Hill wires and connectors.

I tried that at one time, but found that the connectors are just not very robust. If you step on a banana plug, odds are you still have a serviceable connector. That usually isn't the case with an RJ-45. If the little locking tab breaks or is weak (and that is a hard thing to see by inspection), the connector can easily fall out with very little motion from the cable.

That said, we do use ethernet cables outdoors for networking things together, but in those circumstances, almost always a cable coming undone is an inconvenience and not something that results in a missed time.

If you go ahead and try, let us know how it works out.

I once used hill wiring with RJ45, it was horrid in the snow, so was 1/4 inch phono plugs. Banana plugs are really the only reliable option for timing outside in the snow. The connected surface area for each wire in an RJ45 connection is TINY, a little blade, while it is a full, large 360 degree connection on a banana plug. Pomona Banana plugs and jacks are definitely the way to go.
Jenna

The use of RJ45 connectors is not a good idea in an outdoor environment. Jenna and Allan bring up very good points on why you should not use them and I will add one or two more.

Since the connector are small, they tend to be fragile and there is moisture problems that can occurr also. I have found in the past when RJ11 plugs and jacks are used outdoors (telephone plugs), corrosion can be a problem. Because the way the plugs are designed, both RJ45 and RJ11's, there is a great place right over the contacts for moisture to pool and with the help of several natural forces corrosion will occurr. The plugs work great indoors where it is dry but outdoors is different animal.

Jenna's recomendation is a great one and yes the banana plugs are extremely reliable. I realize that each timing venue is unique and what works in one location is not so great in another situation. At our hill we use the three pin standard microphone connectors. Yes you do have to watch dropping the connectors in the snow but generally a tap or a puff of air clears the snow from the connector. We have been using these connectors for over 20 years with minimal problems and verh high reliability. The connectors are very rugged and latch together. These type of connectors are just another option to 'put in your toolbox'.

Steve

Steve is referring to an audio XLR connector.

Generally these are rated for indoor use but they can be reliable in many situations. For a while BOSE used them on there best speakers ont he back as an additional connector to the phono plugs.

My biggest issue with XLR connectors is that inspection of the connection must be done by removing a cover that requires use of a screwdriver which is no big deal, but repair of the connection almost always require solder as there are very, very few screw type XLR connectors available on the market. Solder on the hill is very difficult. Its easy to repair a banana plug on the hill with the right multi-tool or even have a small screw driver in your pocket. You can even slide stripped wire in between the blades of pug itself and shove it in the socket in an emergency.

When you have hundreds (literally) of banana plugs, jumpers, cables and connections it becomes expensive as XLR connectors are more expensive. XLR also has a male and a female end so you will need two different kinds of connectors to join to cables. Almost all banana plugs have both a male and female end in the same connector.

You will need some banana plug connector cables on some or even both ends to do things like connect opto-isoilaters to timers and all of the ends that to connect to start gates, photocells, timers, headsets ect all need to be banana plugs. Its much easier if everything has one type of connector on both ends so you never need to worry about which cable to grab based on the connector, they're all the same.

They are also much, much heavier which will generally not be a big deal if you are "just" lugging it around on your ski hill (ever feel like that pile of gear you had to get to the start was too heavy?) but if you are shipping equipment across the county it makes a big difference.

If your worried about pulling out the connector out of the junction box on the hill, and that is why you are using a locking connector like an XLR connector, I would recommend wrapping the cable around, tie it or tape it to whatever the junction box is mounted on. If your not doing that with any type of connector you still risk the wire being pulled out the connector anyway.

This is one area where I would strongly recommend not reinventing the wheel. Most of other connectors have been tried and passed on by someone for various reasons.

Jenna

If you've got to have it:

Screw terminal XLR

Jenna brings up all very points and are very valid. I was just trying to say that this is just another option and it is not an answer for all situations. The XLR connectors work for many of the situations that we have at our hill but it does not serve all of our needs. We also use AMP connectors for multiple conductor cable. Jenna is correct about if you have trouble with a cable and the repairs on the hill. We are set up with spare cables. I will have to admit that we are wireless at our hill so the cable issue is a very small one. We use TED units for our starts and finishes.

There are many different connectors and set-ups out there and you have to use what works for you and is the most dependable for your situation.

Steve