Corrosion on WS-6-MINI Ethernet Ports after 3 months

[Banana Jack]

Hi all - I was just wondering why we got so much corrosion on the ports of a WS-6-MINI switch after only three months. I'm attaching a photo in case anyone is interested. The ports had ToughCable/ToughPlugs connected to them and the switch was installed in a cabinet on a tower in Yorkshire, England.

Surely the radios couldn't be drawing too much power? We are using a PowerBeam 5AC 620 and three Rocket 5AC radios. One of the radios would work only at 100Mbps (not Gigabit). We'd assumed a poor RJ45 termination, but perhaps it was the switch port to blame. There was a bit of rain on the day we did the installation. Maybe we should wait for a dry day next time!

If anyone has any advice to prevent recurrence I would be very glad to hear it.

Thanks
Glenn

[lligetfa]

There should be enough self-heating to prevent condensation so I suspect that water may be migrating down the ToughCable. I have never trusted ToughCable because there is neither dry tape nor gel to stop the water. Justin (WHT) advocates to cut slits in the service loops to drain out whatever water and some others strip back the jacket an in inch or two leaving only the drain wire.

[sirhc]

Can't say?

However is it corrosion or like a pasty material, can not see clearly in picture.

Does it clean off with a cue-tip and alcohol?

Are you near the shore, thinking salt water mist?

[Banana Jack]

Thanks for the fast replies guys! Appreciate the suggestions about the ToughCable. Cutting slits seems drastic but if it prevents capillary action then it's worth considering. I'd be a bit worried about having no strain relief if cutting back the jacket from the RJ45 plug, but then again maybe it's the lesser of two evils.

Some of the corrosion/discolouration/verdigris/whatever did come off when I used a cotton bud (as we call them in the UK) and isopropanol, although not all of it. The mast is about 14 miles inland, so probably no salt water mist to speak of. We've had many weeks of generally damp weather though.

Anyway I'm not complaining, just asking for comments and advice! I love Netonix switches. We've currently got a ToughSwitch in there temporarily and I hope to swap it out soon with a WS-8-250-DC so we'll see what happens with that.

Thanks
Glenn

[lligetfa]

Some folks like to smear a little bit of silicone grease onto the plug. I usually use gel filled cable and so probably get some of the icky-pic smeared onto the connector.

[wayneorack]

Hey Les,
I really like gel filled cables. What good gel filed STP do you use. I am looking for recommendations.

[lligetfa]

The gel cable I like using is the direct burial rodent resist made by Superior Essex.