kbowman Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Is a regular blue cat5 weatherproof ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 (edited) not really.. but.. some that are made decent will hold up for the short time of our displays... just don't run them thru standing water spots. I have been using off the shelf green Cat5 cables for several years now but take them down around Jan1 so they are only up about 2 months and never in any high UV times. I haven't dealt with snow here but I assume they would hold up when frozen under the snow. Edited July 19, 2014 by plasmadrive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubado Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 If you try bending the cable in freezing weather, the outer jacket may break! Run your cat cable when the weather is decent and try not to move it if it's freezing cold out where you are. It also helps if you post what State you're in, in your profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 I've had a variety of CAT5 cables running though the yard. A few seem to go bad every few years, but it could be for a variety of reasons. I've not had one go out in the middle of the display season, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john fulkerson Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 (edited) its not the cat 5 i worry about its the couplers that are not waterproof at all so i cut all the ends off and used the holiday coro waterproof connectors works great Edited July 20, 2014 by john fulkerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbowman Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taybrynn Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Or stick the connection in a bag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjflory Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 The cable itself is jacketed so unless its compromised, it should be water-tight. Waterproof RJ45 connectors are available but they're kinda expensive, (12 bucks each) and you have to wire/ assemble them. I use A LOT of cat 5 for RGB LED stuff. I always run full cables (no junctions or splices) so the ends are always off the ground. I make my weather exposed 12v DC control boxes and RGB Floods so the female cable connector is on the bottom. I spray all contacts with a non-corrosive electronics spray when I put it all together (and before storage). I have never had a failure or corrosion. (knock on wood) Enjoy! tj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbowman Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 Thanks for all the help my plan should work great you guys rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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