Extending cat 5 cable or telephone cable and maintenance free requirements?

[HappyHippyDad]

I was wondering if the maintenance free requirements (MF) are the same with communication cable as with low voltage supplies? I can't see why they wouldn't be.

The junction boxes for cat 5 cable or telephone cable where you just use the insertion tool have no screws that could come loose but I doubt they are classed as MF. If you need to extend one of these cables and make the join under the floorboards what are your options? My crimping tool has a minimum crimp size of 1mm CSA I believe, I'm sure their are smaller crimping tools but just wondered what you guys do in this scenario?

Cheers.

 

[hightower]

| RS Pro Cat5e Punch Down Wiring Box, 2 Port, UTP |

Cat5e joint box is what we use at work, although we normally joint in an accessible location so can't comment on your MF requirements - I'm not sure Cat5e would require accessibility as I've never seen a Cat5e cable combust due to loose connections - all that would happen is the connection will be degraded/lost.

Anyhow, I've yet to see a Cat5 termination fail over time without some little scrot pulling with force on the points. It's not the sort of connection that works loose over time so I would say chuck it under the floorboard by all means.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

| RS Pro Cat5e Punch Down Wiring Box, 2 Port, UTP |

Cat5e joint box is what we use at work, although we normally joint in an accessible location so can't comment on your MF requirements - I'm not sure Cat5e would require accessibility as I've never seen a Cat5e cable combust due to loose connections - all that would happen is the connection will be degraded/lost.

Anyhow, I've yet to see a Cat5 termination fail over time without some little scrot pulling with force on the points. It's not the sort of connection that works loose over time so I would say chuck it under the floorboard by all means.

That's what I have done so far HT, I just know the time will come when my only option will be to put it under the floorboards, and the thought of that little JB sitting under the floorboards whilst the laminate and furniture get installed neatly and expensively on top, only be told in a years time 'it's stopped working', fills me with dread!

 

[hightower]

That's what I have done so far HT, I just know the time will come when my only option will be to put it inder the floorboards, and the thought of that little JB sitting under the floorboards whilst the laminate and furniture get installed neatly and expensively on top, only be told in a years time 'it's stopped working', fills me with dread!

Like I say, we've probably got >1000 Cat5e points at work, and a good number have been extended - yet to see one fail through general aging or wear and tear. Only time we need to reterminate is when Johnny decides to pull the patch cable pulling everything with it.

If in the unlikely event one of the cores does fail, with Cat5e you have 4 cores that are unused, so before you have to start digging boards up again you can simply reterminate at each end and use the unused cores leaving the faulty cores unused instead, if that makes sense.

 

[leonard]

If you want MF joint why not solder it and heat shrink it?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

If you want MF joint why not solder it and heat shrink it?

I did consider that Leonard, but for 2 reasons I have have decided against it, firstly my soldering skills are not that great and secondly I am not convinced soldering would be the best method due to the arguments against. This is just one thread which details certain problems best way to "extend" cat5e wire? - AnandTech Forums.

 

[gnselectricals]

I've used jelly crimps in the past on bt's etc, should be ok on cat 5 as long as you keep the twists I'd say


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[UNG]

If in the unlikely event one of the cores does fail, with Cat5e you have 4 cores that are unused, so before you have to start digging boards up again you can simply reterminate at each end and use the unused cores leaving the faulty cores unused instead, if that makes sense.

You have 2 unused pairs unless you have a POE installation. I wouldn't use odd cores they are in pairs for a reason

 

[DPG]

You have 2 unused pairs unless you have a POE installation. I wouldn't use odd cores they are in pairs for a reason

2 unused pairs = 4 cores. Daz

 

[rsgaz]

with Cat5e you have 4 cores that are unused

Gigabit Ethernet uses all 4 pairs BTW.