I need to shorten a Cat 6 cable

philjayj · 8 May 2010 at 16:18

Hi, I bought a 30m UTP cat 6 cable last month, I ran it from one room to the other, and its still a bit long. So I'd like to shorten it myself, but I'm not sure if I need a particular type of 'connector'.

If anyone could shed any light on this, I'd appreciate it.

Phil

paradigm · 8 May 2010 at 16:24

Nope, any RJ45 end will do the trick.

You will need a crimp tool though.

philjayj · 8 May 2010 at 16:28

Excellent, thanks. I've seen a very cheap crimp tool on a certain auction site for about a fiver, are they all the same, or should I be looking at the ~£30 ones?

Cheers

paradigm · 8 May 2010 at 16:39

Depends on how much use it will potentially get. If you literally want to use it once in a blue moon, get a cheap one.

I've got a selection at work, and if you are using them regularly its so much nicer to use a well engineered pair of crimps.

Hamster · 8 May 2010 at 18:59

If it's a patch cable, make sure you check the wiring on the existing end and match your newly crimped side to it rather than use the common wiring pattern (unless it's the same). I know it sounds obvious but i thought it's worth mentioning. As paradigm says, don't bother with an expensive crimp tool if you're only going to use it once; in fact it would be cheaper to buy a pre-made cable of your desired length than to buy a crimp tool and plugs if that is the case.

IAmATeaf · 8 May 2010 at 22:19

Maybe a stupid suggestion but can't you just coil up and hide the extra?

Gav · 9 May 2010 at 09:17

IAmATeaf said:
Maybe a stupid suggestion but can't you just coil up and hide the extra?

thats what i was thinking

philjayj · 9 May 2010 at 11:09

The excess cable is about 15m long, and its currently bunched up behind a TV, and looks very unsightly, so my OCD has kicked in and I 'need' to make it look nicer

Cheers

K.C. Leblanc · 9 May 2010 at 11:21

As people have said you need RJ45 plugs and a crimp tool. You will also need something for stipping the outer insulation off the cable (but not the inner insulation) When you buy the plugs you might be offered two sorts. Ones for solid cable and ones for stranded. If you using a patch cable you want stranded.

This will tell you how to wire it up.

RJ45s are a bit tricky, I'd make up a few patch leads with the offcuts in order to practice. And always leave a little slack, because you'll have to cut the plug off and start again if you get it wrong.