Outdoor Ethernet Cable

[Deleted User 298457]

Hi folks,

A slight miss on my part but I have forgotten to run an outdoor ethernet to my shed/future summer house.

I think I'll run a singular outdoor ethernet to the shed and then spur off there into a PoE switch for cameras, and a regular switch as a backhaul for the future summer house.

Is there much difference in outdoor grade cable? I am thinking of grabbing some from Amazon so I can get it under the floor quickly...

 

[Caged]

Run a duct if you can rather than just a cable, it makes things future proof to an extent. Otherwise just make sure you aren't buying CCA (copper-clad aluminium) cable, get solid copper cores.

 

[Armageus]

Is there much difference in outdoor grade cable?

Yes - the outer coating on outdoor cable is normally made of black PVC, which resists aging due to UV rays and is more moisture resistant (The downside being that the fumes it gives off if it catches fire are quite toxic compared to Plenum Rated indoor cable)

 

[ZeroG]

Yes - the outer coating on outdoor cable is normally made of black PVC, which resists aging due to UV rays and is more moisture resistant (The downside being that the fumes it gives off if it catches fire are quite toxic compared to Plenum Rated indoor cable)

Wouldn't you use armoured cable for outdoors though if he's running it to a summer house?

 

[Armageus]

Wouldn't you use armoured cable for outdoors though if he's running it to a summer house?

Depends on the route surely?

If you're direct burying it then yes* (and even then I'm not convinced - the cost is better spent on some duct)

If it's going in duct, or tacked along a fence or whatever else, then no

 

[WJA96]

Yes - the outer coating on outdoor cable is normally made of black PVC, which resists aging due to UV rays and is more moisture resistant (The downside being that the fumes it gives off if it catches fire are quite toxic compared to Plenum Rated indoor cable)

Kenable and Dahua also sell white outdoor grade cable which can be very useful on some finishes. Cable Monkey used to have other colours but they seem to have stopped doing them.

On the very first outside install I ever did I used purple BT cable because I didn’t know any better. That cable is now 8 years old and doesn’t seem to have suffered any ill effects. I would 100% always use external grade cable now though.

 

[WJA96]

Depends on the route surely?

If you're direct burying it then yes* (and even then I'm not convinced - the cost is better spent on some duct)

If it's going in duct, or tacked along a fence or whatever else, then no

Agreed, unless it’s for direct burial (and why would you do that?) I would always put a duct in. It’s incredibly cheap and really easy to work with. You can either use elbows or just bend it with a spring and a heat gun. And add a pair of draw cords as you go for long term happiness.

Obviously, these days you might want to consider just going straight for an optical fibre with media converters at each end.