Junction boxes and rain

Optimus Prime

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I just fried my Dahua SD59225U-HNI ($500) when the tornadoes came through the Dallas area, water got into the junction box. I thought it was sufficiently sealed, and I had wrapped the connection with electrical tape. Had I not tightened the cable gland, the water would have drained out.

How should I have installed this? I had gaskets on the back of the box, and between the box and the camera stem. Maybe needed to silicone around the box inlet hole.

Also, Andy does not have spare parts for it. Does anyone else have a source for spare parts? I assume I have to replace the entire POE module.

Thanks for your feedback...
 

mat200

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hi @Optimus Prime

This is how I like to do it:

1) a little Di-electric gel in the RJ45 socket before connecting the cables.
2) seal the cat5e/6 connection with silicone stretch plumbing tape or coax seal ( electrical tape will not provide sufficient water resistance )
3) "n" shaped bead of silicone caulk around the top of the junction box ( I also put the same around the inlet hole ) where the box mates with the wall and the camera mates with the junction box.
4) make certain the junction box can drain water out.
5) place the connect at the top of the junction box

oh and I also use #2 on the extra power connection of the camera.
 

looney2ns

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I just fried my Dahua SD59225U-HNI ($500) when the tornadoes came through the Dallas area, water got into the junction box. I thought it was sufficiently sealed, and I had wrapped the connection with electrical tape. Had I not tightened the cable gland, the water would have drained out.

How should I have installed this? I had gaskets on the back of the box, and between the box and the camera stem. Maybe needed to silicone around the box inlet hole.

Also, Andy does not have spare parts for it. Does anyone else have a source for spare parts? I assume I have to replace the entire POE module.

Thanks for your feedback...
Will it work if you use the 24vac power feed and the brick it came with? IE bypass the POE power.
If any wires are exposed outside of the J-box, make sure you have a drip loop in the cable.
 

mikeynags

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I usually drill a very (1/16") small weep hole towards the bottom of the box to allow any condensation that builds up to drain.
 

Rebelx

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hi @Optimus Prime

This is how I like to do it:

1) a little Di-electric gel in the RJ45 socket before connecting the cables.
2) seal the cat5e/6 connection with silicone stretch plumbing tape or coax seal ( electrical tape will not provide sufficient water resistance )
3) "n" shaped bead of silicone caulk around the top of the junction box ( I also put the same around the inlet hole ) where the box mates with the wall and the camera mates with the junction box.
4) make certain the junction box can drain water out.
5) place the connect at the top of the junction box

oh and I also use #2 on the extra power connection of the camera.
Superb information! I just completely silicone sealed one of mine so will need to make a little hole in the bottom for any moisture to get out!
 

Arjun

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Yep, and surprisingly, its super easy to drill into these junction boxes, effortlessly

I usually drill a very (1/16") small weep hole towards the bottom of the box to allow any condensation that builds up to drain.
 

Optimus Prime

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@Q™ Thank you for the information. I tried searching Home Depot for this, but could not find a product searching for Coax Seal. Is there another name I can search? Or do I need to just order it from Amazon
 

ctgoldwing

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@Q™ Nevermind...I found it from @mat200 reply. Thank you all.
I also use coaxseal - for many years now but I recently found a product for when you need to tape an exposed wire joint. It's 'liquid electrical tape' - amazon has a ton of mfgrs and sizes. I use it to seal the ends of an exposed tape job and also where a wire enters a waterproof connector.
 

Arjun

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Speaking of seals, don't put too much faith in the included seals that come embedded in these junction boxes. Always put a thin coating of clear silicone caulk where the junction box meets the base of the camera to prevent potential water ingress.
 

ctgoldwing

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It looks similar - with coax seal when you wrap it around itself and manipulate it it becomes a single mass - not like layers
 
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