Can a Cat5 cable be used outdoors? Are there variants of the Cat5 cable that can be buried in the ground?
The PVC jacket covering of the Cat5 cable is of similar strength and durability to several voice lines that are normally exposed to the outdoor environment. Regarding outdoor use of the Cat5 cable, take into consideration the external weather conditions the cable will be exposed to. Constant exposure to sunlight will speed up the weakening and degrading of the cable so make sure the cable’s outdoor location still provides some sort of protection from harmful weather and other elements. Therefore, for short-term projects, the standard Cat5 cable will do just fine in the outdoors.
Similar principles apply when you plan to bury Cat5 cable. The same PVC protective jacket isn’t really built to withstand being buried in the ground but you can find Cat5 cables that are built for the job. Cat5 cables suited for burying will cost more than the typical Cat5 cable. You can still bury the standard Cat5 cable but there needs to be an added layer of water-tight protection to protect the cable from direct exposure to the environment.
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