Point to Junction Boxes for Soffit Mount?

mercfh

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So I have 3 IPC-HDW2231R-ZS camera's. When I originally ordered the first 2 (Thanks Andy!) I ordered them with junction boxes. However I ended up actually mounting them directly to the soffit (Which we don't have any crazy weather here and they actually seem VERY secure for just being to the soffit) I didn't end up putting the junction boxes on them. I have the waterproof connector on them (but the connector is up in the attic and not exposed).

For the 3rd camera I ordered I didn't get a junction box. Am I missing out? it doesn't seem like it would help that much when it's mounted directly to the soffit?
 

TonyR

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The box provides a place for the pigtail to reside and be protected from the weather, thus requiring a smaller hole for the CAT-5e cable in the soffit (3/8" vs 3/4", half the size). One mounts the box, pulling un-terminated cable into the box, installs the RJ-45 on the end of the cable and tests, plugs it into the pigtail after applying dielectric grease, mounts the lid/cam to the box. Side ports in the box provide alternate means of cable entry/exit.
 

mercfh

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If the pigtails sit above the soffit into the attic though it seems like they would be pretty protected (I ended up putting on the weatherproof connectors for all of them);
 

TonyR

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If the pigtails sit above the soffit into the attic though it seems like they would be pretty protected (I ended up putting on the weatherproof connectors for all of them);
They would be, it just depends if you want to drill a 3/8" in the soffit for un-terminated CAT-5e or 6 cable into a box or drill a 3/4" hole (or larger) in the soffit for the connector on the pigtail.
Your soffit, your call.
 

XrayDoc88

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Where exactly and how should you apply di-electric grease? Does it go directly on copper contacts or does it get applied later? Thanks.
 

XrayDoc88

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Where exactly and how should you apply di-electric grease? Does it go directly on copper contacts or does it get applied later? Thanks.
I know the question wasn't hard. I've never heard of di-electric grease. Anybody?
 

looney2ns

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XrayDoc88

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Thank you for the quick response. I'm trying to understand how this product could work. It must be non conductive. Otherwise it would short out the 8 pins in an RJ45 connector. But if it's non conductive, how can the data signal pass from copper>grease>copper? I'm confused.
 

handinpalm

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Thank you for the quick response. I'm trying to understand how this product could work. It must be non conductive. Otherwise it would short out the 8 pins in an RJ45 connector. But if it's non conductive, how can the data signal pass from copper>grease>copper? I'm confused.
Most dielectric grease is silicone based. Just apply enough to coat the contacts, don't need to glob it on. It actually only needs to be about 1 molecule thick to work. It keeps the metal from oxidizing/corroding, especially in moist environments. The pressure of the contacts displaces the grease on the contact to make electrical connection. Do not ever use a petroleum based product like vaseline on the plastic connectors. Petroleum will make plastic brittle and break.
 

TonyR

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Do not ever use a petroleum based product like vaseline on the plastic connectors.
Or WD40...it contains paraffin, also petroleum-derived, and is the waxy component of candles!

EDIT: as in context of "IP camera pigtails and outdoor Ethernet connections"
 
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