Cat5e - Page 2 - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Bob Badger · 11-03-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesclerie

No offense to any body but I would never go a try to sell a customer a service upgrade knowing I could do the job without question and to code. I think that what you guys have here is the basics but when it comes to networking there is so much more than color codes that have to be considered. I again mean no disrespect but leave the Low voltage to the low voltage guys we will leave the SPARKS to the Sparkies

I would prefer to, I was never was interested in phone, data, burg, etc. But many large customers demand one stop shops. If we always said no to each new data line or phone line we would loose customers.

Magnettica · 11-03-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDM

There isn't much of a need to make up patch cables, IMO. You can buy them so cheap that it's not worth it to spend your time making them.

The only time I did it was when trying to make a perfect looking rack up, but now I'll just "loose" the slack of a longer cable on the sides. You can buy them by the foot so you usually only have an extra couple inches.

I did a home theatre a few weeks ago and we went above and beyond what was needed for 2009. But what we did install, in addition to the HDMI, was a category 5 audio/ video line that acted as the HDMI technology and I wound up losing about 15'-20' extra inside the wall on both ends. I'd like to do a better job than that.

Btw, can Cat5 also be used as speaker wire?

Bob Badger · 11-03-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NolaTigaBait

I understand your point, but respectably GO **** YOURSELF

.

Or what he said ^^^^

EDM · 11-03-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesclerie

No offense to any body but I would never go a try to sell a customer a service upgrade knowing I could do the job without question and to code. I think that what you guys have here is the basics but when it comes to networking there is so much more than color codes that have to be considered. I again mean no disrespect but leave the Low voltage to the low voltage guys we will leave the SPARKS to the Sparkies

It really depends on the type of work.

As an Inside Wireman with an A book I am allowed to do Teledata work. As a first year apprentice I was sent out to a job in which I did this type of work, I hated it, it was a school with a lot of drops.

Basically, I pulled the wire to each location (over 400 drops), I shaped the wire on the ladder rack in the data closet, I ran the wire down the racks keeping it neat and organized. I punched it down to the patch panels after a brief explanation, I did the same on each jack I installed at the drops.

There really isn't anything that an experienced electrician can't handle. A couple things to be sure of are to not kink or bend the wire, don't untwist more than half inch, and pull spares just incase you did what I just told you not to do!

A low voltage guy CAN'T install a new service without some experience and code knowledge. I'm not trying to insult anyone, but I think it is a one way street.

Magnettica · 11-03-2009, 06:11 PM

LOL Nola!

EDM · 11-03-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

I did a home theatre a few weeks ago and we went above and beyond what was needed for 2009. But what we did install, in addition to the HDMI, was a category 5 audio/ video line that acted as the HDMI technology and I wound up losing about 15'-20' extra inside the wall on both ends. I'd like to do a better job than that.

I assume you used baluns? Good show.

For those long runs you don't want to make up a long patch cable (a long Cat5 with RJ45 male plug on each end). Instead, you should run bulk Cat5 and install a jack (female) on each end. Put it in a wall plate or rack, it'll be nice and neat. Then you could use a short patch cable to go from the jack to the device.

Also remember that you NEED to use stranded Cat5 when making up male plugs and solid Cat5 when punching down to female jacks.

Quote:

Btw, can Cat5 also be used as speaker wire?

I wouldn't.

Magnettica · 11-03-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDM

I assume you used baluns? Good show.

For those long runs you don't want to make up a long patch cable (a long Cat5 with RJ45 male plug on each end). Instead, you should run bulk Cat5 and install a jack (female) on each end. Put it in a wall plate or rack, it'll be nice and neat. Then you could use a short patch cable to go from the jack to the device.

Also remember that you NEED to use stranded Cat5 when making up male plugs and solid Cat5 when punching down to female jacks.

I wouldn't.

I'm not sure what it was but it was an alternate to the HDMI cable. It had a box that the (2) cat 5 lines plugged in to, one for the audio and one for the video. The female ends wouldn't have worked. I'm checking MonoPrice.com right now to find what I used.

I figured the speaker wire idea was a poor one.

EDM · 11-03-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

The female ends wouldn't have worked.

The most professional way to do it is to terminate the cable into female jacks on each end. Mount those jacks in wall plates or a patch panel, etc. THEN you use patch cables to go from the female jack you just installed to the Balun.

Magnettica · 11-03-2009, 06:41 PM

It was something like this:

Category 5 is used to carry the HDMI signal then back to HDMI to the A/V device.

ElectricBill · 11-03-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDM

On a little bit of a different subject, this is for using Cat5 for phone lines. I made this a while ago, save it to your iPhone so you always have it

I believe this is true for a 568A wired jack only. With a 568B jack the pins 3 and 6 which correspond to black and yellow are attached to Green/White-Green pair. The Tip and Ring pair stays on the Blue/White-Blue pairs on pins 4 and 5 in both versions. The TIA 568 standard was defined for backward compatability such that a RJ-11 phone plug which is pluged into a RJ-45 jack could be made to carry conventional phone service using the middle 4 pins on the jack.

EDM · 11-04-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectricBill

I believe this is true for a 568A wired jack only. With a 568B jack the pins 3 and 6 which correspond to black and yellow are attached to Green/White-Green pair. The Tip and Ring pair stays on the Blue/White-Blue pairs on pins 4 and 5 in both versions. The TIA 568 standard was defined for backward compatability such that a RJ-11 phone plug which is pluged into a RJ-45 jack could be made to carry conventional phone service using the middle 4 pins on the jack.

My post was directed at Magnettica because I read in another thread that he uses an iPhone and I know he does resi work. That image is a good reference incase you forget what colors to use when trimming out a house with RG-11 phone plates and Cat5 wire.

In a commercial setting where phones are terminated into RG-45 jacks, you'd be best to follow what is already in use in the building or what the plans specify.

Magnettica · 11-04-2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDM

My post was directed at Magnettica because I read in another thread that he uses an iPhone and I know he does resi work. That image is a good reference incase you forget what colors to use when trimming out a house with RG-11 phone plates and Cat5 wire.

In a commercial setting where phones are terminated into RG-45 jacks, you'd be best to follow what is already in use in the building or what the plans specify.

Yes, and thank you for that. I saved it on my iPhone.

mikeh32 · 11-04-2009, 08:58 PM

this is what i primarily do... anyone can pm me if they want, and i will do my best to explain it to them.

and i have seen plenty of jobs where people think they can do it.....

then call me

sparky105 · 11-04-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NolaTigaBait

I understand your point, but respectably GO **** YOURSELF

.

steelersman · 11-04-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

I need practice terminating RJ45 connectors. I'm just this big loaf with giant fingers trying to install these teensy-weensy wires into an even smaller connector. I'd rather do services everyday.

I've terminated hundreds of those RJ45 ends. Johnson Controls uses CAT III cable for thermostats and we used to have to put our own ends on, but now they are pre-fabbed in Mexico with the ends already on. Go figure. As far as the color code I don't see why it matters, as long as you keep the colors the same on both ends.

EDM · 11-04-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelersman

As far as the color code I don't see why it matters, as long as you keep the colors the same on both ends.

You could say the same exact thing about 120V wiring. Do you use green wire for the ungrounded conductor? Or would that cause an issue for the next guy who opened up that box?

steelersman · 11-04-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDM

You could say the same exact thing about 120V wiring. Do you use green wire for the ungrounded conductor? Or would that cause an issue for the next guy who opened up that box?

Not on purpose I don't. Sometimes by accident.

Magnettica · 11-04-2009, 09:20 PM

Yeah.... the uniform thing is important.

EDM · 11-04-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelersman

Not on purpose I don't.

So why would you do it for terminating Cat5?

Do you know how long it could take to find the other end of that wire to see what color configuration the hack choose to use when he installed it?

steelersman · 11-04-2009, 09:30 PM

Hey, I'm not a hack. Peter D is the hack.