Is CAT5 weather proof???

[Thunderwind]

I intend on running some CAT5 out to a barn (maybe) and I wanted to know if I string it out there (overhead) will it endure the elements?? Or I may want to run it underground to this same barn!! Can it take such elements. I live in NJ by the way, so the summers are hot & the winters are cold!

Thanks for the input.

[Drone2903]

We had the same question few weeks ago (sorry, dont know when exactly) and it was a lenghty discussion as I recall

We (here in Quebec city, so weather is a MAJOR factor) had a standard cat5 link between a office building and a warehouse, 200 ft aparts, simply hanging between 2 posts ( as you would for electric or cable or phone) for 5 or 6 years now, in snow, COLD weather, HOT summer sun, rain, bird sh*t, you name it, and it running perfectly still.

So I dont see a problem for your installation.
Dan

[Thunderwind]

Cool that is great to know. Is your line strung by itself, or is it strung around a support cable?

[swamprat]

CAT5 comes in both indoor and outdoor cable. I use mainly plenum for exposure to the elements, although our weather here is not as severe as yours.

[Drone2903]

At first, it was hung like an ordinary clothes line...
After a while, they also ran some telephone and security wire so they hung a support wire between 2 posts, and loosely twisted the lot aroun it.

Give it some room for expansion/contraction for summer/winter conditions.

[overallniceguy]

To be on the safe side I would definitely recomend using plenum for outdoor applications. It will hold up longer. I would also use a support cable as this will relieve stress from the conductors and avoid headaches down the road. Nothing like a job done right the first time.

[fst1006]

CAT5 IS weather proof given that you have water proof sealant sealing the buildings holes that you drill...

!!!Caution!!! there is a drawback... CAT5 is a copper based and will conduct things like LIGHTNING... NIC's like voltages of +5 volts... mabye up to +10 when there is a collision... but they fry when lightning strikes your cabling...

so does your computer... one thing to think about...

hope this could help.
FST 1006

[supatech]

Very good point you might want to check out your local electrical code to make sure you meet everything running this cable.

[Fubarian]

[quote]Originally posted by fst1006:
<strong>!!!Caution!!! there is a drawback... CAT5 is a copper based and will conduct things like LIGHTNING... NIC's like voltages of +5 volts... mabye up to +10 when there is a collision... but they fry when lightning strikes your cabling...
</strong><hr></blockquote>

they make surge protectors for any kinda surge you'd get into the line -- and besides, if lightning is that close, stuff's gonna es-plode anyway !

[WebHead]

And for all your cat3-cat5 twisted pair cabling needs,.. you can always count on your local Home Depot for guaranteed low prices. We got plenum, outdoor/indoor, etc. etc. rated. We got it all.

[EvilCabbage]

[quote]Originally posted by WebHead:
<strong>And for all your cat3-cat5 twisted pair cabling needs,.. you can always count on your local Home Depot for guaranteed low prices. We got plenum, outdoor/indoor, etc. etc. rated. We got it all. </strong><hr></blockquote>

LOL ... how much are they paying you again?...

[Radical Dreamer]

Ya can stop the surge, but ya cant stop lightning

[RIOT]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by fst1006:
<strong>!!!Caution!!! there is a drawback... CAT5 is a copper based and will conduct things like LIGHTNING... NIC's like voltages of +5 volts... mabye up to +10 when there is a collision... but they fry when lightning strikes your cabling...

so does your computer... one thing to think about...

hope this could help.
FST 1006</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wouldn't there be a way to ground the cable? What if you covered the cable in rubber, (for lack of a better example) like a garden hose? I wouldn't think this would eliminate the problem, but it might help...