EtherNet has been taking over the world for the last few decades. Knowing how to crimp rj45 cat6 cables as well as being familiar with the cat6 crimping color code is critical for an electrician, network technician, engineer and anyone interested in installing an EtherNet cable.
RJ45 connectors have been used for phone and EtherNet connections for a long time, but their original development has been for telephone and DSL use primarily. These connectors dominated the market and pushed out every competitor as the Cat6 standard has proven itself to be extremely reliable. Furthermore, RJ45 connectors are extremely simple to install with some practice and the right tools.
In this post, I will cover the steps of installing an RJ-45 connector onto an EtherNet cable. The focus will be primarily on Cat6 connectors but do keep in mind that Cat5 is very similar.
How to Crimp rj45 Cat6 – Required Tools
Before we begin the process, it’s important to gather the right materials. Here’s a list of items you will need to complete the crimping process.
Cat6 Shielded EtherNet Cable – If you’re looking to have a Cat6 cable rating, you need to make sure that you are buying the proper kind of cable. Make sure that you are purchasing a shielded cable with a Cat6 label on the packaging.
Cat6 RJ-45 Connectors– Just like the cable, make sure that the connectors you purchase are rated for a Cat6 application.
RJ45 Crimping Tool– You can easily find this tool on Amazon or in a local department store. These sometimes come with RJ45 connectors as a kit.
(Optional) Wire Stripper– You will need to remove the insulation from your cable. For this purpose, it’s best to use a wire stripper, but you can get away with a knife or a pair of scissors.
(Optional) Cable Tester– Testing your work is extremely important. Although many electricians skip this step, you will be seen as the master of your craft if you pull one of these out in front of managers, engineers or otherwise. Checking your work is quick and easy with one of these tools. They are also relatively cheap.
Step 1 – Prepare the Cable and Remove the Insulation
Novice technicians and electricians will start mounting connectors before running the entire cable. It works in some cases, but you definitely don’t want to end up having to pull the connector through a conduit, a wall or even behind furniture.
Start by removing the entire cable length from your spool and laying it where it will be used.
By using a pair of wire strippers or a knife, remove the outer insulation from your cable. If your cable came with a core and a non-metallic shield, cut those back as well.
You should be left with 4 pairs of standard ethernet wires exposed. These pairs consist of Orange, Green, Blue, Brown as well as their White counterparts.
Step 2 – Cat6 Crimping Color Code
One of the biggest learning points ofHow to Crimp rj45 Cat6 is the color coding scheme of the wires you’ve exposed. The bottom line is that you need to follow a simple diagram in order to properly position the wires of your cables into the RJ45 jack.
In this step, you should take a close look at the diagram below, compare it to what you have on hand and separate the wires into a row of matching colors.
Straight Through vs Crossover cables
If you have experience or have done some research about EtherNet cables and protocols, you may have stumbled upon the crossover and straight through terminologies.
These terms originated in early stages of networking equipment. They referred to the way the cables linked to similar or different devices. For example, you would need a straight-through cable when connecting a PC to a Router. You would need a crossover cable when connecting two routers or two computers together.
Although these standards are still around today, most EtherNet cards have been equipped with auto-detection technology. This means that the device will automatically detect the type of cable and switch accordingly. The bottom line is that in 99% of the cases, you should only be crimping straight through cables. However, if you work in the networking industry, it’s important to be aware of these different standards.
Step 3 – Prepare The Wires for The RJ45 Connector
The wiresyou observed in the previous step are not as easy to maneuver as one might expect. It is important to take the time to straighten out the wires in order to properly set them inside of the RJ45 connector. If you don’t take your time to do so, you will have a hard time inserting the wires into the plug and have a greater chance of making a bad crimp. Furthermore, it’s easy to make a mistake by inserting a wire into the wrong position if you aren’t completely clear on their orientation.
This step is easily accomplished with a pair of needle nose pliers. Some are able to do it by hand, but using a tool makes the process much faster.
Lastly, you should cut back the wires to about a quarter of an inch. The goal is to have the RJ45 connector biting down onto the insulation of your cable. If that’s not the case, you will impose more stress on the signal conductors than you should.
Knowing how to crimp rj45 Cat6 cables is part skill and part practice!
Step 4 – Prepare The RJ45 Connector & Crimping Tool
It’s time to take out the tool and prepare it for crimping!
Take out your RJ45 connectors and insert it into the tool. In most cases, there’s a slot in the tool which will hold the connector firmly in place.
Pay attention not to squeeze the tool prematurely as it will insert the pins of the connector into “thin air” requiring you to throw it away. Unfortunately, RJ45 connectors are not re-usable even when they don’t bite down onto a cable.
Step 5 – Insert the Wires Into the Connector & Crimp
Some prefer to insert thewires while the RJ45 connector is outside of the tool and some otherwise. Personally, I prefer to have it in the tool as it gives you a better grip. You will need some practice before being completely comfortable with this practice as it’s not as easy to see where the wires are going into the connector.
Insert the wires as specified by the diagram posted above and squeezeon the handle once you’re happy with their position.
Step 6 – Verifying Your Work
The final step of your installation should be validating the work. Due to the fact that RJ45 crimping can result in errors, it’s important to check the cable.
This step is completed with a tool called a cable checker. The tool usually comes with two modules. One will be placed on either side of the cable and the tool will identify if a reliable connection is established or if you need to go back to re-crimp the cable.
An experienced electrician or technician will always check the cable. It’s unwise to assume, especially when a number of connections are made, that the cable is perfect.
Conclusion onHow to Crimp rj45 Cat6 Cables
It’s not hard to crimp your EtherNet cable, but it does require some practice. If you’re looking to create a large number of reliable crimps, I would highly recommend cutting small pieces of cable and practicing first. You will save a lot of time by not having to re-do your connections.
I would also recommend that you invest in a cable tester as all your colleagues will love you for checking your work instead of walking away after a crimp. I can’t tell you how many times I was thanked by engineers for making sure that they have no issues once the network has been brought online.
