How long should an unlisted outside plant cable be limited to, in feet?

The correct length limit for an unlisted outside plant cable is 50 feet. This limit is important to maintain safety and compliance with regulations that govern the installation of low voltage communication systems. Unlisted cables are not recognized by the National Electrical Code (NEC) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for specific applications due to the lack of standardized testing and certification.

When an unlisted outside plant cable is used, keeping it to a maximum of 50 feet helps mitigate risks associated with potential cable performance issues, such as signal degradation and interference. Longer runs may lead to increased susceptibility to environmental factors, which can compromise the integrity of the communication paths.

In industry practice, ensuring that unlisted cables remain within this specified length is essential to uphold the performance and reliability of communication systems while adhering to safety protocols. Adopting this standard leads to better installation practices and supports future upgrades or modifications in a professional manner.