Did I buy the wrong cable for POE (increased the risk of lightning/surge etc)?

HMay

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Hi all,

I'm installing a Tapo PTZ in the garden to use as a wildlife cam. It's powered by a 12vdc plug, so i've decided to try powering it via POE from the mains socket in my shed using 12v adapter/splitters at either end of the 30m cable run. I've ordered a reel of copper CAT6A S/FTP but I've just read a post on here which makes me think UTP may have been a better choice as the S/FTP carries greater risk of acting as a conduit for a surge/lightning discharge if not grounded?

I'm also attaching a TP-Link EAP110 wireless access point to the outside of the shed for the PTZ (plugged into mains via a supplied POE injector and connected to the router in the house via powerline adapters) and I'm wondering what cable to use for that now too? I've read a little about lightning arresters and Ubiquiti surge protectors but I'm not sure if that's opening up a can of worms (and whether our earthed mains in the UK will do the trick anyway?)

Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks.
 
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observant1

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UTP may have been a better choice as the S/FTP - the S/FTP carries greater risk of acting as a conduit for a surge/lightning discharge if not grounded?
I think you'll be fine. You may have paid more for the shielded foil cable' but if your using it the same as you would unshielded twisted pr. (same unshielded connectors) I don't think you'l see much difference. As far as running a higher risk of lightning, my experience says no unless you mount to metal bld. If your cable comes with a drain wire I'd be inclined to use it at one end.
They make several types of CAT6 lightning arrestors from relatively inexpensive to very expensive.

Just my unscientific opinion.
 

garycrist

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Make sure the camera is not grounded or float the camera.
Unless a ground is run back to the main ground and slam a
ground rod into the ground. If it will not go all the way down, bend
it over and run a ground wire to the camera support structure.
Then pray because after all of this you WILL NOT STOP A DIRECT HIT.
But, you will cut down on ground loops and surges from the ground up
or the leaders.

After all that scary stuff ground the POE switch put a RJ45 lightning arrester
and replace someday and don't worry.
 

observant1

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Make sure the camera is not grounded or float the camera.
Unless a ground is run back to the main ground and slam a
ground rod into the ground. If it will not go all the way down, bend
it over and run a ground wire to the camera support structure.
Then pray because after all of this you WILL NOT STOP A DIRECT HIT.
But, you will cut down on ground loops and surges from the ground up
or the leaders.

After all that scary stuff ground the POE switch put a RJ45 lightning arrester................


I had to sit in on several ANSI/EIA/TIA-607 standards classes.

I can't argue with any recomendations, and especially agree with float your equement away from a metal bulding...or place a piece of wood on non conductive box if you are mounting to a metal building. If lightening hits it's gonna hurt something, but that goes for hurricanes and earthquakes also.
 
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