RJ45 connectors are the little square plugs and their associated sockets that are used in network cabling. Most offices will use these for both phone and data connections to avoid complicating things by having to have two different types of connection. Buy RJ45 Connectors
Connecting new devices to the network requires a patch lead. These can be bought off the shelf, in ready-made form. They come in various lengths and simplify the job of connecting various devices. However, it’s inevitable that from time to time you will need a lead of an odd length or to make a one-off connection somewhere. In these circumstances, knowing how to assemble your own RJ45 connections makes life easier and saves you from having to call in an installer or order a special cable. This means that it can save you money too.
What You Need – or Shop RJ45 Connectors
In order to make your own network cables, you will need some cable and some connectors, all of which is easily acquired. You will also need a crimping tool and ideally a tester so that you can make sure you’ve done the job properly. Most crimp tools also allow you to strip insulation and cut cables to length.
If you are installing your own sockets, you’ll also need a punch down or ‘Krone’ tool. You can buy all of the tools you need to make up RJ45 connectors as a kit which makes life a little easier.
Making An RJ45 Connector
Okay, so you’ve got all of the bits you need; time to make an RJ45 connector in just seven simple steps.
- Strip Off External Insulation
First of all you need to strip off between three and five centimetres of the external insulation. You may be able to use your crimp tool to do this. Otherwise, use a craft knife and run the blade gently around the circumference of the cable, being careful not to cut any of the insulation on the inner cables. Lightly scoring and then repeatedly bending to cause the outer insulation to shear is usually safer than a deeper cut. When you can see the inner cables all the way around the cut, you can pull the outer insulation off.
- Straighten The Pairs Of Cables
With the outer sheath off, inside you will find four pairs of twisted cables and a central core. The pairs are colour coded as follows:
- Orange and orange/white
- Green and green/white
- Blue and blue/white
- Brown and brown/white
Fold out each of the pairs gently to expose the core. Cut off the exposed bit of the core and throw it away. Now gently untwist each of the exposed pairs and straighten out the wires – pulling them gently through a pair of pliers can help with this.
- Arrange The Wires In Sequence From Right To Left As Follows:
- Orange/white
- Orange
- Green/white
- Blue
- Blue/white
- Green
- Brown/white
- Brown
- Trim The Wires To Length
You may find at this point that your wires vary slightly in length. Hold your RJ45 connector against the edge of the outer insulation and trim off the wires so that they are level with the top of the connector.
- Push The Wires Into The Connector
Now you can push the wires into the connector, making sure that they stay in the correct colour sequence and that each goes into its own channel. You may find it easier to hold the connector gently in the jaws of the crimp tool as you do this. Note that there’s no need to strip the insulation from these wires, the connector is designed so that its pins bite through the insulation when crimped. Make sure that the wires go right to the top of the connector.
- Squeeze The Connector To Lock
Now place your connector into the crimp tool and squeeze it to lock everything together. You can now repeat the process at the other end of the cable.
- Test Your Connection
Finally, use your cable tester to check that you have a good connection. If there’s an error, try re-crimping the connector.
Crimping RJ45 connectors isn’t difficult but you may need a little practice in order to get the hang of it. Don’t worry if your first attempts fail, try again until you get it right.
Frequently Asked Questions: Crimping RJ45 Connectors
Q: Can I reuse an RJ45 connector if I make a mistake? A: No. RJ45 connectors are “one-time use” components. Once the gold pins are pressed down into the wires by the crimping tool, they are permanently set. If you make a mistake or the connection fails a test, you must cut the connector off and start fresh with a new one.
Q: What is the difference between T568A and T568B wiring? A: These are simply two different colour-code standards for the internal wires. T568B is the standard for the UK and the most common choice for modern networking. The most important rule is to ensure both ends of your cable use the same standard to create a “straight-through” cable.
Q: Do I need to strip the insulation off the eight individual wires? A: No. You only need to strip the outer jacket of the Ethernet cable. The RJ45 connector is designed with sharp gold-plated pins that pierce the insulation of the individual wires to create an electrical connection during the crimping process.
Q: Why does my cable keep failing the continuity test? A: The most common reasons are: 1) The wires were not pushed far enough into the connector to touch the pins, 2) The wires moved out of the correct colour sequence during insertion, or 3) The outer jacket wasn’t pushed far enough in to be secured by the connector’s strain relief.
Q: Is a ratcheting crimp tool better than a non-ratcheting one? A: Yes. We recommend ratcheting tools because they ensure the correct amount of pressure is applied every time. A ratchet won’t release the handle until the crimp is fully completed, preventing “loose” pins that cause intermittent network drops.
