Air tubing / UTP combo cable

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GTBecker
Posts: 616
Joined: 17 January 2006, 19:59 PM
Location: Cape Coral

Air tubing / UTP combo cable

Post by GTBecker »

I'm having a hard time finding a source of a combination air-tubing/cable, ideally something like 1/4" and Cat5, but smaller and fewer would be a good start. I know I once located a source of a similar combo cable but, for the life of me, I cannot now find search terms that discover anything like it.

I need to supply dry air to a deliberately slightly leaky box to keep its interior dry in a harsh environment by slowly displacing its atmosphere, and also to bring at least two UTP pairs from the box. I've considered using a conventional Cat5 cable's jacket interior to carry low-pressure air also, but I haven't tried that yet and I suspect that not much air would make it through the 200' length required.

Can anyone suggest something short of lacing or fusing a vinyl air tube to a length of Cat5?
Tom
dlh
Posts: 395
Joined: 15 December 2006, 12:12 PM
Location: ~Cincinnati

Post by dlh »

How about putting the UTP inside some flexible tubing and feeding the air through the outer tube? You would need a way to seal one end and inject the air but you can probably use a tee fitting & silicone sealant for this. I've used tygon tubing in this manner to instrument test gear.
GTBecker
Posts: 616
Joined: 17 January 2006, 19:59 PM
Location: Cape Coral

Post by GTBecker »

feeding the air through the outer tube
Good suggestion, Dave.
Tom
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