cat 5 cable

[Nefesis]

in the book, it says that 18 to 22 gauge wire is the best to use, and a millimeter and a half. however, it also lists a few cables that we should be able to strip and get wires from. cat5 ethernet wire is listed, but it says the wires in cat5 cables are only a millimeter in thickness. has anyone ever used it?

[Witchboard]

I don't like CAT5 for wiring electronics.  It's solid not stranded and stiff.  But, what I don't like about it may be why others use it.

[Lilwolf]

solid core wires dont bend that well.  So when you move the cable around, it ends up putting stress on the end connection (cripping or solder).  

I used cat5 for my first few panels.  Then rewired all but one because I would have to recrimp the quick disconnects on a VERY regular basis.

I ended up getting some really cheap wire that is used for invisible dog fences.  Works great.

I also want to (but havent' yet) buy the multi color wires from therealbobroberts.com... he sells wire pretty cheap, and sells 10ft of 10 colors for a buck more then 100 ft of any color.... would be nice.

[DeathMonk]

I don't like CAT5 for wiring electronics.  It's solid not stranded and stiff.  But, what I don't like about it may be why others use it.

The CAT5 used for patch cables is stranded.

[NoOne=NBA=]

Cat 5 cable works great.
I wired all my modular panels with it.
I used stranded patch cables, as mentioned above, and haven't had ANY problems with it at all.

[JustMichael]

Cat5 worked just fine for me.  I did strip 3x as much wire as I need and then folded 1/3 of the wire onto itself then folded the now two strands onto the rest of the stripped wire.  When done I had 3 strands to crimp to instead of just 1.

[gnateye]

i only use cat5, i just happen to have "recieved" 2 full roles from my brother, so i have been using that, its 8 wires inside which is nice for making clean panels

[Witchboard]

I don't like CAT5 for wiring electronics.  It's solid not stranded and stiff.  But, what I don't like about it may be why others use it.

The CAT5 used for patch cables is stranded.

<Grabs patch cable and cuts in half>  Huh... so it is.

[ChadTower]

So people like cat5... I happen to have like 1000ft of cat6 in my basement... any comments on that?

[gnateye]

im not saying its the best, but the price is right

[boesiii]

cat 5 cabel can be either stranded or solid.

[Darkstalker]

"at 5 cabel can be either stranded or solid."

You're right, you can buy CAT 5 in either stranded or solid, it has nothing to do with the pre-made cable type.  I personally prefer to use stranded cable in general when wiring electronics, because electrons travel on the outside of wires.  That means you will get better contact overall with stranded because it's made up of lots of little solid core wires.  Not to mention solid core wiring doesn't handle bending very well which has already been mentioned.

"So people like cat5... I happen to have like 1000ft of cat6 in my basement... any comments on that?"

Given the fact that you are just putting voltage on the lines and not worrying about any sort of electrical signals, CAT 6 (Or CAT 5e) is more or less a waste of resources.  If it's free and just sitting around, hey why not.  You just don't get any benefit from the extra twists.  Better off saving it for a gigabit LAN IMO.

If you are going to use Ethernet cable, I would recommend getting the Plenum rated variety even though it does cost a little more (Usually $10-20 per roll).  The main difference is the fact that it uses a kevlar sheath for the wires instead of the PVC style plastic.  Point being is in the extreme unfortunate event that the cabinet catches on fire, Plenum rated cable doesn't release toxic chemicals when it burns.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I have seen patch cables with solid wire, so you do need to check when buying them.

And, just a thought here--if my cabinet is on fire, IN my house, I think toxic fumes will be pretty low on my list of worries.

[Doc-]

Only use the stranded stuff (used for patch cables) and don't use the solid stuff.

I've used it successfully on my modular control panels and it has been pretty robust despite daily handling.  I did however twist it with other wire or double it over in most cases to give the crimp connection more to grab onto.

Here's a detailed description of wiring for both the panels and my RJ45 patch panel - which allows for quick panel swapouts.  It also contains some tips:

   http://www.beersmith.com/mame/wiring.htm

Doc-

[Nefesis]

i have about 50 ft of cat5e patch cable. if it bends pretty easily, does that mean it's stranded? or do i have to actually cut it open?  

[Darkstalker]

"And, just a thought here--if my cabinet is on fire, IN my house, I think toxic fumes will be pretty low on my list of worries."

This is a pretty extreme reason to go with plenum rated cable that is very unlikely to happen, but what's worse:  Being caught in your house which is on fire, or being caught in your house which is on fire with toxic chemicals in the air...

"Only use the stranded stuff (used for patch cables) and don't use the solid stuff."

Again, being patch, rollover, or crossover has NO bearing whatsoever on the cables being solid or stranded.  You have to check the package it came in.  Some cable manufacturers MAY (Probably not) print it on the outside of the cable insulation, but the original box is the best place to check.

"i have about 50 ft of cat5e patch cable. if it bends pretty easily, does that mean it's stranded? or do i have to actually cut it open?"

I think I was a little confusing.  It isn't that solid core cable will physically resist bending (Not at this small of a guage anyways), you just run a higher chance of snapping/breaking the copper core of the individual wires if the cable gets bent and creating shorts or breaks.  You will need to look at the copper core of the individual wires (Pick one of the eight), but just take a look at what's sticking out the end.  It will either have a bunch of smaller copper strands in the wire or one "big" copper core in each wire.

[Nefesis]

i think i'll porbably have to either cut it open or not use it all... even with a magnifying glass looking at the ends through the clasp i can't tell. maybe i'll just buy some.

[NoOne=NBA=]

This is a pretty extreme reason to go with plenum rated cable that is very unlikely to happen, but what's worse:  Being caught in your house which is on fire, or being caught in your house which is on fire with toxic chemicals in the air...

I'd call it a wash, as far as I'm concerned.

The little amount of extra fumes from the cables would be pretty insignificant when weighed against all the other plastic stuff that's within burning range.
I've got vinyl blinds right behind it, the vinyl/acrylic pieces of the cabinet itself, plastic boxes and stuff all over.

Not to mention the fact that, if it DOES catch fire, I'm probably going to be running AWAY from it.

The things that I can see from here that I'd worry alot more about are a can of WD-40, a can of silicone spray--and then there's the fact that I still have 3-4 of the little propane tanks that I forgot to dig out of my hunting stuff last year somewhere in the closet right next to it.

[Darkstalker]

i think i'll porbably have to either cut it open or not use it all... even with a magnifying glass looking at the ends through the clasp i can't tell. maybe i'll just buy some.

You won't be able to tell through a RJ45 connector, you'll have to cut an end off and look at the wires.

I'd call it a wash, as far as I'm concerned.

Not trying to argue about it or anything, just recommending getting plenum rated if you're going to go out and buy a box.  If you've got stuff laying around, no big deal.  My point was more on the stranded core preference than the cable insulation type.

[Nefesis]

think it is stranded   ... but i'll be cutting it open and using it even if it isn't.

[jr76]

The things that I can see from here that I'd worry alot more about are a can of WD-40, a can of silicone spray--and then there's the fact that I still have 3-4 of the little propane tanks that I forgot to dig out of my hunting stuff last year somewhere in the closet right next to it.

Don't worry, those propane tanks won't blow up. We were camping once, my friend got bored, threw a full propane (those little green ones) into the camp fire, nothing really happens. It makes a high screech sound, a little flame pops out, and that's it!

[dtu]

I am a Telecommunications Analyst and have not come across a modern Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6 patch lead that is solid, what would be the advantages of that? Solid cable is used for wall/building cabling.

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'm guessing price--if you have a roll handy, and are wiring a building.

I got a 10 pack of them from Fry's, and ran into a couple mixed into the bunch that I got from work when we moved into our new building.