Poor quality cable or rj45 connectors?

N

Nark

n3wb
Jun 26, 2025
5
5
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
 
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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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Yeah i noticed that crimp didn’t fully cut the cable. I changed the blade out and it was fine, unfortunately I didn’t take a photo of it, it’s rather unusual I done a CCTV install a few weeks ago and it was fine, same cable, same rj45, crimper etc, I’m at a complete loss.


IMG_1191.jpeg


IMG_1192.jpeg
 
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Ah, I see. You are using pass thru connectors and are crimping them with a standard non-pass thru crimper. The VDV226-107 is for standard RJ-45 non pass-thru connectors, the VDV226-110 is to be utilized with pass-thru connectors exclusively. Not sure still why you are having issues with pin 7 & 8 not crimping correctly, though. Just for shits and giggles, try a small pak of non pass-thru RJ 45 connectors and see if you experience an improvement in crimping.Screenshot 2025-06-26 at 10.51.19 AM.png
 
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iwanttosee said:
I dislike the pull thru connectors with a passion.

I use 23 awg cat6 for my house and I use two type of connectors, they work perfect.


View attachment 223365
Click to expand...
Different people get different results. Me personally, using the old non-pass thru RJ-45 connectors for many, many years, I would occasionally get a crimped connection that would get flaky after a bit. After I started using pass-thrus, I had perfect connections every single time and have never had a flaky connection with them afterwards. After a bit of time, I went through all of my ethernet connections, chopped off all of the old non-pass-thru RJ-45 connectors and installed new Pass-thru RJ-45 connectors. I quit having flaky connections and some of my connected devices actually speeded up considerably.
 
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Maybe the whole thing is fine.
Plug the camera or device in and see if it starts working.
Maybe the tester is having a fault with 7-8.
I have no tester. 99.9% of my terminations work 1st time.
I've been on commercial jobs where test results had to be certified and my alleged piece of crap 18 year old Crimper from Home depot branded "ideal" non pass thru has worked everytime.
But i use it with both pass thru and non-passthru. cat 5 and cat 6.
maybe the whole batch of terminations has a manufacturing defect on 7-8?
 
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