I'm trying to terminate shielded twisted-pair Ethernet cable, but the individual conductors seem slightly thicker than the wires in the unshielded cable I normally use. My clear passthrough RJ45 plugs won't accept the conductors, while the shielded plugs I have are closed at the front, making the wires harder to keep aligned during insertion. Is this expected, and can an ordinary unshielded plug be used if the cable's shielding is removed?
2 Answers
The issue is probably the cable category and conductor size, not simply whether it is shielded. Cat6 and especially Cat6A cable can use larger conductors than Cat5e, so a passthrough plug made for smaller cable may not fit. Use an RJ45 plug rated for the cable’s category, conductor diameter, and solid or stranded construction. Don’t remove the shielding just to make the plug fit; use a shielded connector when the cable is shielded and terminate the drain or foil as the connector instructions specify.
Use the correct connector for the cable instead of forcing a smaller plug onto it. Also check whether the cable has solid or stranded conductors, since many plugs are designed for only one type. For permanent wiring, terminating the cable on a compatible keystone jack or patch panel is often easier; use suitable patch cables when you need an RJ45 plug on the end.
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