Cat5e question outside running

My plan is to have a mail box camera to capture license plate numbers as they drive by. That's its only job.

My question is can I run regular shielded cat5e thru conduit to my mailbox or will code require me to run the burial cat 5?

 

I am going to assume that you meant the electrical codes rather than any legal restrictions concerning the capture of license plate numbers.

Whether or not the use of "indoor" communications cable (for lack of a better term) is prohibited you should be concerned as to what might happen to either the cable or the data traveling via the cable from the less-than-ideal conditions. If this is going to be a temporary installation, just a few months or so, I wouldn't be too concerned. If the data is important and I want the camera for the long haul then I would use the outdoor/underground rated cable.

Just a warning, you might want to run this idea by your lawyer. Recording vehicles driving past your mailbox is probably not going to be any problem but recording license numbers and making a data base of them, especially if it goes beyond just a list of vehicle plate numbers (looking up the numbers to find ownership of the vehicles) might get you into some legal hot water.

 

As Furd has pointed out, every state (and some local governments) have differing rules on this type of recording, so I'd get my ducks in a row before committing to the project (private driveway vs. public road are very different rules).

That said, if it's more than temporary, spend the money on the direct burial rated cable. Underground conduit is a "wet" location, by definition, and regular cable will degrade surprisingly fast.

 

Setting aside the legal questions.....you don't say how far the run to your mailbox would be or what protocol you will be running. Keep in mind the length limitations of Ethernet.

And a wireless camera with rechargeable battery pack might be a whole lot easier to install.

 

Just in case you get to the point of installation.... you'll want to use gel filled cat5 cable.
It's also called UTP flooded core cable.

It's a little pricey and I'm not sure if it comes in smaller than 1000' rolls.

 

It comes in 500' rolls, it's still relatively pricy, per foot...

Heck, for what the original poster is after, an automatic "game" camera might do the trick....

 

Thanks all for the replys. As far as the legality of it I do not plan on recording audio or keeping inventory of plate numbers. If something happen around the residence or neighbors. Since its on a public roadway no sense of privacy is expected. Its a different story if I was recording my neighbor house across the street.

The mailbox is about 150 ft from the recorder. I had plan on using premade patch cables and put them in conduit and bury them. But looks like ill go with the burial stuff.