Cat-5, Cat-5e, and Cat-6 cables come in a variety of jackets that are used under different environmental conditions.
Standard Ethernet cable is used for indoor runs between and along walls. A more durable outdoor variety of cable is also available and is more resistant to weather elements such as rain and ultraviolet light. It’s only intended for short outside runs, such as the connection between a service box on the wall of a building and the location where the cable enters the building.
A third option is plenum cable, which is rated for use in the plenum areas of buildings. A plenum (pronounced PLEN-uhm) is the area between a structural ceiling and a drop ceiling or between a structural floor and a false floor, and is an area that frequently houses cables and air ducts.
Plenum cable has a low-smoke jacket so, in the event of a fire, it produces a minimal amount of smoke. Non-plenum cables should not be used in plenum areas because, when exposed to fire, they produce a large amount of toxic smoke that could get sucked into the ventilation system and be pumped throughout all areas of the building, including areas nowhere near the fire.
If you’re concerned about the durability of those phone-like connectors and wonder whether they’ll last long enough to get your data to its destination, rest easy knowing that several manufacturers now produce industrial versions of Ethernet connectors and cables.
These heavy-duty connectors often feature a locking mechanism to prevent unintentional de-mates and may include a dust cover as well. Cables made to withstand such hazards as water, harsh chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, mechanical abuse, and noise are also available.
TOUGH CUSTOMERS
Some companies that offer rugged connectors designed for various hazards include Amphenol, Graybar and Molex.
Figure 2 shows an Amphenol Socapex RJF-554 series cable-mount plug along with a corresponding panel-mount female. Neutrik also offers a durable series of connectors called EtherCon that are similar to their XLR connectors.
Figure 3 shows a Neutrik NE8 connector with a panel-mount female connector.
As of right now, there seems to be no standard for heavy-duty connectors, and products from the various manufacturers will not always inter-mate (though you can often remove the RJ45 insert from the environmental shell).
Super-durable Ethernet cables are available for applications in weather-sensitive and high-traffic areas, there are also super-durable cables on the market.
Amphenol, for example, produces a rugged cable with a polyurethane jacket, a coax-style copper braid shield, and a Kevlar strength member rated at 600 pounds. It’s available under the trade name “ProPlex” from TMB Production and Supplies, which also distributes several brands of resilient connectors.
As with many types of cables, you can sometimes save money by purchasing the cable and connectors and assembling them yourself.
Chris Bushick is an electrical engineer and sound engineer based in Texas.