I need to install some 25 pair through an outdoor conduit. The conduit is pretty well installed and protected, so the only thing I really need to worry about is moisture. The issue is it is a small 2" conduit, and it is routed in a way that is going to make pulling a direct buried rated cable very difficult. Most of you have probably ran across the outdoor rated Cat5. I was trying to locate something similar in a 25 pair.

Do you need Cat 3 or Cat 5/6 cable?

If there is a moisture issue then I suggest Gel-filled (icky-pic) cable.


Sam

Oh, where is Ed??? Most wholesale OSP dealers can tell you the diameter of their cable, get the correct gel filled cable, and use a lot of pulling combound.

If it is just moisture you are worried about, there is a thin sheath, rolled foil ground, powder-filled cable not much thicker than ISP cable.

Yep, PE-89 is going to be the smallest diameter in OSP filled cable you can get, but it is "CAT Zero". PE-22 is the air core version which is much easier to work with and will have a similar diameter. For 24 gauge, you are looking at an overall outside diameter of just a little more than a half-inch which should be OK in a 2" conduit. If the conduit is truly in good shape, you really don't need to use filled cable so the PE-22 should be just fine.

part of the conduit is underground, so it really isn't "if" water will get to it, but rather when?

The cable is just going to be used to connect some phone lines and possibly a few digital extensions. Suggestions on where I can get PE-89 at a good price?

Z-man,
I have CAT3 gel-filled that I need to get rid of. PM me if any interest.
Bill

Zane, PE-22 will remain water-tight as long as the jacket doesn't get damaged, so under normal conditions it will be fine in an underground conduit even when water does enter it. If you want to be sure, then PE-89 is your best bet. Almost any supplier carries it, but I get mine through Teledata Express, CSC or Clifford. I know for a fact that Graybar stocks it as well.