Extending Data Lines - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Chris Simms · 08-29-2009, 07:53 AM

I have picked up a remodel job for a office that will reguire moving the current data and phone locations. They will be moved about 20 feet from their current locations, Is there a way to safely extend the cat5 ?
Chris

mcclary's electrical · 08-29-2009, 08:16 AM

If it's for phone,,,just use super bees ,,,,but if it's for data, I wouldn't splice it. IMO

Thayer · 08-29-2009, 08:34 AM

It is possible to splice cat5e for data, but not recommended. I have personally done this only once or twice, when the cable could not be re-pulled and it was not a critical drop. I would recommend re-pulling it to the patch panel.

knowshorts · 08-29-2009, 11:09 AM

Could you use a 110 block? I would just re-pull the cable.

MDShunk · 08-29-2009, 11:18 AM

What I'd do depends largely on how the connection will be used. If it's normal office applications, or if the line just goes to a network printer, I would (and have, many times) spliced it on a piece of 66 block above the ceiling. Not a soul will notice a difference in performance. If the people all operate by RDC sessions or they're moving heavy-duty data, the line needs replaced.

For the phones, don't even think twice about it. Use some UR's and you'll be fine.

rexowner · 08-29-2009, 04:55 PM

Every time you use a patch cord, you add a splice to a data
line. This is not a big deal. If you have female connectors
at the old location, I would just make up my own patch
cords with male connectors on one end and female
on the other for the right length. The 110 block idea is
fine too. Ethernet was designed knowing there were
going to be splices. Unless you make some bad splices,
I doubt there will be problems.

TOOL_5150 · 08-30-2009, 03:47 AM

You can splice cat5 and 6 with no problem, just keep it neat.

It looks like this:

I have tested them with a microtest omniscanner, and all my terminations passed. I dont believe they cost much per splice block.

Google "cat6 splice box"

~Matt

Chris Simms · 08-31-2009, 08:39 AM

Thanks Guys... ther is a Shields Electronics store in Chatt TN. Not far from the job and I believe they have those supplies.
Chris