Whole-House Audio Control Addendum
Please use a standard (T-568A or T-568B) “Straight-Through” RJ-45 connection with Cat5 cable (regular Cat5, shielded
Cat5, Cat5e, or Cat6 are all acceptable) to connect the Keypad to the MC-86 or a Keypad to another Keypad. A “Straight-
Through” connection means that the Cat5 wires are attached in exactly the same order inside the RJ-45 plug at both ends
of the cable. Never use a cable with a “Crossover” connection in which the two ends of the cable are wired differently.
When running your Cat5 cable, you have two options: 1) use cable of predetermined lengths that have the RJ-45 plugs at-
tached by the manufacturer, or 2) use a crimping tool to attach the RJ-45 plugs yourself after you have run the Cat5 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 Cat5 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.
If you decide to add the RJ-45 connections yourself, make sure you wire the plugs using a “Straight-Through” standard. The
T-568A standard is supposed to be used in new network installations. However, most off-the-shelf Ethernet cables (Cat5
cables with RJ-45 plugs) are still of the T-568B standard; either standard is suitable for use with the MC-86.
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.
Tips for Running Cat5 and Connecting to RJ-45:
•
If you are pulling cables through holes, 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 Cat5 cables
near noise inducing components.
Connecting RJ-45 Plugs to Cat5 Cable
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 Cat5 Cable
T-568B Straight-Through Cat5 Cable
Pin 1
Pin 1
9
