Outdoor ethernet cable (withstand -30C)

[Member]

Hi,

 

I am planning to run ethernet cables out of my house for IP cameras. The winters in my area can get to -30C (-22F).

The cable will probably run in conduits to the soffits. What type of ethernet cable is recommended for outdoor -30C temperatures?

Any other suggestions welcomed!!!

thanks

[Mark77]

Belden has somewhat of a guide on their website:

 

https://www.belden.com/resourcecenter/documents/upload/Industrial_Ethernet_Cable_Solutions_Brochure.pdf

 

7928A appears to be rated for extreme temperature applications.  I'm personally not sure what that means in the practical sense though.  Perhaps read the entire guide, in which most cables are rated down to -40C "operating". 

 

There's a few cable types you'll want to avoid as they're only rated down to -10C.  Again, take a good look at the guide.  Maybe call your electrical supplier and/or even Belden up and see if their salespeople have a more specific recommendation.

[Mark77]

BTW, OMFG is that 7928A stuff expensive.  Unless I'm reading something wrong, a 1000 foot box will set you back about 2 grand. 

[Member]

1 minute ago, Mark77 said:

BTW, OMFG is that 7928A stuff expensive.  Unless I'm reading something wrong, a 1000 foot box will set you back about 2 grand. 

Dang

[Mark77]

Yeah definitely do more research.  I'm not convinced its totally necessary and/or there may be alternatives.  Ordering stuff from the "industrial" catalogue is basically a sort of cash cow for the cable vendors, because "industrial" people will write the cheque without thinking twice. 

[Member]

Just now, Mark77 said:

Yeah definitely do more research.  I'm not convinced its totally necessary and/or there may be alternatives. 

Thanks for your help, I will try to ask some people around my area.

 

 

[ttam]

https://www.amazon.com/CERTICABLE-OUTDOOR-NETWORK-WATERPROOF-CONNECTORS/dp/B00FX6Y6UG/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1472104386&sr=8-4-fkmr1&keywords=cold+weather+cat5

 

That's the same spools I used when I lived in Utah to run outside cables. Temps ranged anywhere from -15 to 10 on a normal snowy day and never had issues.

[mariushm]

Here's bunch of cables : http://www.digikey.com/short/3hq8h4

 

From -70c .. 105c  to regular -40c .. 80-90c  - sorted by this, so don't get shocked that the first entry costs $1000  .. some entries are for 15m of cable, some are for 150 meters, some for 300 meters ... scroll and search until you find the perfect match for you. Also some entries are for cat5e cables with only 4 wires instead of 8 wires so ignore those.

 

Another good store : http://www.newark.com/unshielded-networking-cable or http://www.newark.com/shielded-networking-cable  ( replace newark.com with farnell.com  if you're in Europe)

Not quite as easy to sort by temperature, but you can sort by jacket material. Just pick one jacket material and open the datasheet for that cable and you'll see the temperature range. Pretty much all the other cables with that jacket material will support that range of temperatures give or take 5-10c.

 

Still, they kinda tend to sell by spools of 300 meters or 150 meters, something like that.

[Guest]

Ubiquiti ToughCable is always a good option - have used it before in 35+ heat without issue.

[brwainer]

Generally cables can handle cold pretty well as long as they do not move at all - they become brittle. Having them insulated in some way against the heat cycle of day/night also will prevent the copper being damaged by expansion and compression

[Member]

13 hours ago, ttam said:

https://www.amazon.com/CERTICABLE-OUTDOOR-NETWORK-WATERPROOF-CONNECTORS/dp/B00FX6Y6UG/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1472104386&sr=8-4-fkmr1&keywords=cold+weather+cat5

 

That's the same spools I used when I lived in Utah to run outside cables. Temps ranged anywhere from -15 to 10 on a normal snowy day and never had issues.

I can't find that exact model here on Amazon.ca, but I found this: 

https://www.amazon.ca/Ethernet-Waterproof-Outdoor-Underground-VIVO/dp/B00AWQ13R6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472153504&sr=8-2&keywords=direct+burial+cable

[Member]

12 hours ago, mariushm said:

Here's bunch of cables : http://www.digikey.com/short/3hq8h4

 

From -70c .. 105c  to regular -40c .. 80-90c  - sorted by this, so don't get shocked that the first entry costs $1000  .. some entries are for 15m of cable, some are for 150 meters, some for 300 meters ... scroll and search until you find the perfect match for you. Also some entries are for cat5e cables with only 4 wires instead of 8 wires so ignore those.

 

Another good store : http://www.newark.com/unshielded-networking-cable or http://www.newark.com/shielded-networking-cable  ( replace newark.com with farnell.com  if you're in Europe)

Not quite as easy to sort by temperature, but you can sort by jacket material. Just pick one jacket material and open the datasheet for that cable and you'll see the temperature range. Pretty much all the other cables with that jacket material will support that range of temperatures give or take 5-10c.

 

Still, they kinda tend to sell by spools of 300 meters or 150 meters, something like that.

I found some waterproof direct burial cable: https://www.amazon.ca/Ethernet-Waterproof-Outdoor-Underground-VIVO/dp/B00AWQ13R6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472153504&sr=8-2&keywords=direct+burial+cable

 

I live in Canada, so shipping would get expensive. I will still take a look 

thx

[Member]

4 hours ago, brwainer said:

Generally cables can handle cold pretty well as long as they do not move at all - they become brittle. Having them insulated in some way against the heat cycle of day/night also will prevent the copper being damaged by expansion and compression

Im thinking of putting the ethernet in some kind of conduit up the wall until it reaches the soffit.

[gamerking]

15 hours ago, Member said:

Hi,

 

I am planning to run ethernet cables out of my house for IP cameras. The winters in my area can get to -30C (-22F).

The cable will probably run in conduits to the soffits. What type of ethernet cable is recommended for outdoor -30C temperatures?

Any other suggestions welcomed!!!

thanks

http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=102&cp_id=10234&cs_id=1023405&p_id=12732&seq=1&format=2

best cable money can buy or at least one that wont make the bank go bankrupt . its a bit stiff but works well i have the 250ft spool of it . dont run indoor cable . you "should be fine but "its not going to last forever if any water gets on it /in it

[mariushm]

4 hours ago, Member said:

I found some waterproof direct burial cable: https://www.amazon.ca/Ethernet-Waterproof-Outdoor-Underground-VIVO/dp/B00AWQ13R6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472153504&sr=8-2&keywords=direct+burial+cable

 

I live in Canada, so shipping would get expensive. I will still take a look 

That's a crap cable.  It's made of CCA (copper clad aluminum, basically a cheap version of network cable by using aluminum instead of copper and just copper plating each strand to make it look like it's completely copper) , which sucks and shouldn't be used for lengths longer than 20-30 meters. It's not ideal to use in places with large variations of temperature as the aluminum and the copper will shink and expand at various degrees inside the insulation and will eventually degrade.

 

The waterproof outdoor underground thing in the name is crap, it's basically just a plastic sheet foil the cable is wrapped around. Best, proper underground cables (check fiber optic cables) usually have a kind of sticky glue like substance on them and afterwards they're wrapped in a second layer of pvc or something thick... that sticky substance is kind of a rat and squirrel repellent, rats will chew on the cable but at least there's a chance they'll stop once they lick that substance. Here's an example: http://www.okidensen.co.jp/en/prod/cable/lan/mouse_lan.html

 

You can buy plastic "tubes" to push the network and power cable through, i think they're called electric raceway or something like that in US.  Here's an example: https://www.platt.com/platt-electric-supply/Electrical-Conduit-Wire-Duct-Electrical-Raceway/Non-Metallic-Raceway/search.aspx?SectionID=3&GroupID=45

 

Some come with double adhesive tape on one side (but i doubt the tape would last at outside humidity or cold) and some come with screw holes at even spaced intervals on the raceway which would allow you to drill into the house wood and screw the raceway in place.

 

Spend a bit more money on network cable if it's for cameras outside, it will save you the trouble later on. Buy real copper and i'd personally prefer cable made with strands of copper, not solid core.

 

And by the way, there's also a Canadian version of newark / farnell : http://canada.newark.com/shielded-networking-cable or http://canada.newark.com/unshielded-networking-cable

 

If you want something cheap but good (better than that vivo cable), have a look at this : http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035

It goes only as low as -20c but like others said, as long as it's not moved while it's cold it should be fine. It also has an extra layer of aluminum foil to protect the internal wires so it should be fine. 

Make sure you use network jacks designed for solid core wire, there's two types (one for stranded wire, one for solid core)

 

[Member]

5 minutes ago, mariushm said:

That's a crap cable.  It's made of CCA (copper clad aluminum, basically a cheap version of network cable by using aluminum instead of copper and just copper plating each strand to make it look like it's completely copper) , which sucks and shouldn't be used for lengths longer than 20-30 meters. It's not ideal to use in places with large variations of temperature as the aluminum and the copper will shink and expand at various degrees inside the insulation and will eventually degrade.

 

The waterproof outdoor underground thing in the name is crap, it's basically just a plastic sheet foil the cable is wrapped around. Best, proper underground cables (check fiber optic cables) usually have a kind of sticky glue like substance on them and afterwards they're wrapped in a second layer of pvc or something thick... that sticky substance is kind of a rat and squirrel repellent, rats will chew on the cable but at least there's a chance they'll stop once they lick that substance. Here's an example: http://www.okidensen.co.jp/en/prod/cable/lan/mouse_lan.html

 

You can buy plastic "tubes" to push the network and power cable through, i think they're called electric raceway or something like that in US.  Here's an example: https://www.platt.com/platt-electric-supply/Electrical-Conduit-Wire-Duct-Electrical-Raceway/Non-Metallic-Raceway/search.aspx?SectionID=3&GroupID=45

 

Some come with double adhesive tape on one side (but i doubt the tape would last at outside humidity or cold) and some come with screw holes at even spaced intervals on the raceway which would allow you to drill into the house wood and screw the raceway in place.

 

Spend a bit more money on network cable if it's for cameras outside, it will save you the trouble later on. Buy real copper and i'd personally prefer cable made with strands of copper, not solid core.

 

And by the way, there's also a Canadian version of newark / farnell : http://canada.newark.com/shielded-networking-cable or http://canada.newark.com/unshielded-networking-cable

 

If you want something cheap but good (better than that vivo cable), have a look at this : http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035

It goes only as low as -20c but like others said, as long as it's not moved while it's cold it should be fine. It also has an extra layer of aluminum foil to protect the internal wires so it should be fine. 

Make sure you use network jacks designed for solid core wire, there's two types (one for stranded wire, one for solid core)

 

I think I will get that cable then:  http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035

 

I will also buy some conduit to prevent UV damage and tampering. 

 

thanks

[Member]

7 minutes ago, Member said:

I think I will get that cable then:  http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035

 

I will also buy some conduit to prevent UV damage and tampering. 

 

thanks

The one you showed me is solid core right?

[mariushm]

@Member

 

You can also buy network jacks and other accessories from the same website if you want, save you money in shipping costs. 

This one will work for both solid and stranded core nework cables : http://canada.newark.com/aim-cambridge/32-5998ul/cat5-rj45-modular-plug-8-position/dp/66K8784

They're a bit more expensive but believe me, they're much better quality compared to no-name network jacks you'd buy from local stores, the contacts fit better, the plastic channels are better, the plastic may be stronger and flex less and so on.

 

If you don't have crimping tool you can buy one from there as well, but good ones are kind of expensive . There are cheap crimping tools, but ideally you'd buy one that presses directly on all pins.

I'm talking about this design, but I don't recommend buying Duratool brand, it's not that great imho : http://canada.newark.com/duratool/ht-n468b/crimp-tool-ratchet-207mm-modular/dp/60R2634

This design where the tool pressed on all contacts at the same time, instead of behaving like scissors pressing some contacts sooner than others.

 

ps. yes, the cable i linked to IS solid core, just check the page: 

Product Information

LAN Category:Cat5e

No. of Pairs:4 Pair

Wire Gauge:24AWG

Conductor Area CSA: 0.52mm²

Reel Length (Imperial): 1000ft

Reel Length (Metric): 304.8m

Jacket Color: Grey

No. of Max Strands x Strand Size: 1 x 0.52mm

Voltage Rating:-

Jacket Material:PVC

Conductor Material:Copper

External Diameter:6mm

Product Range:-

SVHC:To Be Advised

 

 

[Member]

13 minutes ago, mariushm said:

snip

 

Thanks. This may sound dumb, but Cat5 network connectors will still deliver the speed of cat5e right?

 

Found this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Ethernet-Tester-Crimper-Connector-Network/dp/B017X4RAXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472173450&sr=8-1&keywords=ethernet+tool

[mariushm]

Yes, those network jacks I recommended will work just fine with cat5e speeds, there's basically no physical differences between Cat5 and Cat5e when it comes to jacks. The differences are only in the way the cables are built (how many twists per inch each pair of wires has, how many twists per inch are between the four pairs, the quality and thickness of the insulator on each of the 8 wires and so on, cable makes all the difference, the jacks are the same).

 

Cat6 and Cat6a jacks impose some restrictions regarding how much length of wire can be untwisted inside the connector, and overall the jacks have to be built to a much higher standard and usually also have some metalic insulation around the plastic jack for electrical interference shielding and so on.

 

Regarding that crimping tool, it's the typical cheap stuff, it will probably do a few tens/hundreds jacks without any problems but on such cheap tools the metal is usually of somewhat poorer quality and in time the tool may no longer apply enough pressure (or apply pressure evenly) on the pins to crimp connectors properly.

 

My advice would be not to spend so much money on a pack of tools you will probably not use, you should buy just a RJ45 crimping tool as a standalone item. You won't use the network tester very often and some computers have cable testing features built into the BIOS or as an utility on the drivers CD / website and the other items in the package you will probably also not use at all.

 

[Member]

49 minutes ago, mariushm said:

snip

 

Okay, thanks for the explanation.

 

I should just buy the crimping tool from the Newark, bit expensive.

I am planning to use the crimper tool for a few times, maybe a cheap one would suffice.

BTW, I am setting up surveillance cameras connected by PoE.

[CrackheadKyle]

21 hours ago, Member said:

Hi,

 

I am planning to run ethernet cables out of my house for IP cameras. The winters in my area can get to -30C (-22F).

The cable will probably run in conduits to the soffits. What type of ethernet cable is recommended for outdoor -30C temperatures?

Any other suggestions welcomed!!!

thanks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HFEBYM/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687682&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001B6C5H8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=QY0S26ZGBTA58JM676KE

 

Not nearly as expensive as the industrial stuff but hey I have used it Michigan, California and Texas

 

Got a few years ago as a Cat5. Got Cat6 for my New House in Texas this august

 

In Michigan one winter the low was -12F, 3 feet of snow the whole day was sub zero and it literally was frozen some parts was under snow it had survived and operated fine. Moved to California. Fine. Moved to Texas the hottest day since September 2014 when I moved there was 107F again worked fine and mind you in direct sunlight and it being a black cable your mileage shouldn't be affected. (Yes I got the 300 Foot ran it from the security cam into a little drilled opening which is sealed then runs from the little space on roof to the nearest Cat5e port)

 

Update: Yes I have gotten this for 5 different houses on 5 occasions. 4 Times a cat5 and August 2016 I opted for cat6 for my new house 

[Member]

3 minutes ago, Savageiste said:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HFEBYM/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687682&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001B6C5H8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=QY0S26ZGBTA58JM676KE

 

Not nearly as expensive as the industrial stuff but hey I have used it Michigan, California and Texas

 

Got a few years ago as a Cat5. Got Cat6 for my New House in Texas this august

 

In Michigan one winter the low was -12F, 3 feet of snow the whole day was sub zero and it literally was frozen some parts was under snow it had survived and operated fine. Moved to California. Fine. Moved to Texas the hottest day since September 2014 when I moved there was 107F again worked fine and mind you in direct sunlight and it being a black cable your mileage shouldn't be affected. (Yes I got the 300 Foot ran it from the security cam into a little drilled opening which is sealed then runs from the little space on roof to the nearest Cat5e port)

Thx for the reply.

Im currently looking at this: http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035

 

Pretty good price and can withstand -20C

will take a look at that link 

thx

[CrackheadKyle]

The thing with that http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035 it will do better in the heat but in your cold climate it will suffer try to get something that will do better in cold like what I suggested the thing is it will never get 158F the hottest it will get I canada would likely be 100F even in direct sunlight that will not get any hotter than 120-130F but IT WILL get well below -4F or -20C in your area as you state

[Member]

7 minutes ago, Savageiste said:

The thing with that http://canada.newark.com/pro-power/cbbr6332/shielded-multipair-cable-4-pair/dp/60R4035 it will do better in the heat but in your cold climate it will suffer try to get something that will do better in cold like what I suggested the thing is it will never get 158F the hottest it will get I canada would likely be 100F even in direct sunlight that will not get any hotter than 120-130F but IT WILL get well below -4F or -20C in your area as you state

might have to wrap the etherenet cable in something?