Upgrade Device

We recently added a cool product that's easy to install and very cost effective for fixing underground telephone cable.


The two piece design makes for a fast and easy installation. After prepping service wires, simply lay them within the grooves in the cap, lay the exposed cable shield within the bond connector and tighten. Splice the pairs and easily organized them around the ram then screw on vial.

Let's get a better look at this product from our YouTube Channel .



* Includes only two components, a filled vial, cap and a integral ram and bond connector
* Octagon shaped vial for ease of application and maximum capacity
* Pre-filled with POLY-BEE sealant
* Improved integral bonding connector

Now that you have a better understanding about this product I think your ready to repair your cable.

Let's look at our "How To" video on this product, again from our YouTube Channel .




The only thing that's not includes is a splice connector. We used the UY connector, this splice connector enables the connecting wires without the need of isolation stripping. Each one will accept 2 wires from a 22 to 26 awg cable.


Keep in mind that this item manufactured by Preformed Line Products, part number 8006037 will accommodate up to 6 pairs. Another model, part number 8006039 is designed for up to 12 pairs.

Questions? Don't hesitate you leave them below.

Thanks!

"By Mercy Salinas"

For most camera wiring installations the pathway of your signal cable is indoors and a small part of that cable run may be exposed outdoors. That's why most cctv camera cables have a general purpose with a sunlight resistant rating to them. But what if you need to extend that cable to a pole far away and you need to bury the cable run?

You'll need a direct burial cable. Let's check out one of our most popular cables for this type of application.



It's important to install a quality cable for a few reasons.

The jacket construction will last for a very long time, the lifetime of a quality cable should last the lifetime of a few security cameras at the location.

Quality copper and a true copper center conductor will allow for a signal to travel a long distance. Since your looking for a direct burial cable your probably doing long cable runs. Low end cables are passing off copper clad aluminum as a bare copper conductor, it's very hard to see but you might find out the hard way. And you wonder why it was so cheap, next thing you know you have a poor signal and the camera image won't come up.

Just a quick tip, if your installing IR cameras at a long distance you probably should install a 24V camera and power supply. You don't want those IR's to turn on in the evening and lose your image signal.

"By Mercy Salinas"  

In one of our previous blog post we talked about the burial depth of your copper and fiber cable, how copper cable should be at a minimum of 24 inches and how fiber should be at a minimum of 1 meter. Let's dig more into the attached term "Minimum" and how the frost line in your area will change that.

The frost line is the depth to which water in the soil will freeze in the winter. You should know this before you lay your cable down, water expands as it freezes and will cause damage to your communications investment.

The frost line will vary depending on your location and can range from 3 to 6 feet. An easy way to determine your line is by examining a frost line map.



National frost depth maps are only a reference, you should check with your local building inspector for a more accurate measurement for your area.



I hope this has shed some more light into the "Minimum" term of your burial cable depth. Measure twice cut once!

Any other questions? Comments? Leave them below.

"By Mercy Salinas"

I recently did a video on a Essex cable with a copper shield and not to long ago I did what I though was the same cable but with a aluminum shield, let's take the red pill and dig into these cables.


The cables compared are part of the Superior Essex BBDe series of OSP (Outside Plant) cables. More specifically the part number for the aluminum is 04-601-54 and the copper is 04-601-55.

Both of these cables are designed to provide extension of the LAN beyond the premise, core is filled with a PFM gel to prevent water ingress and won't drip down in vertical cable run installations. Applications for both these cables are the same, 10BASE-T through 1000BASE-T, ATM and token ring, WiMAX cell towers.

Let's go over what the features are for both cables.

* Cat5e transmission performance to 350mhz
* Shield provides EMI/RFI prtection
* UV sunlight resistant black jacket
* Dry water block between shield and core

Let's visually look at these cables from our YouTube channel.




So these cables are the same except the shield, what shield is the correct shield for your installation? Let's compare.

Part number 04-601-54 the aluminum shield has a electrically continuous polymer coated smooth aluminum tape, applied with an overlap. Essex specifies this cable to be installed in lashed aerial, underground conduit and "low risk" direct burial installation.

Part number 04-604-55 the copper shield has a electrically continuous corrugated copper clad armor, applied with an overlap shield and flooded with a flooded compound. Where to install this cable is the same but essex specifies this cable as "rodent proof".

Certain areas are more exposed to those cute rodents so if that's a big concern for you go with the copper shield. Actually after comparing pricing per foot there's not much of a price difference, might as well install the copper shield.

"By Mercy Salinas"

No doubt that trenching for direct burial cable is hard work but before you get to that you might what to know what method is best for you. Let's get into the 3 methods used for trenching.

First we have your hand dig method and this is used when there is not enough room for machinery or when extra precautions and care must be used to avoid an obstacle.

Here's an example of the hand dig method in action from YouTube.



Your second method is using a backhoe. A trencher might not be accessible in certain areas of your property. Now let's check out a backhoe in action.



When your cable route is open and free from obstacles a trencher is the preferred method for trenching. Smaller trenchers and walk behind types are typically used for small diameter cable installations and short cable runs, larger trenchers are of course for larger cable installations.




Depending on the method you decide to use, trench width can range from 3 inches to 24 inches and up to 7.5 feet deep. Don't forget to check out your Frost Depth Line.

Small cables may be installed using a less cumbersome machine that can be controlled by an individual walking behind it and readily avoiding obstructions. While some machines have limited use for long runs or large sizes of cables, it may be effective in placing smaller lateral cables or service wires. Many different machines are available, and your OSP installation should be focused on determining the best route and not the machinery for cable placement.

"By Mercy Salinas"

One of the most common questions we get is "How deep am I going to bury this wire" when it comes to our outside plant copper PE89 cable and outside plant fiber optic cable. Let's find out.

Most OSP cable runs are never as easy as digging a trench, lay cable, done. Your burial depth will be affected by a number of things, for example:

- Crossing under railroad tacks, under roads and highways

- Lakes, ponds and rivers

- Natural obstacles like rocks and trees

- Outside industrial locations with possible soil contamination

- The Frost Depth Line for your location

Now that your thinking about your entire run a bit more, your copper cable should be placed at a minimum depth of 24 inches (610 mm). However, don't only think about what obstacles are in the way of the trencher but find out what future plans the property may have. For example, maybe an area of your run has future excavation on it's mind. Road grading alone takes 24 inches of the top, so you should bury your cable at least 48 inches. You should also double check the requirements of your local code.

If your installing an OSP fiber optic cable, they should be buried at a minimum depth of 3.28 feet (1 Meter) but once again, think about the future!



Site conditions will also be important when selecting your bore depth. Pipelines, sidewalks and roads are just a few examples of what will influence that decision. In these cases the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) and owner set the minimum bore depth.

You also want to install an armored fiber optic cable for direct burial installations. An "Outdoor Rated Cable" is not enough to be warrantied. You must have an armor for direct burial applications.



Enclosures should provide sufficient space for splicing and proper storage. Enclosure can be in-ground or above ground type. Marker post are recommended to be placed at these locations. Don't forget, to prevent rodent and insect damage it's recommended that all in-ground enclosures with an open bottom have at least 6 inches of tamped gravel that covers the bottom of the enclosure. Pedestals should have gravel under it for at least 6 inches as well.

Oh, don't you feel better. Now install that cable!

"By Mercy Salinas"

If you're really digging deep to figure out what cable will best suit your facility you might have noticed that two cables are very similar, the PE89 and the PE39. In the video below Mercy Salinas with Discount-Low-Voltage.com talks about what that difference is.


So the difference between these two cables, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 1753F-205 PE-39 compared to 1753F-208 PE-89 is the method used to insulation the copper conductors. With the similarities so close to one another these cables before installation seemed to get installed based on the preference of the installation contractor.

Feel free to comment below.

Thanks!

"By Mercy Salinas"