17
Connecting RJ-45 Plugs to Cat5e Cable
Please use a standard (T-568A or T-568B) RJ-45 connection with Cat5e cable (regular Cat5, shielded Cat5, or Cat6 are
all acceptable) to connect the keypad to the controller or another keypad. Never use a cable with a “Crossover” con-
nection in which the two ends of the cable are wired differently.
When running your Cat5e cable, you have two options: 1) use cable of predetermined lengths that have the RJ-45
plugs attached by the manufacturer, or 2) use a crimping tool to attach the RJ-45 plugs yourself after you have run the
Cat5e cable. With option 1) you don’t have to worry about the connections being solid and correct, but you’ll likely have
to cut larger holes through the framework of your house to get the cables into position. This option will cost a little more
because you are likely to have excess cable since you can only buy in predetermined lengths. Option 2) allows you to
buy your Cat5e cable in bulk and run exactly the length you need for each connection. But you’ll have to terminate each
end with an RJ-45 plug yourself.
Addendum
Instructions:
Start on one end and strip the cable jacket off (about 1”) using a stripper or a knife. Be extra careful not to nick the
wires, otherwise you will need to start over.
Spread, untwist the pairs, and arrange the wires in the order of the desired cable end. Flatten the end between your
thumb and forefinger. Trim the ends of the wires so they are even with one another, leaving only 1/2” in wire length.
If it is longer than 1/2” it will be out-of-spec and susceptible to crosstalk. Flatten and insure there are no spaces
between wires.
Hold the RJ-45 plug with the clip facing down or away from you. Push the wires firmly into the plug. Inspect that
each wire is flat and even at the front of the plug. Check the order of the wires. Double check again. Check that the
jacket is fitted right against the stop of the plug. Carefully hold the wire and firmly crimp the RJ-45 with a special
RJ-45 crimping tool.
Check the color orientation, check that the crimped connection is not about to come apart, and check to see if the
wires are flat against the front of the plug. If even one of these are incorrect, you will have to start over.
We recommend use of our EZ-RJ45 Crimper Tool and our EZ-RJ45 Tips to make the this job MUCH easier. With
the EZ-RJ45 system, the eight little wires of the Cat5 or Cat6 cable can be pulled completely through the EZ-RJ45
Tips, making color-coded wire verification easy.
Tips for Running Cat5e and Connecting to RJ-45:
• If you are pulling cables through hole, it is easier to attach the RJ-45 plugs after the cable is pulled.
• Odd numbered pins are always striped, even numbered pins are always solid colored.
• Looking at the RJ-45 with the clip facing away from you, Brown is always on the right, and pin 1 is on the left.
• No more than 1/2” of the Ethernet cable should be untwisted, otherwise it will be susceptible to crosstalk.
• Do not deform, do not bend, do not stretch, do not staple, do not run parallel with power cables, and do not run Cat5e
cables near noise inducing components.
RJ-45 Plug
Clip is pointed
away from you
T-568B
o
O
g B b
G br BR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
T-568B
o
O
g B b
G br BR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
RJ-45 Plug
Clip is pointed
away from you
T-568A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
g G o
B b O br BR
T-568A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
g G o
B b O br BR
O
o
G
g
B
b
BR
br
Orange
Orange striped
Green
Green striped
Blue
Blue striped
Brown
Brown striped
Wire Key
T-568A Straight-Through Cat5e Cable
T-568B Straight-Through Cat5e Cable
Pin 1
Pin 1
Recommended
T-568A/T-568B Standardized RJ45 to Cat5e Connection
Figure 13
