Cat 5e outside.......
 

Am i legally allowed to run a cat5 lead just outside and up a floor rather than internally?

Are there any laws against using copper outside?

ta

S

no problems

Hi Super Si

No legal restriction on running CAT5 outside.

But as you probably know CAT5 comes in all sorts of
Colors grey, white, purple etc.
But these are not designed to be run externally, the insulation will become
Hard and brittle and start to rot in less than 12 months.
Also running these colors up the side of your house can be
Very unsightly.
There is a CAT5 in black specifically designed for external use
Which I usually carry for these sort of jobs the only drawback
Is it comes in roles of 300m and you can’t get it from just
Anywhere.

Hope This Helps

Tony.

house is white so ive got some white casing.
Only got to travel 8-10m externally, but too much of a pain internally

Cheers
S

Why not go wireless?

had that debate elsewhere ;)

S

I ran some CAT5 cable about 8 yrs ago for a building company with my 1st job. We knew it may not last, but for the cost it was worth a chance. It was run from the main office across a yard, about 30ft off the deck and into a portacabin. It was still going strong 3 yrs after the install when I left the company. That was after facing everything the Scottish weather could throw at it :)

cheers Ozzy i think im going to run it.

We also had some CAT5 cable run across a shipyard onto a Frigate while we worked onboard. Was there for about 6mths and lasted well enough. Go for it :)

any problems with signal etc outside temps?

S

no probs with temp!

just don't run next to an mains power cables.
can induce noise onto cat5 which can reduce speed
and quality of data.

I have a remote web cam in my garage! Yes I know its sad, but with 30K of car inside then it suddenly become sensible!

I digress.....

I've had a cable from the house to the garage for 2 years and its still okay.

Its not the CAT5 cable typically used for hidden installs but the stuff used for patch leads and it has a little play in it and the casing is slightly less rigid. Its wound round a catinner wire between the house and the garage, about 80 feet! I always get worried when its lightening though, enough to unplug it! And its purple, funny though it doesnt stand that much.

If you want me to pop you a few metres of external Cat5e in the post drop me a PM

T

Urban myth for the most part

T

Nope, no probs with temps or even snow/rain.

Put it in some thin conduit/trunking or even sleeving if you're paranoid.

Stefan