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pantaz
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Van Nuys, CA
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Ethernet Cable for Buried Conduit

02/26/2021 6:44 PM

What specification of Ethernet cable do I need to run through 130 feet of underground PVC conduit? (The conduit has not yet been installed.) It's for a keypad with intercom/video, between the driveway gate and the house. This is in Los Angeles, California, if that makes any difference.
Is there a NEC or other specification for this type of wiring?
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SolarEagle
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Location: by the beach in Florida
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#1

Re: Ethernet cable for buried conduit

02/26/2021 7:28 PM

https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/128369/code-for-buried-comms-cable

https://www.lifewire.com/running-ethernet-cables-outdoors-816267

https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Waterproof-Ethernet-Direct-Shielded/dp/B001B6C5H8

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Randall
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#2

Re: Ethernet cable for buried conduit

02/28/2021 7:09 AM

Be aware that you also need to know what speed of cable (Cat 5, 5e, 6 etc.) you need.

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BruceFlorida
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Join Date: Jul 2008
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#3

Re: Ethernet Cable for Buried Conduit

03/01/2021 12:55 PM

Others have responded to the codes. I don't know about them.

If you are confident that the conduit will stay dry then whatever the code allows (and proper Cat5, Cat6, etc.) should be good. If there is risk of the conduit getting wet then you might consider gel filled cable. The "empty space" in a gel filled cable is filled with a gel to prevent water from creeping through the cable. You would need a conduit fault and some cable jacket damage for the water intrusion but both are more common than they seem like they should be.

Be sure to install sweeps and not elbows in the conduit. Make it as easy to pull cable as possible.

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dollycamono
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Join Date: Sep 2025
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#4

Re: Ethernet Cable for Buried Conduit

09/16/2025 6:40 AM

For my driveway gate keypad with intercom and video, running Ethernet Cables through 130 feet of underground PVC conduit, I decided to use outdoor-rated Cat6 cable since it handles that distance without signal loss and is suitable for video. In Los Angeles, the NEC requires cables in conduit to be rated for wet locations, so choosing direct-burial or conduit-rated cable ensures safety and code compliance.
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JWthetech
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Ethernet Cable for Buried Conduit

09/22/2025 9:21 AM

Direct Burial cable may not be conduit approved. Direct burial seldom experiences flooding and therefore is not required to be water proof. Any guesses as to how I know this?
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