Running ethernet cable down outside wall

[r1flyguy]

Hi all

Apologies if this is in the wrong section.

Due to the location of my internet switch I would like to run a cable from the switch located in the loft, through the bottom of the soffit and down the outside wall (will be partially concealed behind a rain water pipe) and then into a room that has no internet port/poor wifi, this would then have a direct route to the switch in that room.

Can this be done using an appropriate conduit to obviously protect it from the elements or should it not be done this way full stop?

Thank you for the advice in anticipation

Gaz

 

[rsgaz]

Yes, it can be done like that. It doesn't even need to be in conduit, there is 'external grade' cat5e available that can be clipped just like an aerial cable. But then you need to think about the security of your network, anyone could cut the cable and crimp a plug on the end. Hey presto, they're on your network and can see any shared files/folders. Depends if it's easily accessible I guess.

If you do want to do it in PVC conduit, be aware that water always finds a way to get in, so you should still use external grade inside the conduit ideally. Drill a drain hole at the bottom of the terminal box at the lowest point.

 

[Iamchamps]

POE cctv systems have ethernet cables running all over the place externally which is no problem. It will be fine. If you go with black it will blend in with the drain pipe which you can cable tie it to down the back to make it even more hidden.

 

[r1flyguy]

Yes, it can be done like that. It doesn't even need to be in conduit, there is 'external grade' cat5e available that can be clipped just like an aerial cable. But then you need to think about the security of your network, anyone could cut the cable and crimp a plug on the end. Hey presto, they're on your network and can see any shared files/folders. Depends if it's easily accessible I guess.

If you do want to do it in PVC conduit, be aware that water always finds a way to get in, so you should still use external grade inside the conduit ideally. Drill a drain hole at the bottom of the terminal box at the lowest point.

Excellent, thank you. I was unaware of the fact you could purchase external grade cable, so thats a great help. The only thing I know I cannot personally do is crimp the connectors to each end, tried before but in all honesty I would prefer to rely on someone with experience to do it to prevent poor connections and thus poor connectivity.
I was thinking of a cable with the connectors on each end to plug straight into a device and not to a terminla box but I certainly will drill a drain hole as recommended.
The location it will be placed albeit behind a downpipe, any ‘tampering’ would be easily detected I believe.

 

[r1flyguy]

POE cctv systems have ethernet cables running all over the place externally which is no problem. It will be fine. If you go with black it will blend in with the drain pipe which you can cable tie it to down the back to make it even more hidden.

Thank you, I wasnt aware of the CCTV systems either, I thought they were all wifi these day
My downpipes are white so white conduit behind would be an issue if i go that route or just to tack it in place.

 

[rsgaz]

I was unaware of the fact you could purchase external grade cable

In which case, here's some more info. There are two types. There is the good stuff, which has a black polyethylene jacket, instead of the PVC jacket. It's the same diameter as normal cable, just as flexible, easy to work with.

Then there is the awful stuff. Is is cheap ordinary 'made in China' grey PVC cable/jacket, which has had a black polyethylene layer extruded over the top. Is thicker of course, so, larger holes to drill, annoyingly rigid and horrid to work with. It's too fat to fit into a crimp plug, unless you can strip just the black layer. Avoid!

not to a terminla box

I meant the conduit terminal box...

...which goes at the bottom of your run, where you drill through to inside.

My downpipes are white

I've never seen external grade that isn't black, so just tacking might look crap. Seems like 20mm white conduit is your best bet.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Much much easier to install CAT5 sockets in backboxes at each end of the cable and then use patch leads to get to your appliances. Smaller holes to drill, no fighting getting 8 cores into the plug, no risk of damaging the installed cable by flexing it repeatedly. Make sure you get copper cable not CCA (as well as all the other advice about external grade cable).

 

[rsgaz]

no risk of damaging the installed cable by flexing it repeatedly.

That's a very good point. It's fine to run the cable direct to the router in the loft and crimp a plug on for that end, because that cable will hardly ever move. But in the room, a dedicated wall socket and patch lead(which is stranded wire instead) is the best option.

 

[sparkymarka]

I’ve been using these for the last 5-6 years they are excellent...

 

[oldbutnotdead]

View attachment 157144 I’ve been using these for the last 5-6 years they are excellent...

Ahh, nice lashup. Tricky trying to hide the bulge but otherwise v handy

 

[festive]

Just to add here I did some of this other the weekend running cat6 to my office in garden. Fed up with slow transfer and poor latency Wi-Fi gives.
Re security since the advent of cordless angle grinders nothing is safe now a days so unless the conduit is some material not from this planet..

I use black conduit to run down wall. And when in the ground I use shielded external cable. This stuff I used is injected with layer of silicone which prevents ingress of water into cables. Horrible stuff when stripping for connectors.

Running in the ground I external I always use gas pipe threading a string up first. Laying the cable then pulling through the cable. Here's a pic showing transition from wall to ground. Had to go across a path.
The blue pipe is for a water feed I thought I'd put in at same time. Hope that helps.