RJ45 Ends and Crimp Tool

[blacklion1725]

Happy Boxing Day everyone. I’m going to reconfigure my router, printer etc as I’m getting rid of the desk they were all sat on (as I no longer need it!). I’m replacing the desk with a much smaller unit that will house the router, printer etc. I want to make up Cat 5e cables to measure, which I have done many times before. As I’m just about out of connectors and hoods I thought I’d try the “pass through” connectors – where you can be double-sure the arrangement is correct before you crimp. I am assuming I’ll need a new Crimp tool as well (the one I’ve been using was only a tenner a few years ago).

Can anyone recommend connectors, hoods and a tool that will do the job? Ta.

[JayCeeDee]

I recently bought THIS one, it’s worked well for a few cables I’ve needed, but it’s currently unavailable.

THIS one looks almost identical, for not a lot more, plus 50 connectors for under £20.

THIS one has a few extra bits in the kit, which you may or may not need, according to your box of bits!!

Have fun!!

[blacklion1725]

Thanks mate – I’ve got the krone tool and the tester, and I want a crimper and connectors that cater for passing through the individual wires. Thanks for the info though, but connectors aside I have all that stuff – by pass through I mean something like this

[Ed P]

Sorry I cannot help, but I’d be interested if it works!

I’ve had a couple of cases where I’m wiring up a 30m length and in all cases it has been an exercise in frustration as I am never 100% sure which end is stuffed up.

[wasbit]

Why do you think that you need a new crimping tool? The connectors are no different except for holes to allow each cable to pass through … unless of course you mean the two piece connectors … but I suspect they will use the standard crimper.

I got my connectors from Kenable (St Helens) on ebay.

I also ordered another 50 from a Chinese Ebay seller with a UK warehouse. Although sold as pass through, they weren’t, they didn’t stock them & had to refund.

--
Regards
wasbit

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[Dave Rice]

Look for RJ45 Pass Through on Amazon.

We use this crimp tool @ £18 and this one @ £19 that includes 6 ends (both just as good as the £80 big name one) and these connectors 50 for £19 (I see there are more about now).  You can use any of the slide on strain relief boots, but I prefer the ones designed to be crimped on like these.

 

 

[blacklion1725]

Thanks Dave will get on it. Wasbit I think I need a new crimp as (a) my existing one, the connector goes in nose first and buts up to a plate, so there is nowhere for the pass-through wires to go and (b) it won’t cut off the pass-through wires.

[blacklion1725]

Went for the first crimp tool in Dave’s post, and another set of 50 connectors (also £19) purely as they come with sleeves. Thanks for the help.

[Alan Wood]

I tried the pass though type and found them to be more difficult to use than the type which uses an insert. The wires never seem to come through in the right order so had to pull out and try again. Eventually I gave up. Maybe I’m missing something, if so could someone enlighten me.

 

No you don’t need a new crimp tool. The old one works just as well.

[Dave Rice]

It’s a lot easier if you leave the thoroughly untwisted wires long. I pull my thumb nail down the wire to work the twist out and snip out the pull cord. However sometimes the little buggers still swap over, usually brown and brown / white for me.

Yes you do need the correct crimp tool, it has a blade to cut off the ends of the wires poking through.

I would never go back to any other tool / system. It makes much better connections as you don’t have to get the bare wire lengths correct by eye. The number of connectors I’ve seen with the insulation miles away is untrue.

[Alan Wood]

Hi Dave

 

What you describe is exactly what I found and I did leave the wires long and pulled out the twists. You must have the knack.

I used normal wire cutters to trim of the ends and it was fine.

 

These are the ones I use and getting the correct length is easy by snipping off the the insert exit. Can’t get crossed colours either so no hoping  it comes out right.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25-x-CAT6-RJ45-Network-cable-crimp-Plugs-with-Loading-Bar-included-connectors/254111924275?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

 

[Ed P]

Just of interest, using the pass-through type is it possible to test individual wire continuity to get a better idea that (say) brown has crossed with brown stripe on one end? I could see that being helpful to identify which end of a long cable is stuffed, or if there is a cable break.

[Dave Rice]

Ed, it’s the testers that do that function and I have one of these, the multiple remotes are very useful. I also have an IP camera tester similar to this that has this and many more useful cable / network testing tools as well as CCTV stuff. It has PoE out and an SD card for snapshots so makes life  lot easier on the top of the ladder!

Both let me know the relevant distance to a break or short as well as the wire map for crosses. We also have tone generators to help find the relevant wire in a bundle.

But none of these will let you know if the cable is up to spec, those are ultra expensive and we just don’t need them. Not even the MoD make us prove our work to that level, but of course if you’re doing infrastructure it’s a different matter. B-I-L has some that will do whole patch panels at a time.

[blacklion1725]

• Those cheap cable testers have one LED for each of the six wires Ed, so you can eat least see which ones have a diss or are wired wrong, but only after the crimp, so just the same for pass-through or legacy connectors. Cheap and cheerful but use it all the time.

[Ed P]

I have a cheap and cheerful cable tester, but I have not figured out a way of seeing WHICH end of the cable needs to be cut off and redone. I guess a new set of eyes would help!

[blacklion1725]

Ah gotcha…..yes I sometimes photograph the two ends and zoom….normally let’s let spot the culprit.

[blacklion1725]

Came yesterday and tested it today. That crimper is great – really good ratchet controls, and cuts, strips and crimps really well. Pleased with the connectors – just made up one lead, and luckily one would have been wrong if I had crimped without checking the pass-through. The price of that crimper is amazing really – there was a 5% promo on it as well – and it helpfully has the A and B pin-outs stamped on it if (like me) you haven’t done any for a while and have forgotten. Tried a couple of legacy connectors with and they were fine too. Thanks for the advice – I am set fair now.

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