Using Cat5/6 to extend Nest Cam Weatherproof cable

[JDPHouston]

I have 8 existing IP camera locations, and they are wired with Cat 5 ethernet wire, terminated with RJ-45 connectors. I would like to use this wire so I dont have to cut, patch and paint drywall.  I have cut the existing 10ft charging cable and spliced it using one of Cat 5 wires that is 70 ft long. The camera recognizes that it is hardwired, BUT the camera runs on battery and does not charge. 

The Nest Cam Weatherproof Cable is 10 meters long (33 ft) and has a larger power supply. Before I cut one of those and splice in the Cat 5, has anyone hade success with splicing in Cat 5 to extend power?

[JDPHouston · Accepted solution]

I am an instaler and I work with a pro installation company that installs Nest and the other brand of consumer grade cameras, along with commercial NVR systems. I am a "MacGuyver" and have sorted out 'custom' installations for the last 20+ years.

I was hoping for some guidance, before just cutting wires and testing things myself. Looks like i get to figure it out and post here for others to get the info they need, over the next few years of installations...

[Lance_L]

Hello JDPHouston,

Thanks for reaching out to the Community.

While we don’t recommend splicing the Nest Cam Weatherproof Cable with a Cat 5 Ethernet wire, you may contact a Nest Pro to help you figure out a solution.

In the US, you can contact our installation partner, OnTech. For all other countries, you can book an appointment with a Nest Pro. You can check out this handy guide for more information about Google Nest professional installation services.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

Lance

[JDPHouston · Accepted solution]

I am an instaler and I work with a pro installation company that installs Nest and the other brand of consumer grade cameras, along with commercial NVR systems. I am a "MacGuyver" and have sorted out 'custom' installations for the last 20+ years.

I was hoping for some guidance, before just cutting wires and testing things myself. Looks like i get to figure it out and post here for others to get the info they need, over the next few years of installations...

[Lance_L]

Hey JDPHouston,

Ah, gotcha. Let us know how it goes.

You may visit the Nest Help Center to explore the features and settings of the Nest cameras and doorbells.

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

Regards,

Lance

[JDPHouston · Accepted solution]

On this specific home, we have already cut the 10ft charging cable and extended it using Cat 5 wire. The red and silver insulated wire we connected to the brown and orange pair, using both conductors spliced to each Nest wire. We used the green pair of the Cat 5 for the 2 smaller data wires in the Nest charging cable, and the blue pair in the Cat 5, for the shield of the Nest charging cable...

The camera shows it is hardwired, in the App, but the camera ran out of battery power and died after 14 hours. 

We bought the 10 meter Outdoor cable and hooked it up to this camera, and it works as expected.

We were hoping that someone out there has successfully used Cat 5 (or CAT 6) to splice and extend a cable to the NEW Nest Cam Battery units.

The old Nest Outdoor cameras ony used 3 wires, and the internmet show that its easy to use Cat 5 to get the camera working by cutting and splicing the power wire...