Category 6 and Category 6A cables are the dominant media comprising today’s copper-based networks. These twisted-pair copper cables are deployed primarily for horizontal links in local area networks (LANs) to enable IP-based communication and deliver power over Ethernet (PoE) to networked devices throughout commercial buildings and campuses, including phones, laptops, wireless access points, surveillance cameras, access control panels, point-of-sale machines, video displays, printers, LED lights, sensors, and more. Category 6A cables are also deployed in data center environments for 10 Gigabit switch-to-server links and out-of-band management
With Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables essential for network connectivity in today’s digital era, proper installation is necessary to maintain network performance. Improper installation can lead to network downtime and non-functioning links that disrupt business operations, cause financial losses, and even compromise the safety and security of people and property. Let’s look at installation best practices to help you avoid common mistakes and maintain network uptime and performance.
Step 1: Installing Cable
Industry cabling standards like TIA-568 specify installation requirements for Cat 6 and Cat 6A twisted-pair cables. These standards limit the length of a copper cable link to 100 meters to ensure that Cat 6 cable will support up to 1 Gigabit Ethernet and Cat 6A cable will support up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Cabling standards also specify a minimum bend radius for cables, maximum pulling tension, and fill ratios for pathways. When installing Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables, it’s important to follow industry standards to help ensure maximum performance.
When routing Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables through pathways and cable managers, it’s essential not to exceed the minimum bend radius. The minimum bend radius is the smallest allowed curve a copper cable can bend without causing damage and impacting signal integrity. Per industry standards, the minimum bend radius for Cat 6 and Cat 6A cable is 4 times the diameter of the cable. For example, a Cat 6A UTP cable with a diameter of 0.57 inches has a minimum bend radius of 2.28 inches. Pathways should be designed to prevent exceeding the minimum bend radius. Installers can also avoid overbending cables by maintaining as flat an angle as possible when feeding cables off a reel or out of a box into the pathway.
When installing Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables, it’s also important to avoid exceeding the standard recommended maximum pulling tension of 25 lbf. Exceeding the pull tension can damage the cable insulation and alter the geometry of the copper pairs, leading to short circuits and cable failures. Maintaining slow, uniform pulls and using a cable-pulling lubricant can help maintain adequate tension during pulling. When installing Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables, industry standards also recommend a maximum fill ratio of 40% for pathways based on the cross-sectional areas of the cable and the cable tray area.
In addition to industry standards, cabling installation must comply with applicable codes and regulations. For example, the National Electric Code (NEC®) requires maintaining a distance of 8 to 12 inches between Cat 6 or Cat 6A cables and electrical wires. The code also dictates the maximum number of cables per bundle for PoE applications and fill ratios for cables in conduit. Code compliance is vital to ensure safety, optimize network performance, and acquire approval from building inspectors and authorities having jurisdiction.
Step 2: Terminating Cable
Once Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables are in place, they must be terminated at both ends. Within telecommunications rooms and data centers, cables typically terminate to termination blocks at the back of a patch panel or to modular jacks inserted into blank patch panels. At the device end, cables terminate to jacks housed in faceplates, surface mount boxes, or other work area solutions. Patch cords are then used to make connections to network equipment and devices. At the device end, Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables can also terminate to modular plugs for plugging directly into devices.
Whether the cable terminates to a block, an outlet, or a plug, the first step in terminating Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables is to peel off the outer jacket using a twisted-pair stripper, Once the jacket is removed, the next step is to separate the four pairs. Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables can contain a plastic spine that helps maintain separation between pairs for superior crosstalk performance. If the cable includes a spline, it must be cut as close as possible to the jacket, being careful not to cut any conductors.
Once the jacket and any spine are removed, the next step is to untwist the pairs in preparation for termination. While industry standards allow T568A or T568B wiring schemes for pin/pair assignment, Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables are typically terminated using T568B.
Each of the 8 conductors of a Cat 6 or Cat 6A cable must be matched to its proper position to prevent miswirings that can prevent links from functioning. Termination blocks, jacks, and plugs are color-coded to help ensure proper wiring. The conductors of the cable are terminated using insulation displacement contacts (IDCs), which are specially designed grooves that displace the conductor insulation and establish contact with the copper conductor. For optimal performance, conductor air twist should be maintained as close as possible to the IDCs.
Cat 6 and Cat 6A cables terminate to IDCs using punch-down tools. The type of punch-down tool varies based on the patch panel, jack, or plug type. Each of the 8 conductors of the cable can be punched down individually with a single blade punch-down tool or seated and cut at once using a 4-pair punch-down tool. 4-pair punch-down tools save time, prevent hand fatigue, and achieve better termination consistency.
For example, a 110 4-pair punch-down tool punches down all 8 conductors in a row at 110 blocks on the back of a patch panel, while a handheld 4-pair jack termination tool terminates all 8 conductors on a modular jack in one squeeze. For field terminable plugs, the conductors are typically terminated to a wire manager using a crimping tool and then inserted into the plug housing.
Step 3: Verifying Connections
Once a Cat 6 or Cat 6A cable has been installed and terminated, the best practice is to verify connections using a network tester. Verifying continuity is done with a wire map test that checks for shorts, opens, and miswirings, such as split, crossed, or reversed pairs. Opens can occur when a conductor is not seated correctly, while shorts are caused by a conductor breaking during termination. Miswirings happen when connectors are terminated to the wrong position.
Installation checklist
Following is a checklist of key installation practices for ensuring optimal Cat 6 and Cat 6A network performance.
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Follow all applicable standards and local codes
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Do not exceed the minimum bend radius of the cable
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Do not exceed the maximum pull tension of the cable
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Do not exceed maximum fill ratios for pathways and conduit
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Do not install cables adjacent to electrical wires
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Ensure conductors terminate to the correct position on connecting hardware
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Maintain pair twists as close to the termination point as possible
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Use a 4-pair punch-down tool for termination consistency
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Verify connectivity with a network tester
The good news is that CablesPlus is a premier supplier of Cat 6 and Cat 6A copper cables, patch panels, jacks, and plugs. Plus, we offer everything you need for proper installation—from prep and punch-down tools to testers. Contact us today for all your Cat 6 and Cat 6A copper cabling needs.
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