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Ethernet cables are an absolute necessity to make sure you get an Internet connection whether you are at home or your office. Yes, you can wirelessly connect your device to an access point. However, the access point still requires a connection from your Internet provider and to have such; an ethernet cable is non-negotiable. With that said, the better question to ask is, “is there a way to know how to crimp ethernet cables without much hassle?”
Well, if you have the right tools, a pair of steady hands, and the ability to identify wire colors, then crimping an ethernet cable and other types of network cable for that matter is not all that difficult. Also, you get to save some bucks as it is cheaper than buying pre-made cables for your set up. So read on and let us show you how it is done.
How To Crimp Ethernet Cable
First and foremost, to crimp an ethernet cable, you must have the following tools:
- Wire Cutter (Optional. Most Crimping tools have wire cutters built on them)
- RJ45 Connectors
- Crimping Tool
- Network Cable Teste
- Ethernet Cable Spool
If you have all that you need, we can now proceed to the steps.
1. Determine the length you need.
The length of your cable should be appropriately cut before you crimp the ends. Thus, you should measure the length you need as accurately as possible and add a few allowance to avoid short wires. Needless to say, having excess wire is okay and can be easily addressed by cutting the right length. However, when you cut your wire too short, extending them can be a little problematic.
2. Strip the outer insulation.
When you have your desired cable length, strip two to three inches of the outer jacket to expose the smaller cables inside it. These small cables come in eight and are twisted by twos. There are also four colors paired with a white striped cable inside the jacket. Additionally, you will also find a fine grey wire that is not insulated. These are meant to absorb interferences that may halt the signal running through the cable.
Pro Tip:
Using the crimping tool to strip the jacket off your network cable always has a small chance that your cables will be nicked or damaged. To make sure that your cable is flawless, pull the grey strand to cut your jacket horizontally to strip more the insulation. Cut the excess wire from where you stripped it with a wire cutter.
3. Untwist the wires.
The wires are color coded and twisted with a white cable. Untwist these wires to ready them for crimping. Once you have straightened out the wires, you may proceed to the next step.
4. Arrange the wires according to colors.
Technically, you can follow any random order as long as both ends are wired the same. However, it would be more troublesome to randomly decide what order of color you will use for every cable you make. Imagine, randomly picking the colors on one end. To make it work, you must match that randomly picked colors! Furthermore, if you have a set pattern, you would not have trouble repeating the process on all your other cables!
Meanwhile, if you are planning on connecting two computers without an access point, there is a set pattern that you should follow to make it work. A network cable that bypasses an access point follows a sequence called T568A and T568B. To make these sequences, you would have to pay attention to the four pairs of wire.
Each pair has a solid color and a white striped cable. To determine easily which pair the white cable belongs to, the manufacturer striped it with the color it is paired with. To understand it easily, let us give each pair a name.
- Green (G) Green Striped White (GW)
- Blue (B) Blue Striped White (BW)
- Orange (O) Orange Striped White (OW)
- Brown (Br) Brown striped White (BrW)
The sequence patterns to make T568A looks like this: GW, G, OW, B, BW, O, BrW, Br
The sequence patterns to make T568B looks like this: OW, O, GW, B, BW, G, BrW, Br
Pinch the wires with your thumb and index finger and place the colors in order.
5. Cut the excess wires.
Now that you have lined up the wires, it is time to cut them to the right size that will fit inside the RJ45 connectors. Cut the wires leaving only half an inch. Take note that cutting too short will prevent the wires from reaching the pins on the terminal. On the other hand, if your wire is too long, the jacket will not be crimped and can become a weak point. Make sure that you cut the right length for best results.
6. Crimp your cables.
After getting all your wires in proper sequence, insert them inside the RJ45 connector and feed it to the wire crimping tool. Give it a firm press but be careful not to break the connector as it is made of plastic. Moreover, a firm press would puncture the wires and establish contact to the terminals.
7. Check for cable continuity.
Do not get too excited and install your cable immediately! Before tacking your ethernet cable on your walls and ceiling, make sure that they are working properly. Otherwise, if you have already installed your wires and you experience any trouble, you may have to remove them and start over!
Crimping Ethernet Cables Made Easy
You see, when you know the steps on how to crimp ethernet cables, you will eventually realize that is not that difficult, right? Monetary-wise, this will also make more sense, especially if you need a few hundred feet setup. And even if you include the cost of the crimping tool itself, you may still save a lot! How cool is that?
Now that you can make customized cable lengths and as many cables as you want in a fraction of the price of the readymade ethernet cables, what is stopping you from having Internet access at home or the office?