Which Cable Do You Need: Cat5e Riser Vs Plenum Copper Cable

The network structure is a meticulous part of any business as all the operations and the other network-related tasks depend on speed and performance. Similarly, the choice of bulk ethernet cable is very important for future-proofing networking infrastructure. 

Likewise, the Cat5e riser cable and the Cat5e plenum both are equal if speed is compared but with opposite outer jacket ratings. Both Plenum and Riser are used for indoor purposes but still, they have different properties. 

The topic of Which Cable Do You Need is the summarization of all the related information regarding the selection of the Cat5e ethernet cable and the speed attributes to match your server capacity. So read this guide to excel in your knowledge regarding the 

Definition of Cat5e Cable

The cat5e is the “Enhanced Category 5” Cable so you can quote this cable as the enhanced version of the previous cat5 cable obsolete with the evolution of this advanced ethernet cable. It is the most favorite and demanding cable for users who need temporary installation but do not estimate the capacity of the cable. It still can cover maximum networking gaps like streaming and other Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications. 

The following factors make Cat5e ethernet cable more favorable among different users to use it for their office, home, or commercial needs. 

• Cost-effectiveness is the first major attraction for users
• Color combinations to manage the cable
• Plenum and Riser Jackets
• Gigabit speed over shorter length
• High Bandwidth to support data transmission
• Backward Compatibility
• 100 Mbps speed as not everyone needs speed or performance

These are features of the cat5e ethernet cable. Wait, the debate is not over yet. Still, there is a lot to learn about this enhanced category 5 cable. 

Cat5e Riser Cable

The cat5e riser cable is a CMR-rated cable having 4 twisted pairs (4-5 Twists per inch) ideally colored insulated for ease in the termination process. All these twisted pairs are 24 AWG in size. 

Important Note: The lower the AWG size the thicker the conductor size of the cable. This means 24 AWG is thinner than 23 AWG. 

The Cat5e riser copper cable has some specifications through which you need to decide whether you need a plenum or riser cable. One more thing you often see is CMP or CMR printed on the Bulk Ethernet Cable. It stands for “Communication Multipurpose Plenum” and for riser “Communication Multipurpose Riser”. 

Now following are the factors that you should think of before buying the Cat5e riser 1000ft cable. Purpose, Fire Safety, Applications. Let’s discuss each factor separately. 

• Purpose — Cat5e riser 1000ft bulk cable is for indoor purposes and also for the riser spaces. The PVC material makes it fire resistant but emits less toxic smoke so for this reason it is forbidden to use for plenum spaces. 
• Fire Safety — The Cat5e riser jacket is fireproof to halt the flame progression. It can be used for the riser shafts of the buildings. Inside walls and elevator shafts. 
• Applications — The cat5e riser copper cable can cater to the 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T, VoIP, and IoT devices, suitable for general network installation, and for residential and commercial use. 

Cat5e Plenum Cable

First, the Cat5e Plenum cable is an expensive option than the riser jacket. The other salient feature is that the plenum cable is a bit thicker than the plenum so it's hard to light this cable on fire. The temperature rating capacity of the cable is -10℃ to 60℃. 

Like Cat5e riser cable installation factors, Cat5e plenum copper cable also comes with some specific installation ratings. The following factors are the Purpose of the cable, Fire Safety, and Application requirements. Let’s split each factor to understand the needs.

• Purpose of the cable — Cat5e plenum 1000ft cable is for the building codes with strict fire safety codes. The cable is used in plenum spaces of the buildings. This cable is the best to reduce the threat of flame progression and toxic smoke emission. 
• Fire Safety Standards — Plenum due to its material being FEP rated is on the top of the list to cater the peace of mind regarding cable protection. 
• Applications — All the applications are the same as the cable supports 100 Mbps over longer and 1 Gbps over shorter distances. And also, supports PoE up to 15 watts DC. 

Is Cat5e Plenum Shielded?

No, the plenum is an outer jacket, and it's the shield for internal conductors. If you find difficulty in identifying the shielded and unshielded cable do not worry. You only need to read the description of the Cat5e plenum cable on the box. You might find an acronym like F/UTP or S/STP which means the cable is braided or foil-shielded. 

There is a specific reason to use shielded cables like you might need to install cable in a complex wiring infrastructure so using a UTP cable is a flop. The shielded cable will help you streamline the transmission. 

Can Cat5e Riser Cable Use Outdoor?

As quoted earlier, the Cat5e riser copper cable is only for indoor use. The cable might be a cost-effective solution but if you are going to install this cable outdoors you need an extra protective layer known as conduit. 

There are several reasons that you should avoid using the Cat5e riser cable outdoors to protect the cable performance and your investment. 

• Lack waterproofing
• Temperature tolerance
• No UV resistance 

You should think twice before installing indoor-rated cables for outdoor installation. If a cable might get damaged you might need to change the whole length of the cable. So, it’s better to prevent this type of mistake. 

Conclusion

So it's obvious that the network cable is according to the jacket's need and the server speed. But sometimes you are dealing with temporary installations. So Cat5e riser cable is the perfect choice. If you can afford to buy the Cat5e plenum jacket you can invest in Bulk Cat5e Plenum 1000ft cable.