sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Cat 6 Patch cables .?

HI! I am wondering if i should make my own cat 6 patch cables with solid cable instead of stranded ?The patch cables are usually 24 Gauge, yet the solid cable is 23 gauge usually. Or is it worth it ?? Any reasonable brand do you use?? The I.T. guy usually puts in 5e and ruins my install. :rolleyes: Thanks

Its not worth it and solid cable won't work well as a patch cable.

I agree with Merritt, it's not worth it. As to brand, can't say. Will say I request non-booted cables.

Making patch cables should be reserved for situations where you absolutely need a custom cable or something temporary. Making patch cables with solid cable will practically guarantee failures down the road. Need a cross over cable in a pinch and don't have one in the van? Make one. Need 50 patch cables for a new install? Buy them.

I'm not sure why you would think Cat5e patch cables ruin your install. When you certify your installation, you don't include the patch cables, so it won't have any effect there. You can use Cat5e for Gigabit, so unless your clients are expecting to use 10Gig, they aren't causing any problems by using Cat5e patch cables. That said, if you are a cabling contractor you can certainly add patch cables to your quote. Chances are you can buy them for a lot less than what your clients would pay for them. Just ask your Graybar/Wesco/Wherever rep for whatever brand they normally stock. I agree with non-booted comment...no-snag ends are nice though.

OKay , thanks for the input . i normally would make them but except when necessary. I will stick with 5e.

Why use 5e on a Cat 6 system?

Solid cables will not flex like a stranded cable so if you want to make your own patch cables use stranded.

The time and material used to make a cable will make the cost much higher then a manufactured cable and chances of a failure are much higher.

Find a supplier that gives a discount for quantity and purchase Cat 6 patch cables so you can add them to your quote and everyone wins.

Merritt , thats what i say , but i guess if your using 1 gig its works , i don't know if cat 6 would work better ,i would think it should , i don't have a way to test that.I have made cat 6 patch cables out of solid cables ,i haven't heard back from then on issues , but it only has been a year or so.

I stopped making my own cables a long time ago, unless it's for something temporary, or a weird pinout like splitting 1 8p8c into 4-4p4c for phones. It just doesn't pay to make my own.

A piece of solid conductor cable with plugs crimped onto it is not a patch cable. It is a piece of solid conductor cable with plugs crimped onto it.

Jim
**************************************************
Speaking from a secure undisclosed location.

The reason patch cables are made with stranded wire is because stranded will flex repeatedly without breaking. Another reason is that most techs use an 8P8C connector designed for solid wire. I stock all sizes and several colors of cat 5/6 because they are very cheap ($1.35 vs. $14.95 at Best Buy) when you buy through distribution.