Point to Junction Boxes for Soffit Mount?

M

mercfh

Getting the hang of it
Nov 5, 2018
51
26
United States
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?
 
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.
 
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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);
 
mercfh said:
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);
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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.
 
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.
 
XrayDoc88 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
handinpalm said:
Do not ever use a petroleum based product like vaseline on the plastic connectors.
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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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