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Home network switch location.
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 4:48 am
by bigkidoz
So i have decided to use an 8 port switch instead of having multiple cables/ sockets near my pc, the most central location i want to use and for ease of cabling is under the house just behind a wall.
It is dry and will either be mounted directly to a stud or possibly on a small shelf if i get fancy with it, anyone see any problems with this location ?
Main reason is i can access all rooms from under the house with a min crawl space of .5m and max of 2m where the switch will be located and there is already cat cable there that i just need to cut and crimp a couple of plugs onto.
Re: Home network switch location.
Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 6:08 am
by Xphazer
A picture of the location would help a lot.

You guys don't really have sub-zero temperature very often, so as long as its dry I don't see any problem at all.
Just a guess, not experience speaking here.. But personally if its outdoor I would use a roughed metal housing switch, put some dielectric grease on all contacts and see how it goes.
If there is problems to come, they certainly wont come before a few years .
Also, I'm not exactly sure if you worry about Cat 5/6 length but just in case, that is nothing to worry about. The Cat 5 standard is 100 meters.
Re: Home network switch location.
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 12:06 am
by bigkidoz
Not outdoors but centrally located just behind a room, max cable length will be 5m for the house and about 15m for my shed. Low temps are not really an issue here if anything it would be high temps but this location generally stays pretty cool. I could fab up a box if i thought it would need it.
Re: Home network switch location.
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:51 am
by professor_jonny
If you put it in a IP 66 rated plastic enclosure it will go for ages but you must be aware of condensation build up from heat changes causing air expansion it may eventually fill up with water over time.
I did basically the same under my house for my telephone connections I just put in a stahl breather in the box and made the cables enter with a cable gland
http://www.rstahl.com/fileadmin/Dateien ... atalog.pdf
It stops moisture build up by allowing it to breathe and drain it is also explosion proof for those mad experiments I have to conduct under the house

I did try to first try to make a 3mt long snap together drill bit to drill from the roof to the floor but it failed and broke off in the wall knew i shuld of not used brass screws to join it together.
Re: Home network switch location.
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:00 am
by bigkidoz
I dont think i'll be going to that much trouble but a simple housing is probably a good idea.