Cat 5e insulation breakdown

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Rikkitic

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#252768 10-Jul-2019 19:10

We have a lengthy Ethernet run connecting the router to the lounge, where we stream TV. This is normal indoor Cat 5e cable but a short part of it, 2 meters or so, is exposed to sun and weather where it goes outdoors from one part of the house to another. It hasn't been there terribly long, just a few years, and I was shocked to discover the other day that the outer insulation is crumbling and falling away. The inner wires are exposed in places where the outer insulation has disintegrated. The connection is still working fine and we haven't noticed any performance issues. Replacing or repairing the cable would be a major hassle and I would like to wrap it in something to prevent further weather damage. The cable does not have to handle more than about 30 Mbps. Does anyone have any suggestions for this?

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richms

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#2274255 10-Jul-2019 19:13

Did you buy it at the $2 shop? Because thats happened to the ones that I got from there. I have dynamix ones that have been outside for years and the red has faded to pink but theyre still all good.

Richard rich.ms

dellor

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#2274257 10-Jul-2019 19:17

richms:

Did you buy it at the $2 shop? Because thats happened to the ones that I got from there. I have dynamix ones that have been outside for years and the red has faded to pink but theyre still all good.

You didn't go for Gel filled outdoor rated cable?

coffeebaron

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#2274259 10-Jul-2019 19:21

There are outdoor rated cables for a reason. Cut some garden hose over it.

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dellor

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#2274266 10-Jul-2019 19:23

Are solid core outdoor ethernet cables ok with small amounts of movement say by the wind it wont damage the wires inside it?

richms

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#2274267 10-Jul-2019 19:24

dellor:

richms:

Did you buy it at the $2 shop? Because thats happened to the ones that I got from there. I have dynamix ones that have been outside for years and the red has faded to pink but theyre still all good.

You didn't go for Gel filled outdoor rated cable?

Its only temporary untill a deck between the house and the shed is demolished so I can trench and put some OM3 or whatever better stuff comes along in. Coming up 6 years now outside with sun in the afternoon.

Richard rich.ms

Rikkitic

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#2274279 10-Jul-2019 19:44

I don't remember where I got it. Maybe TradeMe. It's a 30+ meter cable run, all indoors and in good condition except for the one short bit that goes outside. The garden hose sounds good. I will try that.

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BadCo

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#2274303 10-Jul-2019 20:35

Probably cheap cable, but even so they aren't designed to be used outdoors, especially in NZ!

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chevrolux

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#2274331 10-Jul-2019 20:52

It could be the best, most expensive cable available. But if its indoor cat5e, and out in the sun, it will degrade.

As coffeebaron says, split some hose and slide over the top.

Aredwood

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#2274350 10-Jul-2019 21:30

There is lots of UV light in the NZ sun (due to the Ozone hole over Antarctica). Plastic items that last for ages outdoors in the northern hemisphere, fade or get destroyed quickly by the NZ sun.

Dynamic

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#2274360 10-Jul-2019 22:06

I've had a 25m run of Dynamix beige CAT5 patch cable running between the house and garage. Around 8m of this is clipped to a catenery wire in full sun, and has been in place for abut 8 years. I've been expecting it to disintegrate, but to my surprise, it is not showing any sign of perishing so far.

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noroad

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#2274437 11-Jul-2019 09:11

Aredwood:

There is lots of UV light in the NZ sun (due to the Ozone hole over Antarctica). Plastic items that last for ages outdoors in the northern hemisphere, fade or get destroyed quickly by the NZ sun.

Um, nope http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/environment/environmental-reporting-series/environmental-indicators/Home/Atmosphere-and-climate/ozone-hole.aspx

Its about time that "there is more UV exposure in NZ due to the Ozone hole" thing died in a puff of actual science.

xpd

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#2274438 11-Jul-2019 09:16

Ive had some cable running outside for prob 18 months now, and its still in one piece to my amazement. Its exposed to sun, wind, and rain yet has been fine.

Keep meaning to get some sort of capping to run it through against the house......

So does pay to get "decent" cable it appears ;) (Even if its not outdoor rated)

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cyril7

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#2274443 11-Jul-2019 09:26

So to @Rikkitic as others have said protecting the now exposed internal cabling with a bit of slit hose pipe or cable wrap is all you need to do (or replace the entire run), the inner wire pairs being unsheathed is not a problem from a technical performance aspect but they are now open to damage from either mechanical (stood on) or more UV exposure of the polyfin that covers the actual copper, so you need to add protection for that.

Cyril

Rikkitic

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#2274589 11-Jul-2019 12:42

I have now put the cable in hose. I tested the connection and it seems fine, but the insulation was even worse than I thought and it just fell away as I inserted he cable, so I hope that hasn't buggered any dielectric properties. I think the cable (and another one) will probably have to be replaced soon, anyway.

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Gurezaemon

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#2274634 11-Jul-2019 14:34

Rikkitic:
I have now put the cable in hose. I tested the connection and it seems fine, but the insulation was even worse than I thought and it just fell away as I inserted he cable, so I hope that hasn't buggered any dielectric properties. I think the cable (and another one) will probably have to be replaced soon, anyway.

If that doesn't end up working, I suppose you could end up cutting out the perished bit, splicing connectors on, and then using female-female adapters with a new bit of cable.

A kludge, yes, but it might be easier than replacing the whole cable, especially if only slower speeds are needed. Good luck with getting it waterproof though.