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Building Cat5e and Cat 6 Patch Cables: Things You Need!

July 10 2013

Making quality patch cables is a very simple task as long as you have the right tools and parts needed. Many professional installers don’t mind making custom patch cables because they are efficient in doing so because it is part of their day to day business. So most professional installers get a lot of practice making their own custom cables. Plus the parts needed to make both Cat5e patch cables and Cat 6 patch cables are most commonly found right there in their tool box! If you are not a professional network installer you may just decide to buy pre-made patch cables instead of making your own. But there are still many people today that feel it is best practice to make their own patch cables in the custom lengths they need to give their installation the most professional look! Now let’s go through everything you will need to make a quality patch cable!

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1. Bulk Network Cable: Network patch cables are usually made with either Cat 6 cable or Cat5e cable. Also, you can use stranded or solid bulk network cable. Usually pre-made network patch cables are made with stranded cable because it is more flexible and much easier to control during an installation. If you are using 100’s of network Cat5e patch cables in a tight space like dressing a network rack or terminating a network patch panel then the use of a stranded network cable will be best. But if you are building patch cables for long direct runs to network equipment or components then it really does not matter what cable you are using. So you will have to buy a box of bulk Cat5e or Cat 6 network cable that fits your specification. Most commonly this cable will come in 500ft or 1000ft put ups.

2. Modular Connectors: The modular connectors will be the connector type you crimp onto each end of the network cable. This connector will allow you to easily plug in the patch cable directly into the network equipment you are cabling for. It is important to buy the connectors that are designed for the cable type you are trying to use. An example of this would be that if you are using stranded Cat5e cable. If this is the case you will need to use the connectors that are made especially for stranded Cat5e cable. Make sure the cable type and connector types match! If not you will have a very difficult time getting the connector to work on your cable.

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3. Strain Relief Boots: You may opt to also use strain relief boots when building your patch cables. These are simple boots that assist the modular connectors in attaching to the network cable while protecting the termination point from dust and moisture. Since patch cables are often moved, unplugged, plugged back in all the time, a strain relief boot will help the connector have a stronger connection to the cable.

4. Tools: In order to begin making your patch cables you need to make sure you have a few tools to do the job efficiently. These tools include a modular crimp tool, network cable stripper, and a diagonal cable cutter. Having the right tools could save you a lot of time in labor which at the end of the day could mean more money in your pocket. Invest in the right tools that will allow you to quickly make quality patch cables that will perform!

In summary, there are only a few components needed to make your own quality patch cables. Building your own Cat5e patch cables and Cat 6 patch cables can be a piece of cake if you have the right materials. Buying the raw parts such as bulk wire, modular connectors, and strain relief boots is very simple. Besides the raw materials you are also looking at a small investment into the right tools you need to get the job done. But once you are set up you can quickly build a patch cable whenever you need one. Making custom patch cables will allow you to build cables in the lengths you need to give your installation a clean professional look!