[Tfug] CAT5 cables

[Bexley Hall]

Hi,

--- Robert Hunter <hunter at tfug.org> wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 16, 2008 at 05:21:21PM -0800, Bexley
> Hall wrote:
> > I am not thrilled with the idea of leaving a
> > coil of 15 feet of "excess wire" someplace
> > (the room is already littered with cables :< ).
> 
> If it's coiled neatly, it shouldn't be a problem. 

<grin> You've not seen the ratsnest under my
workbenches, Rob!  :>

> And it's good to
> have a little extra cable in case you want to move
> the beastie.

If I have to move it more than a foot or two (which
I can handle with a modest service loop), I can dig
out (or make?) another cable.  I just can't afford
to leave 15 ft (50 ft length - 35 ft needed) of
slack coiled up anywhere (Home of the future:
complete with raised flooring in all the bedrooms!)

> > OK, I've got some wire left on the spool from
> > wiring the house and Joe gave me a gizmo to crimp
> > RJ45's onto CAT5 cable.  So, I should be able to
> > just roll-my-own, right?
> > 
> > Any issues I should be aware of before doing this?
> > (sure seems like it should be a lead-pipe-cinch
> but
> > the simple things ALWAYS have hidden
> consequences).
> 
> 1) Use the same brand crimper and connectors. 

Ah, well that's unlikely to happen.  The crimper
came to me via a different route than the connector
shells...

> Slight differences in
> specs can make your life miserable.  Also, stranded
> wire uses a
> different connector than solid wire.  Make sure the
> cable type and connectors match up, too.

I realize that -- yet hadn't thought of it.  All the
CAT5 I have ever seen has been stranded.  I will have
to visually examine the connectors to see if I can
identify any differences among them (I have a few
different bags of them)

> 2) Make sure the you don't cut through the wire
> insulation when you strip the outer cable housing.

<grin>  Yes, I can manage that  :>  I have all sorts
of fancy wire strippers that I can play with.

> 3) Make sure you you unbraid as little wire as

By "unbraid" I assume you mean the individual
conductors (8) within the cable (i.e., *not*
the individual strands within a given conductor)

> possible.  Smooth the
> wires flat in the correct order.  Be careful not to
> let them get out
> of order.  This is the number-one method of screwing
> up a cable. ;-)
> 
> 4) Trim the wires to right length ( about 5/8", or
> 1.6 cm ).  If they
> are too short, they won't reach the end of the

I think the crimper has a gauge (gage?) built on it
for this express purpose.  (no instructions with it
but that's what this useless tab of metal adornment
seems to be...)

> connector.  Ideally,
> you want to see the "copper dots" if you look at the
> connector
> head-on.  If they are too long, then you won't get
> the cable housing
> under the crimp.
> 
> 5) Crimp over the cable housing.  This secures the
> cable to the
> connector, and prevents the wires from losing
> contact with the
> connector leads.

Yes.  Just like a cable clamp on Romex (though there
I would also wrap the jacket in tape for more of a
belts-and-braces approach)

Thx,
--don


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