Outdoor Cat5e Cable
Cabling Plus offers the high quality outdoor Cat5e cable you need for installing networks in the toughest environmental conditions. We offer a huge selection of outdoor direct burial rated Cat5e cable constructed using both water block tape and gel filled technologies. We also offer shielded outdoor Cat5e cable designed for tough outdoor installations where electromagnetic interference is a major concern!
Using outdoor Cat5e cable is required when installing network devices in the outdoors, or when connecting multiple buildings in a network installation. Using outdoor rated Cat5e cable or direct burial rated cat5e cable is popular when installing outdoor networks, wireless networks or hotspots, antennas, IP cameras, CCTV cameras, network appliances, home automation systems, access control systems, audio systems, and security systems. Failing to use a Cat5e network cable that is specifically designed for outdoor use will only cause your network to eventually fail, which would cost you time and money!
The external construction of an outdoor Cat5e cable includes a UV-rated jacket that is designed to protect the cable from harsh ultra-violet rays from the sun. The sun causes regular cable jackets to crack and fall apart, which would mean your network would fail or underperform. The jacket of an outdoor rated cable is also designed to combat moisture that could get inside the cable and cause the copper pairs to corrode. The ability to combat the sun and harsh weather conditions is a must for any outdoor rated Cat5e cable. The internal construction of an outdoor Ca5e cable includes a water-block tape technology or gel filling that is used to combat any moisture that might somehow enter the cable. Moisture can easily enter the jacket if there is a cut on the cable’s jacket or if the cable is installed in areas where condensation is heavy. Both the water block tape and gel-filled technologies are effective in protecting the cable if it is buried, installed in a conduit, or just installed outdoors where it is exposed to the elements.
The water block tape outdoor Cat5e cable has grown in popularity and features a special tape that is wrapped around all of the cables conductors. The water block tape quickly absorbs any moisture that enters the cable. The gel filled outdoor Cat5e cable has gel injected into the cable so moisture cannot penetrate the cable pairs. Both types are highly affective and for most installers it comes down to preference. Many installers prefer the water-block tape version better because it is cleaner and easier to work with. The gel version can get messy and sticky, plus it is tougher to terminate. Both cable construction types are also available in the shielded versions. Shielded outdoor Cat5e cables are often used in area where there is heavy external interference. Often outdoors the interference from power lines, electric motors, fluorescent lights, thermostats, and electrical circuits may be too much, resulting in a near complete loss of signal where no data can be transmitted correctly. Using outdoor shielded Cat5e cable is very common in both residential and commercial network applications.
Outdoor Cat5e cable can be installed in areas where the cable is fully exposed to the elements like rain, snow, and sunlight. Most outdoor Cat5e cable is also “Direct Burial Rated”, which mean it can be buried right onto the ground. If possible it is always best practice to put your cable in some type of a conduit or PVC piping. This will make future repairs or adding of new cables fast and easy. Plus the extra protection will only ensure your installation lasts even longer.
At Cabling Plus we offer the outdoor Cat5e cable that is manufactured to the highest standards using the best possible materials. All of our outdoor Cat5e cables are manufactured using 24 gauge solid bare copper conductors, and are tested to ensure they exceed 350MHz. Our outdoor Cat5e cable is trusted by professional installers, business owners, and IT managers all over the US.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Cat5e Cable - FAQs
When should I use outdoor Cat5e in a installation?
Outdoor Cat5e cable should be used in any installations where the cable is either buried directly in the ground, ran in a conduit, or ran outdoors where it is exposed daily to the sun and different weather conditions. Its jacket is specifically designed to combat the rain and sun from damaging the internal cable pairs where the network signals travel.
How does an outdoor cat5e cable stop moisture from corroding the cable?
A quality outdoor cable will always have a weather resistant jacket that is durable and includes the ability to withstand the most extreme outdoor weather conditions. Inside the jacket you will either find a gel or water-block tape construction that is specifically designed to stop moisture from entering the cable. If moisture enters the cable then the copper pairs will quickly corrode and the cable will fail. A cable that only offers a thick outer jacket is just not enough. The internal construction of a high quality outdoor or direct burial rated Cat5e cable must have some type of internal material used to stop moisture.
What does Outdoor Cat5e Cable with Water Block Tape mean?
Water Block Tape describes the internal construction of a particular outdoor or direct burial rated Cat5e cable. Water block tape is basically a super absorbent tape that is wrapped around the cable pairs of the cable. The water block tape is located between the internal cable pairs and the outer jacket. If condensation enters the cable the water block tape will absorb the moisture immediately and protect the internal pairs of the cable from being negatively affected.
What does Gel Filled Outdoor Cat5e Cable mean?
Outdoor or Direct Burial Rated Cat5e cable is offered with an internal gel filling that blocks moisture from attacking the internal pairs of a cable. The wires or pairs of cables must be protected because this is where your signals travel. The gel or jelly filling surrounds all the pairs of the cable and combats moisture that causes extreme corrosion.
How could water or moisture penetrate the jacket of a direct burial Cat5e cable?
It is not uncommon for condensation to enter the outer jacket of a cable. Condensation could enter the cable if it is installed outdoors in the open where it is exposed to the weather, or if it is buried in the ground, or in a conduit. The great thing is that the gel or water-block tape will quickly absorb and combat condensation. Now if water is entering the cable jacket then the cable jacket must be damaged in some way. The water-block-tape or gel will battle the water but eventually the water will win. So it is important to run your cable in a way that it will not be damaged. This is why running cable in a conduit is recommended for housing all outdoor and underground cables. The conduit will ensure the jacket of your cable is protected from not only the elements but also from people.
Doesn’t direct burial mean I can bury the cable in the ground?
It is not the best practice to just bury cable in the dirt if you can avoid it. The best practice for burying cable in the ground is to use a conduit. The small cost of PVC pipe will save you a lot of money in the future. Installing conduit is the best way to protect your cable from being damaged. Just digging a trench and burying cable means the cable is more susceptible to being damaged by rocks and other sharp objects often found in the ground. It is also common for a cable to be damaged from extreme pressure from the surface or by someone digging into the ground and accidentally hitting the cable. Replacing a cable that is in a conduit is easy. Re-digging a new trench and replacing a cable that was just thrown under dirt could be very costly and time consuming.
Do I need special connectors to terminate outdoor Cat5e cable?
No you do not. Standard RJ45 connectors are suitable for outdoor Cat5e cables. You will want to make sure that your termination points or connector points are either indoors, or in some type of weatherproof enclosure if located outdoors. It is very easy for moisture to damage your terminations and/or enter the jacket from the termination points. So protect your terminations!
When should I use Shielded Outdoor Cat5e cable?
Shielded Outdoor Ca5e cable for installations in areas where there is the high possibly of external interference. Interference that could cause your network signals to weaken or fail. Shielded Direct Burial Rated Cat5e Cable is very common when installing networks in industrial areas, factory environments, airports, and military bases. These areas are usually full of other cable types and equipment that could hinder the performance of your network signals. The shielding will give your cable the extra protection it needs to combat any outside electromagnetic interference or EMI.
What is better Gel or Water-Block tape?
Shielded Outdoor Ca5e cable for installations in areas where there is the high possibly of external interference. Interference that could cause your network signals to weaken or fail. Shielded Direct Burial Rated Cat5e Cable is very common when installing networks in industrial areas, factory environments, airports, and military bases. These areas are usually full of other cable types and equipment that could hinder the performance of your network signals. The shielding will give your cable the extra protection it needs to combat any outside electromagnetic interference or EMI.