Burying an ethernet cable across the yard, how do I do it?

[Owen Lucas]

I need to bury about 200' of ethernet cable to connect multiple PoE cameras.

A YouTube search shows a guy running a chainsaw across the ground on a skid. I'm fine sacrificing a $120 chainsaw for this but throwing a chain isn't something I want to risk.

Another search recommended using a circular saw of all things cutting a seam across the yard and tuck the wire in.

If I get the wire under 3-4 inches under the grass, I think I should be fine..

Despite the disturbing scene of someone running a chain or circular saw across their lawn, what do you think?

 

[FT92]

i saw a guy using a Sawzall once, seemed to work out ok

 

[pantygnome]

Are you going to put it in conduit?

They make trenching "shovels" which is basically just like an ice breaker blade with a sharp tip. If the ground is soft enough you could probably get away with just driving that blade into the ground to make a "slice" then fit the cable into it.

If you want to use conduit the "slice" might not be wide enough.

 

[Pablo]

I love the chainsaw idea. Video the sequence

Waiting

 

[supton]

Wait for the ground to be wet-ish?

I've done this twice and just got down on all fours with a trowel. Cut in, go 6 or so inches, tuck the wire down, tap it down, move on.

Not saying it's fast but it didn't take long. But probably easier if the ground is a bit wet.

Edit: I'm thinking of my yard, which has a thin topsoil layer over whatever sand/rock/etc is New England. YMMV.

 

[Klutch9]

Whatever you end up doing, I'd use direct burial wire. Has a much stronger jacketing that's meant to be buried without conduit.

 

[k1xv]

As an amateur radio operator, I run coaxial cables across long distances. The cables have non contaminating jackets, and are made for outdoor use.
I just run them across the grass, without burying them. I then let the grass grow for a while. The cables wind up under the grass thicket without being buried. You can them mow over them without any damage to the cable or the mower.

 

[Cujet]

The Comcast, AT+T fiber and AT+T DSL guys all did the same thing at my FL house. They used a shovel to open up a shallow slot, pushed the cable down with a broom stick and stepped on the top to close it up. Not deep, but really fast. It's been 100% trouble free.

 

[JavierH19]

No way I'd be doing that by hand and I don't don't see how a chain or circular saw could work that well in all honesty. Think you could find a small middle buster or hitch mounted ripper attachment for a riding mower/atv/golf cart if you have one? maybe something like this.

If I was in this situation I can see myself being lazy and finding a cable that's best suited for the outdoors and leave it on the grass and use some long landscaping staples to secure it and let grass go over it with time.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sma...CDQ2NThqMGo5qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Google search link

 

[eljefino]

Yeah I've done this with a tamper/ shovel. Stab down, flex the handle so the sod moves sideways, stuff the cable in by hand. If it's under the sod it's relatively protected. I used "ordinary" cat 5 probably 15 years ago to run out to my garage and it's still doing fine.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I used one of these years ago to put my low voltage lighting wiring in the ground. You push with your foot, so it makes the job much easier.

Make sure you get a cable that is rated for being in the ground.

 

[tbm5690]

I personally would go at least 6" down. You wouldn't want issues down the road with using lawn equipment like a core aerator, for example.

 

[Cropduster172]

A weed whacker with a brush blade.

Or just the brush blade if you already have a weed whacker.

https://a.co/d/eHP0z4W

 

[JavierH19]

This says it's outdoor rated but who knows for sure but I think I'd run outdoor rated cable and use landscaping pins/staples to keep it secured. I wouldn't want to do more work than that if I had to do this.

https://www.amazon.com/XANHAM-Ether...ocphy=9027746&hvtargid=pla-2281435177338&th=1

 

[wwillson]

Don't run unshielded and ungrounded ethernet cable outside. The first time you get a lightning storm the static electricity will fry your ethernet switches. Ask me how I know.

Your best bet is fiber and the SFPs and prebuilt optical fiber cables are inexpensive. Fiber optic cable doesn't conduct electricity.

If you must used copper, make sure you get shielded cable and properly ground it.

 

[rijndael]

Don't run unshielded and ungrounded ethernet cable outside. The first time you get a lightning storm the static electricity will fry your ethernet switches.

I always choose fiber optics when running networked equipment outside.

I managed a number of line of sight laser systems, FSO heads, and always optied for a fiber connection to the inside for lightening protection.

 

[wag123]

Use a gas powered edger (NOT a weed eater type). Home Depot and United Rentals (etc) rent them out. Purchase an extra blade.
Use F/UTP (shielded) Cat6a cable because is has larger conductors for POE, but 200' might still be too long for POE unless the cameras have a low current draw. Sink a ground rod where the cable enters the house and connect that end of the cable shield to it, and you should also purchase an outdoor Ethernet surge protector and connect it to the ground rod.

https://www.amazon.com/Tupavco-TP303-Ethernet-Protector-Outdoor/dp/B008060BU0
https://www.amazon.com/JAVEX-Shielded-Copper-650MHz-Ethernet/dp/B0C8SR52RD

 

[doitmyself]

He hasn't shared what kind of conditions the ground is, soft turf or compacted ground. And I concur with wwilson about addressing grounding issues.

$60/4 hours to rent at Home Depot:

 

[JavierH19]

A rental is a good idea to do it right. I imagined it cost more.

Didn't know about the lightning strike and it frying stuff. Just need a truck to take it to and from.

 

[rijndael]

Didn't know about the lightning strike and it frying stuff.

It's common not just with Cat5/6 outdoor installs but with Cable TV Coax/RG wiring too. My dad had a strike near his buried cable and it fried all of the cable boxes and a number of TVs in the house.