How To Terminate Network Cat6 Cable?

Once the setting up of the network cabling is done, the next task at hand is to wrap it up nice and easy with the perfect network termination. At this closure stage, the wire is connected to a network jack, plug, or patch panel. Here is a step by step guide on terminating solid wire Cat6 cables to a standard rack mountable 110 style patch panel.

Data cable termination is an essential part of the the cabling process. The entire network is closed at this stage. The detailed procedure to do the same is discussed below:

Step 1- You start by stripping the cable of the protective outside jacket. Do this till about 3 to 6 inches from the end. And use cabling scissors to do this. You must apply pressure from the scissors to the cable and rotate the scissors around the cable. This will puncture the protective cables jacket, and you can easily pull the jacket off.

Step 2- Once the protective jacket is removed, you have exposed wires. Now, you must remember that when you strip the cable, it can cut and damage the wires at the area. So what you must do is expose about 6 more inches of fresh wires. You need not worry in this case as most Cat6 cables come with a small string inside the cable to help with this issue.

Step 3- Now, in case your cable has the small string, then you must make a small cut in the jacket of the cable. While doing this, you must make sure not to touch any wires. Then very carefully, use the string to pull towards the fresh end of the cable- and slowly you will expose further 6 inches of the cable. Once you have the cable length you want, simply cut the string.

Step 4- In the second case, that is if your cable does not have the small string- then you have to make the small cut in jacket (as we explained earlier). Then you must pull apart the wires and the jacket. This must be done very gently, by taking the wires together in one hand and the jacket in the other.

Step 5- Choosing the colors. You must know that all Cat6 cables follow a standard color pattern for the individual wires. There are- Blue, Orange, Green and Brown colors and usually there are two wires per color. So the combinations can be- White/Blue and Blue, or White/Orange and Orange, or White/Green and Green, and White/Brown and Brown. Now see this combination and then look at the flip side of your patch panel- you will be able to see the corresponding colors where you will terminate the cable to.

Step 6- The T568A and T568B color pattern issue- Now of the two color patterns, you must make sure to terminate both sides of the cable on the same pattern. So, double check the way you have terminated one side of the cable. If you have not terminated either side, then make a choice and follow it on both the ends.

Step 7- Once you have your pattern finalized, choose the port on the patch panel. You can take it in the ascending order so start at the lowest number.

Step 8- Untwist the wires and place them according to the color slot on the patch panel Secure them tightly.

Step 9- Then you terminate each wire. Try to leave as little amount of exposed wires as possible. You must use the punch down tool with the 110 blade and terminate each wire individually.

Step 10 The last step for effective data cable termination is to secure the cable to the patch panel and then with a cable tester double check if you have done it right.

Follow these steps, and your network will be terminated in the best professional manner.

The writer is associated with Cat 5 Cabling Jobs, the leading supplier of data cabling engineers London is their base of operations.