Terminating Cat5e Cable on a Jack
(Wall Mount or Patch Panel)

 

This how-to explains how to terminate Cat5, Cat5e cables on a Jack used on wall plates or patch panels. Using this procedure will enable you to produce repeatable good quality terminations with a neat appearance and without breaking any wires. This will save you time and effort as well as the frustration caused by needing to redo the termination.

This procedure uses a EIA/TIA 568A termination, shown as row A on the Jack shown in this guide. To use TIA/EIA 565B terminations use row B on the jack and follow it's colour coding (if your jack is not exactly the same use your Jack's colour coding.)

Tools & Cable you will need:

Step 1

Place the Jack you are going too use somewhere on a flat surface.

Cat5e RJ45 Jack Clipsal style from InfoComm Engineering

 

Step 2

Trim your cable to give a neat end.

Cat5e Cable with neatly cut end comes in 100m and 305m rolls from InfoComm Engineering

Step 3

Carefully score or cut the sheath so there will be 50mm to 75mm of wires protruding once the sheath is removed.

Step 4

When scoring/cutting the sheath be careful not to nick any of the pairs as this causes them to break in the punch down process, and is not always visible as the wire coating keeps the wire intact even though broken inside.

 

Step 5

There is no need to cut the sheath all the way around, or all the way through. Only cut or score the sheath so the sheath will break away reasonably easily.

 

Step 6

Bend the sheath to break the cut further.

 

Step 7

Pull the sheath away from the break to break the sheath off completely.

 

Step 8

Turn the cable so the pairs on the correct side and match layout of the jack. The diagram shows Brown & Green pairs at the top with blue and orange at the bottom.

 

Step 9

Grip the cable firmly and separate the pairs again to match the jack. Brown, Green at the top blue & orange at the bottom.

 

Step 10

With the cable still gripped fairly separate out all the pairs to suit the jack.

 

Step 11

Place base of the cable (where the sheath ends) on one side of the jack as shown below. Place the wires over the correct slots on the other side of the jack. Placing the wires in this manner ensures that the wires are not so short they do not break when using the punch down tool. 

Step 12

Push the wires into each slot using the punch-down tool. It is not necessary to actually punch the wires down.  This actually tends to break the wires near where they enter the slot.

 

Step 13

Shown below are the wires pushed into the slots on one side..

 

Step 14

Now fold the cable back over the slots fitted with pairs.

Step 15

Place the remaining wires over the correct slots. Use your thumb to push the wires into position.

 

Step 16

To get the wires into place push down with your thumb whilst holding the end of the wire with your other hand.

Step 17

The wires are shown in the diagram below in position ready for using the punch down tool

 

Step 18

After using the punch down tool the wires should look as shown below.

 

Step 19

Trim the excess off each wire.

Step 20

The Jack with the wires trimmed is shown below.  The cable has also been placed into position for fitting the cover.

 

Step 21

The Jack with the wires trimmed is from the side.

 

Step 22

The Jack is then fitted with a cover as shown below.

 

Step 23

If the cover is required to be removed it can be removed by placing a small screwdriver as shown below and gently levering.  The cover will simply pop off. Trying to remove the cover via levering from other places will result in the cover being damaged.

Copyright © InfoComm Engineering 11 June 2011