) crimps with caps (all we use) make a much stronger, tighter, safer connection than ordinary wire connectors in higher amp applications but we still never use a flamable substrate as a mounting surface.

Of course CAT5, etc. is another animal entirely but not in close proximity to low voltage lighting loads.

[eonibm]

Thanks for that answer. I googled all over the web and couldn't find an answer for that. it seems conterintuitive that one can can touch low voltage wires, but a spark from them could be dangerous, or am I missing something? Is there a type of switch that is suitable for switching a low-amp load?

Also, my Mom just bought a whole house vacuum hose and and I noticed that instead of it turning on by plugging it into the vacuum outlet, it has a switch on the end of the house where you hold it. These vacuum system operate on low voltage, so what kind of a switch would they be using to avoid the sparking issue?