How to run cat 5e outdoor rated cable along a fence?

looney2ns

looney2ns

IPCT Contributor
Sep 25, 2016
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Evansville, In. USA
Helping my BIL install cams at his home, there will be 5 cams on the "front" of the fence around the back yard.
I would like suggestions on how to run/protect the cables. They can run along the bottom of a stringer on the back side of the fence, which is not public facing.
Of course there is always PVC conduit, but wanted other suggestions.
Thx
 
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looney2ns said:
Helping my BIL install cams at his home, there will be 5 cams on the "front" of the fence around the back yard.
I would like suggestions on how to run/protect the cables. They can run along the bottom of a stringer on the back side of the fence, which is not public facing.
Of course there is always PVC conduit, but wanted other suggestions.
Thx
Click to expand...
I think this is really a case of "what you see is what you get", don't think you have many options other than some type of conduit, or some type of staple. One thing I'd say is be careful about any cables that are low to the ground, or come out of the ground - weedwhackers will do a job on them. Even if the person doing the mowing and trimming knows the cables are there and thinks "They'll be careful.." I would either mount the cables up a little, or protect with conduit, even where they might come out of the ground if it is near anything that gets trimmed.
 
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I just minimally buried the heavy double-jacketed direct burial cable right along the bottom of the fence. But mine is all within a big buffer of landscaping all along it and I have other lighting cable running the same line too so I'm aware that it's there and none of that run is subject to trimming/edging/digging/chewing/etc. Everywhere else outside that's more open and exposed I ran in buried PVC conduit.
 
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So if you want to have it in a conduit and the posts are less than 10’ apart I’d just run PVC and then set boxes where a vertical piece will go to hit a camera. The reason why I say 10’ is most likely it will start to sag over time from the cycling of heat and look like crap.. If that matters to you. To avoid getting water in the vertical runs they sell fittings that can turn horizontal in a short space.
For strapping/supporting on the wood I'd use something like this. Oatey 3/4 in. Galvanized 2-Hole Pipe Hanger Strap (10-Pack) 33543 - The Home Depot For boxes I'd use something like this where you can straight shot horizontal and go vertical when needed. Commercial Electric 4 in. Round Non-Metallic Weatherproof Box with (5) 1/2 in. Holes, Gray WRB550PG - The Home Depot They sell covers with gaskets for this box.


If you decide to go direct burial and put it underground keep in mind it might not be rated for UV so when exposed you might want to still covert to a conduit.
 
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looney2ns said:
Helping my BIL install cams at his home, there will be 5 cams on the "front" of the fence around the back yard.
I would like suggestions on how to run/protect the cables. They can run along the bottom of a stringer on the back side of the fence, which is not public facing.
Of course there is always PVC conduit, but wanted other suggestions.
Thx
Click to expand...
I would go with PVC if you have critters, In my case I really liked doing that run twice in 3 years.
c hris527

Post in thread 'Burying ethernet cable outdoors'

I do NOT care what type of direct burial you get or buy, The critters will chew it to shreds, here is a cable I pulled out after a year and a half, BTW the system quit working. :smash:
If you like doing things twice, like me then go for it.



Cable.jpgCable2.jpgCable3.jpg
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Quarter inch split-loom tubing is a pretty good fit.
 
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I have used irrigation/sprinkler pipe before. Rented a trencher and buried it 4-6" underground.
www.homedepot.com

Advanced Drainage Systems 1-1/4 in. x 100 ft. IPS 100 PSI NSF Poly Pipe X2-125100100 - The Home Depot

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) 1-1/4 in. x 100 ft. IPS 100 psi NSF Poly Pipe is a leader in today's water service and irrigation markets. Its flexibility and durability distinguish it from the competition and make it ideal for a variety of applications. This potable water service pipe is...
www.homedepot.com
 
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I don't know if rodents don't like UISP-Cable-Carrier (ubiquiti's most heavily armored cat5e cable) or if I've just been lucky, but I've done several runs over the years just laying it along the ground. I spooled back up a roughly 100 ft length of it when I moved out of my first home, and it was basically good as new despite being out on the surface for about 2 years.
 
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I ran direct burial-rated cat6 and landscape power cable under a flower bed and through a fence that had boards on each side, so the wire was only exposed where it came out of the ground. I covered that part in conduit, drilled a hole through the stringer, then laid the cables on top of the stringers inside the fence and fixed it in place with insulated staples.

When I came to the 4x4 posts, I drilled 1/2” or 3/4” holes through, and continued the cable run.
 
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