How do I terminate a Cat6 RJ45 keystone jack, and should I use T568A or T568B

Updated Source: PN307K Rev Source: PN307K Rev
Quick answer

To terminate a Panduit Mini-Com TX6 PLUS (Cat 6) or TX5e jack, strip about 1 inch of jacket, lace the pairs into the termination cap following the T568A or T568B sequence printed on it, make sure each conductor is secure in its slot, cut flush with the CWST snips, then press the cap onto the jack with the CGJT tool while keeping the cable straight. T568A and T568B both work; what matters is using the same scheme at both ends of every link.

Steps

From: Mini-Com TX5e and TX6 PLUS UTP Jack Modu install guide, pp. 1-3

  1. Strip the jacket
    Back 1" (25.4mm) from the end of the cable.
  2. Pick the wiring sequence
    The cap is marked for both T568B and T568A. Choose one and use the same one on the patch panel or jack at the other end.
  3. Lace the pairs in order
    Follow the order on the cap carefully so the wires overlap properly in the next step. For T568B the blue/white wire overlaps and runs parallel to the green wire; for T568A it overlaps and runs parallel to the orange wire.
  4. Seat and trim
    Make sure the conductors are secure in the slots, then cut them flush with the cap using the CWST.
  5. Terminate with the CGJT tool
    Press the cap onto the jack. Keep the cable straight: bending it can unseat conductors and the termination fails.
  6. Check the work
    Verify the conductors are visible and secured in place.
  7. Snap the jack in
    Mini-Com style jacks and keystone style jacks each have their own install and removal; for keystone, depress the latch on the module to remove it.

Specs & limits

From: Mini-Com TX5e and TX6 PLUS UTP Jack Modu install guide, pp. 1-3

Strip length1" (25.4mm)
CablePVC or Plenum rated 22-24 AWG solid or stranded
Conductor OD0.035 inch (0.88mm) to 0.048 inch (1.2mm)
Re-terminationsA minimum of 10 times
ToolsCGJT termination tool, CWST snips
StandardFollow ANSI/NECA/BICSI-568-2006 installation guidelines

Common mistakes

From: Mini-Com TX5e and TX6 PLUS UTP Jack Modu install guide, pp. 1-3

  • Mixing T568A at one end and T568B at the other. The link tests crossed; use one scheme on both ends.
  • Bending the cable while closing the cap. Conductors pull out of their slots and the termination fails.
  • Right hand lay cable uses a different lacing: Panduit sheet PN580A shows the green/white (T568B) or orange/white (T568A) wire overlapping the blue wire.

Applies to

TX6 PLUS · CJ688TP, KJ688TPCJ5E88T · TX5e

Also asked as: “how to terminate rj45 keystone jack”

Sources

  1. Mini-Com TX5e and TX6 PLUS UTP Jack Modules Installation Instructions, p. 1 (PN307K Rev )
  2. Mini-Com TX5e and TX6 PLUS UTP Jack Modules Installation Instructions, p. 2 (PN307K Rev )
  3. Mini-Com TX5e and TX6 PLUS UTP Jack Modules Installation Instructions, p. 3 (PN307K Rev )
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