Cam #7 and #8 are up (finished)

[Mr_D]

This is a followup to my last post detailing cams 5 and 6:

Cam #5 and #6 are up (includes dual starlight)

Parts used:
Dahua 2.8 mm IPC-HDW4231EM-AS 2MP Starlight on PFA 130-E Water-proof junction box (patio)
Dahua 6 mm IPC-HDW4231EM-AS 2MP Starlight on PFA 130-E Water-proof junction box (west)
40' of 3/4" schedule 40 grey UV resistant PVC, primed and painted

I saved the most difficult cameras for last. After going over many different cable routing options in my head, the one I settled on was actually the simplest. I glued the conduit into 4 sections and applied a spray primer designed for plastics and several coats of exterior grade paint. I had some left over paint and paint codes from the last time the house was painted so I was able to match it. Final assembly was done on the house with my wife's assistance.

I bent the 45 degree elbow by holding it over the stove until it softened, bent it, then ran it under cold water to set. It took a couple of tries but I got it close enough that the PVC's natural flexibility was able to cover the difference.

I measured off two lengths of 125' of Cat6 cable, carried them into the attic, and pushed them out the hole I had drilled from the outside. I marked a point 40' from the end of the cable so I'd know when to stop. From there, I used a fish tape to pull the cables through each section of conduit. The 8' run to the west cam was short enough that I didn't bother with the fish tape but just pushed it through instead. Cat6 is stiff enough that it will push pretty well unless it hits something as it did inside the joint right above the elbow. The 22' run to the patio cam ends in a 90 degree elbow. I wanted the camera just a little lower and that worked well.

 

[TonyR]

Man, nice job.

You said "40' of 3/4" schedule 40 grey UV resistant PVC, primed and painted".

The only PVC pipe I have found locally that's said to be UV resistant is the furniture grade but it's in 5 ft. sections, not 10. I read there's a clear coating available just for that purpose but also read most manufacturers say that using PVC-compatible latex paint does just as well.....which is usually also done to cover the pipe's markings and blend it in with its background, offering a nicer overall appearance.

You painted it also so it should last a good while. Again, looks great, cam views great as well....thanks for the photos and cam specs....could definitely help someone with their install by getting their brain headed in the right direction.

 

[tangent]

Nice job.

You might want to put a couple more 2 hole straps on the conduit to the 'west cam' in the hot sun PVC conduit can change shape. If it's better supported you're less likely to have issues.

 

[Mr_D]

Man, nice job.

You said "40' of 3/4" schedule 40 grey UV resistant PVC, primed and painted".

The only PVC pipe I have found locally that's said to be UV resistant is the furniture grade but it's in 5 ft. sections, not 10. I read there's a clear coating available just for that purpose but also read most manufacturers say that using PVC-compatible latex paint does just as well.....which is usually also done to cover the pipe's markings and blend it in with its background, offering a nicer overall appearance.

You painted it also so it should last a good while. Again, looks great, cam views great as well....thanks for the photos and cam specs....could definitely help someone with their install by getting their brain headed in the right direction.

I believe it said something about sunlight resistance but I could be mistaken. Anyway, I applied multiple coats of primer and paint so it should protect it from our mild climate.

 

[Mr_D]

Nice job.

You might want to put a couple more 2 hole straps on the conduit to the 'west cam' in the hot sun PVC conduit can change shape. If it's better supported you're less likely to have issues.

Noted. Right now, there's one strap on the far left right next to the conduit body and one in the middle of the run.

 

[looney2ns]

Nice job.
I have had a length of PVC grey conduit running up the south side of a pole for around 30 years or so. It's still fine, it's totally exposed in all its naked glory. IE: No paint.

 

[tangent]

Nice job.
I have had a length of PVC grey conduit running up the south side of a pole for around 30 years or so. It's still fine, it's totally exposed in all its naked glory. IE: No paint.

I think socal gets a bit hotter than Indiana. I not an electrician, but found my way to an electrician forum years ago to help make sense of a confusing section of the NEC. On that forum in a wall of shame type thread there were pictures of a 2"+ pvc conduit running horizontally on the side of a commercial building running 20'+. This conduit obviously had some big heavy wires prob. #0000 inside it but in the hot sun it had changed shape and was trying pretty hard to impersonate the McDonald's arches.

PVC conduit can both expand/contact changing in length and deform and permanently change shape with enough heat/weight/gravity.

 

[looney2ns]

My only point was, that without paint, it had not deteriorated. We have plenty of our share of 100+F days.

 

[tangent]

I think a smaller diameter, vertical run, with much lighter weight cables isn't likely to have many issues.

 

[TonyR]

Anyway, I applied multiple coats of primer and paint so it should protect it from our mild climate.

Definitely does the trick.

 

[tangent]

Noted. Right now, there's one strap on the far left right next to the conduit body and one in the middle of the run.

It's probably fine without adding anything else, I wasn't really paying attention to the distance earlier.