Running a Cat5e cable outside the house

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alisam

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#63214 22-Jun-2010 18:31

I would like to run 2 Cat5e cables from an upstairs study to the kitchen to feed a NZ TiVo and a A C Ryan Playon mini.

I will probably need to run the cables on the outside of the house for a couple of metres.

Can I?

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sbiddle

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#344263 22-Jun-2010 19:01

Yes. Just make sure you use suitable outdoor UV treated cat5e cable. Regular cat5e cable will just fall apart eventually (give it maybe 2 years tops) with the UV light.

graemeh

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#344546 23-Jun-2010 13:59

You could also use a conduit outside to protect the cable but the cost of this is probably more than the cost of the outdoor cable.

Last time I needed this I just bought it by the metre from an electrical wholesaler.

tardtasticx

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#344572 23-Jun-2010 15:48

We've got some running on the back of the house where no sunlight gets to but the cable gets wet obviously, but we have no problems with it.

cyril7

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#344604 23-Jun-2010 16:42

You must also be aware that normal PVC sheathed cat5/6 cable should not get wet, it is hydroscopic and will take up water if left sitting in it for any period, once water gets in the dielectric properties change and its no longer a 100ohm twisted pair, at that point its useless for DSL and Ethernet purposes but probably ok for voice.

If you are after some outdoor cat5 I have a few hundred meters of black polyethelyne sheathed gel filled outdoor cat5 in the back of the workshop.

Also be aware that conduit will often let water in if its in the ground even though you have glued all the joints (it just does, dont ask my how), so even then you should use outdoor cable. If its down a wall then to put standard indoor cat5 in conduit is fine, I normally put a couple of drip holes in the lowest point so if water gets in it wont hang around long as it will find its way out the bottom, this is an important principle for any outdoor cabling exercise, ie assume no matter how well you water proof it will get in so make sure it can get out.

Cyril

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#344894 24-Jun-2010 14:09

graemeh: You could also use a conduit outside to protect the cable but the cost of this is probably more than the cost of the outdoor cable.

Last time I needed this I just bought it by the metre from an electrical wholesaler.

Be very careful that cables dont get crimped, squashed, stapled or bent too tightly (25mm bend radius). And be even more careful that you include a drip loop before each building entry. Cant you put a small hole in the floor and some surface conduit running down the wall?? So much simpler.

Time to find a new industry!