Poor quality cable or rj45 connectors?

N

Nark

n3wb
Jun 26, 2025
4
0
Ireland.
Hello all.

Been installing CCTV for many years, although recently I have noticed using cat6 and Cst5E cables the crimp overall is not fantastic. I test all cables using two different testers for POE, the below image is of today, pins 1-6 pass fine, 7-8 which provide the POE power seems to fail, I’ve cut it back and done again and the same issue, I’ve bought a new crimp (Klein Tools) and new Rj45 shielded and unshielded but still 7&8 fail.

I bought 305m of cat 6 in case this was the issue, seems to be the same issue, bought a packet of RJ45 from Screwfix still the same issue.

Has anyone came across this before?
 

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Are the problem connectors spec'ed for solid copper? Or are they for stranded and the spikes are missing their mark when crimped? More info below; IMO, the second image of the triple-spike connector is best:

TonyR

Post in thread 'RJ45 connectors - are they all the same?'

Other than the option for pass-thru type or non pass-thru, there's also this to watch out for:
  • There's different point types for stranded conductors ONLY or two types for solid and stranded conductor. See image at end.
  • If you're using 23AWG (larger than standard 24AWG) insure the RJ-45's will accept it.


RJ45_crimp-contacts_solid-stranded.jpg
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Not completely sure to be fair although I’ve been using the same rj45’s for a long time without any issues.

Attached is the image from the listing, I’ve had these a while just unusual why they would start messing about.

IMG_1183.jpeg
 
Nark said:
Yeah I’ve tried three, two new ones. The unusual thing is it’s only pins 7&8 don’t fully crimp down, the rest of them are absolutely fine.
Click to expand...
I have had my Klein VDV226-110 RJ-45 crimpers for several years and have never had that issue. It crimps all 8 wires perfectly every single time and always trims the wires perfectly flush with the end of the RJ-45 pass thru connector. I notice in your picture that it doesn't look like your trimming shear on your crimper is working correctly or maybe isn't tight enough or the blade maybe worn out. What model # of Klein crimpers are you using? What is the brand and part# of the pass thru RJ-45 connectors are you using? There is a common denominator somewhere. If the issue isn't your crimper, then it is your supply of RJ-45 connectors.

CAT5E is a smaller gauge solid wire than CAT6. I still run CAT5E as......well, none of my cameras are even remotely close to being 1GB nor do I think they will be remotely close to that speed in my lifetime, so I have just kept my inventories of CAT5E cable and have never bought into the fastest CAT series. Just to ask: That isn't flat CAT6 cable, it it? Flat cables are usually #30 stranded.
 
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