Looking for advice on whether the hassle, appearance and cost of running conduit on the outside of a residential install is worth it? I recently purchased a 16ch PoE system and I'm about to install 14 PoE cameras using Cat 6. I've been debating whether it's worth running all the Cat 6 for all 14 cameras through PVC conduit. I already purchased a 1000ft run of non UV rated, interior rated Cat 6. I understand that in my climate the rain, heat and sunlight will shorten the lifespan of the cable. But I'm curious if the time, trouble and cost of running conduit is worth it versus replacing the run when necessary. The run from my attic to the wall that I'll drop to the NVR isn't very difficult or long so replacing the run (if it's not in conduit) doesn't seem like it will be too crazy time consuming, a weekend afternoon project. That's if the cable will last say a year or more? If it only lasts 6 weeks that's an issue.
If I were to go with conduit, I've measured and I'd be running almost 500' of conduit, and some runs would have many 90º turns to get around obstacles and overhangs and several junction boxes combining runs. One fear is the conduit run will become so complicated that I won't be able to easily pull the cable through once I have the conduit laid out and I'll be making what could be a simple job much more complicated and cumbersome than is required. I understand the risk as well that a potential intruder could just damage the cables, but with the amount of POE Cameras, overlapping fields of view and the fact that I'm not expecting James Bond or Ethan Hunt to break into my house that's not my biggest concern.
I'm not a professional and I have a feeling that my end project will become an eye sore with lots of 1" gray conduit, junction boxes and 90's all over the side of my house when I could easily conceal and tuck away the Cat 6 as best I can. Also since it's for a PoE and not a dedicated network cable I figure this system is only going to have a lifespan of a few years anyway. And I'm not burying it.
We do see temps in excess of 100ºF, anything below 60ºF is an extreme but we do have greater than 60% humidity regularly and a high UV index.
Any thoughts? Any experience? Should I return the Cat 6 I have and go with UV Rated? If so recommendations on brand and sourcing, Amazon didn't offer much in ways of reviews on the Direct Burial Cat 6 they had available.
I'm looking to keep costs to minimum and do the install myself, and I can't get inside the walls from the locations I need or into the soffit until the very end of the run when I enter the attic. About 20 years ago I had a B&W CCTV PoE camera setup with two POE Cameras, drilled a whole in the window frame, ran the cable outside along the roof, lasted for years and never had any problems.
If I were to go with conduit, I've measured and I'd be running almost 500' of conduit, and some runs would have many 90º turns to get around obstacles and overhangs and several junction boxes combining runs. One fear is the conduit run will become so complicated that I won't be able to easily pull the cable through once I have the conduit laid out and I'll be making what could be a simple job much more complicated and cumbersome than is required. I understand the risk as well that a potential intruder could just damage the cables, but with the amount of POE Cameras, overlapping fields of view and the fact that I'm not expecting James Bond or Ethan Hunt to break into my house that's not my biggest concern.
I'm not a professional and I have a feeling that my end project will become an eye sore with lots of 1" gray conduit, junction boxes and 90's all over the side of my house when I could easily conceal and tuck away the Cat 6 as best I can. Also since it's for a PoE and not a dedicated network cable I figure this system is only going to have a lifespan of a few years anyway. And I'm not burying it.
We do see temps in excess of 100ºF, anything below 60ºF is an extreme but we do have greater than 60% humidity regularly and a high UV index.
Any thoughts? Any experience? Should I return the Cat 6 I have and go with UV Rated? If so recommendations on brand and sourcing, Amazon didn't offer much in ways of reviews on the Direct Burial Cat 6 they had available.
I'm looking to keep costs to minimum and do the install myself, and I can't get inside the walls from the locations I need or into the soffit until the very end of the run when I enter the attic. About 20 years ago I had a B&W CCTV PoE camera setup with two POE Cameras, drilled a whole in the window frame, ran the cable outside along the roof, lasted for years and never had any problems.
