Let me start by pointing out that my role in Dizzyfish does not usually involve much installation work for the most part. I have however found myself drafted in when the need arises and one mainstay of installation that I am quite familiar with is network termination.
I am by no means the quickest or most adept at this and my experience has generally been how fiddly it is and how frustratingly easy it is to have terminations fail. This can be due to a number of reasons but often a wire bunching up and not quite connecting correctly, sometimes a damaged wire or even the dreaded wrong order of wires. To be honest I am a bit of a pedant for things looking the part too and like a nice tidy, smart install so any instances of bent or untidy finishes does not sit well with me and might result in a redo.
All in all you are probably getting the picture that, for me, network terminating is not a particularly happy place.
Time to try something new
So with all this baggage in tow, I was intrigued by the Simply45 range of RJ45 termination products in particular their innovative RJ45 pass through modular plugs. Simple45 bill these as a – Simply Better Quality, Simply Easier to Use and Simply more Affordable – solution. So given these promises I was excited to give them a go!
So armed with some Cat6 cable, Simply45 RJ45 pass through plugs and my trusty S45 Passthrough Crimping tool, off I went to boldly find out if a relative noob, with limited patience, can use the tool to easily terminate and most importantly, get a good connection.
Here’s what I found…
1. The Strip (easier for some than others!)
First of all I totally rate the S45 Crimping tool for its cable stripping capabilities. It is simple to those practiced to do this with snips alone but I found the tool exceptionally effective making quick work of the process with zero damage to any wires. If I had lots of connections to do I would certainly find this an efficient option.
2. The Pass-through
Simply45 offer a range of different plug designs optimised for different cables designed to maximise the terminated cables performance. These different plugs are all handily colour-coded (packaging and plugs) making it simple to lay your hands on the correct plug as required.
Having separated and ordered the wires it was simple to straighten them out and funnel them through the plug. The very fact you push them the whole way through means that:
- No bunching or even bending of the wires (which can happen if there is any difference in wire length)
- It is exceptionally easy to double check the wire order before the crimp.
3. The Crimp
After a final check, its back to the crimping tool for the all important crimp and snip. With one fluid action the tool secures the end and snips off the excess wire creating a lovely crisp and clean finish. It cuts so close that it shaves off a tiny thread of plastic from the plug itself – a four way crimp even the Mighty Boosh would be proud off!
The wires inside are a beauty to behold and the final testing shows the connection is sound. Bada bing Bada boom !
I found the whole process so much quicker and less faffy than my previous experience and certainly this system gave me much more confidence that my terminations would test as sound. Certainly I can see really value in this in making the termination process on-site much more effective and efficient.
So if your mind is not already blown by this termination revolution then spare me another minute to tell you about the compatible S45 Strain Relief boots!
Let Simply45 take the strain
Best practice suggests that the integrity of all RJ45 terminations should be protected by the use of strain reliefs. However often over-boot strain reliefs make the plug too wide and unwieldy for fitting into patch panels.
Well, S45 Strain Relief boots are the same width as the plug itself meaning you can be assured of having adequate space between your panel ports.
These wee beauties can even be clicked into position and integrated with the RJ45 plug during the crimping process providing even more protection for the RJ45 connections. Perfect!
The Simply45 Pass through system offers:
In summary, the Simply45 RJ45 pass-through plugs are excellent and,coupled with the Crimp tool and strain relief boots, are a force to be reckoned with in terms of streamlining the network termination process.
If want to give them a try then have a look at the Simply45 range available in our Dizztribution online store or feel free to contact us with any questions.
Dizzyfish / Dizztribution
Dizzyfish are an AV installer based in Scotland. We provide specialist, bespoke audio visual solutions for domestic and private clients.
Dizztribution, ‘AV Products By Installers, For Installers’, are a supplier of quality AV products to the AV, electrical and security trades.
Dizztribution are trade-only distributers for All-Rack, Aquavision, AudiMaxim, AudioFlow, Beale Street Audio, Cobi Cabling, Evolution, FSR Inc, HIDEit Mounts, iEAST Audio, KableMate, Klein Tools, Partizan, Pulse Audio, Simply45, Super-Rod, Vanco, Zero-Ohm.
We are the sole UK distributors for: AudiMaxim, Beale Street Audio, Cobi Cabling, Evolution, FSR Inc, iEAST Audio, Pulse Audio, Vanco, Zero-Ohm.
To view our products and sign up for a trade account, visit our Dizztribution Online Shop.
