Sounds like another case of fine craftsmanship. Actually, you may be OK here.

There is CAT5e direct burial cable available, but you will probably have to purchase a full roll of it. I get ours on e-bay, just search for "direct burial" and it's all over the place. I have picked up a few rolls for a little over $100.00 each. It's worth keeping one on-hand, although we haven't had to use any yet. We usually go with fiber between buildings and use media converters to minimize the lightning exposure risk.

There's no doubt that the PVC cable has water in it. Even if it's not actually punctured, there's still the above and below ground temperature difference that can create a collection of condensation within the cable. You are going to have to replace it. As for the run along the gutter line, at least if you use direct-burial CAT5e, it will be more tolerant of the environment.

Lastly, several protector manufacturers make CAT5e protectors (we use Panamax). They are a simple 8-conductor in/out connection. You will have to figure out the shielding part depending upon the cable you buy. Ours has a drain wire that can be pulled out of the cable entry part of the plug so it can be bonded to the protector's grounding terminal.

As for the 12 pair, there's not much of a "professional" way to terminate it. Telcos and people who do outside plant correctly use 5 or 25 pair and there are lots of quality protected entrance terminals for those sizes. 12 pair was not really ever recoginzed for feeding buildings, thus not a lot of 12 pair terminals were made. It was more of a distribution cable size, if anything.

I hate to recommend this, but about all you are going to find that's readily-available is a pair of "punch-down" protectors. I detest these things because they really aren't the same as a real protector. Still, anything is better than nothing. Just remember to use sheath bond clamps on the cable and bond it to the protector's ground terminal. Of course, bond the protector itself to the building ground in as short of a run as possible, using #6 copper if you have it.
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Ed
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How come there's always enough time to go back and fix it a second time?

[This message has been edited by ev607797 (edited September 16, 2005).]

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX