ethernet/coax cable plow

treich · Apr 6, 2014

Hi Guys
I am new here and I am just wondering if anybody had any helpful information on how to make an ethernet/coax cable plow for like riding lawn mowers? I would like to bury the ethernet/coax at lease 3-5inches in the ground and I dont know what would be the correct way on doing this the cable is only 1/4in cable. I seen some pictures on here but I really dont want to rip up peoples yard when I do this.

Daver1963 · Apr 6, 2014

Anything you build plow like and pull is going to rip up a yard. I just had a thought though, if you could find a way to use a coulter off of a breaking plow and hitch a gauge wheel to it to control the depth. Then it would slice the dirt rather than plow or rip it.

Another idea - the fellow across the road installed one of those wireless dog fences and used a concrete cutter to cut the trench in the grass to bury the wire.

On a different note, you are aware of the problems direct burying Ethernet and coax cable in climates where cycles of freezing and thawing occurs, aren't you? Contraction and expansion of the ground can cause the cable to break. If possible it is much better to direct bury the appropriate size sched 40 pvc to help alleviate that problem. Plus if you ever have to go back and add a cable you don't have to dig again.

Coyote machine · Apr 6, 2014

Welcome to TBN. You need to go at least 18" deep to bury Cat 5/coax minimum. Best case is bury conduit and pull wires through it to point A & B.

weedpharma · Apr 6, 2014

Be aware that not all cat5 etc cable is waterproof. If it is direct buried, it should be rated for this. Ordinary cable will probably last at least a few years but may corrode in time. Even if in conduit, water condenses and may cause problems over time. The ideal cable would cost a lot. Just be aware of potential problems. Weedpharma

greg_g · Apr 6, 2014

What distance do you want to span? I ask, because I have a detached garage, and can connect to the wireless router in the house (>100' away). And that's without a signal booster.

//greg//

s219 · Apr 6, 2014

I'd be surprised if a riding mower could drag anything capable of slicing a trench. My riding mower, with turf tires, loses traction if I have a heavy breakfast. Another option would be to use a gas powered edger to saw a slit in the ground and then push the cable down. Or use a shovel or hand edger to cut a slit and push the cable down in.

k0ua · Apr 6, 2014

Also on on related note, don't forget that when you stick a copper cable in the ground, you have upped your risk to take a lightning strike (transient) on that cable. You will need to consider surge protection designed for Ethernet and coax cables. Some areas of the country have many more strikes than others, but it should be considered in all installations.

As others have said, I can't imagine a riding lawn mower having enough traction and weight to bury anything deep enough to not be accidentally dug up. But I could be wrong.

k0ua · Apr 6, 2014

Also on on related note, don't forget that when you stick a copper cable in the ground, you have upped your risk to take a lightning strike (transient) on that cable. You will need to consider surge protection designed for Ethernet and coax cables. Some areas of the country have many more strikes than others, but it should be considered in all installations.

As others have said, I can't imagine a riding lawn mower having enough traction and weight to bury anything deep enough to not be accidentally dug up. But I could be wrong.

treich · Apr 6, 2014

I was thinking about modding an gas edger to look like this: Wire/Cable Installers - EZ-Trench but I also want something I can pull behind an tractor/riding mower. About ethernet/coax there is shielded and gel filled ethernet/coax you can bury like this: Cat5eCableGuy.com - 1000FT Cat5e Direct Burial & UV STP Shielded w/ Double Jacket Outdoor Bulk Cable and for coax:1000ft Direct Burial/Outdoor RG6U Coaxial Cable Spool | Black | 18AWG

JimRB · Apr 6, 2014

Most Ethernet has a maximum pull rating that is pretty low. The references I can find say 25 pound pull maximum.

I installed some 1" or maybe it was 3/4" or even 1/2" conduit in a trench along side the conduit for the electric and the water line buried a few feet deep. Technically you are not supposed to run data cable parallel to electrical cable. My cable was just running the phone, and with some baluns was running one CCTV.

The telephone company did not bury their cable to the proper depth close to my house. The loader operator snagged it and he was only dragging a few inches deep. Utilities are supposed to be buried fairly deep. I guess telephone and cable does not have to be buried deep but it sure annoys a home owners when their feeds keep getting torn up because it is buried so shallow.

Here is an interesting guide although based on the 08 NEC. I gather the 11 NEC is what one should be reading now. Or maybe a 2014 version is coming out. http://www.mikeholt.com/files/PDF/08_Communications_Systems.pdf