• Network wiring sockets

    From Russell Hafter News@21:1/5 to All on Wed Oct 20 18:21:08 2021
    I am asking about physical, plastic sockets, that take RJ45
    plugs.

    In the process of moving house, the new home has ethernet
    wires into several rooms. There is a switch in the loft,
    which I have renewed.

    All the Cat5e cables into the various rooms simply end in an
    RJ45 plug. I am looking to make this a bit neater, but I am
    not keen to cut into the Cat5e cable, so I was wondering if
    I were to buy a wall box with two RJ45 sockets, how are the
    two sockets wired?

    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can I
    plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect, say a
    computer and a printer?

    Or is the wiring in the wall box more complex than that?

    I have read a number of online articles, but they all seem
    to be either too basic (just telling me what a network is
    and what an RJ45 is), or too advanced (say telling me how to
    hard wire Cat5e into to back of the wall box).

    Any thoughts / pointers gratefully received!

    Thanks.

    --
    Russell
    Russell Hafter
    E-mail to russell at russellhafter dot me dot uk
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  • From John Williams (News)@21:1/5 to Russell Hafter News on Wed Oct 20 19:09:20 2021
    In article <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:

    There is a switch in the loft

    I'm not sure how happy I'd be with unattended electronics in a loft because
    of a possible fire risk, unless there were special precautions/alarms associated with it.

    John

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  • From Bob Latham@21:1/5 to Russell Hafter News on Wed Oct 20 19:28:14 2021
    In article <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:
    I am asking about physical, plastic sockets, that take RJ45
    plugs.

    In the process of moving house, the new home has ethernet
    wires into several rooms. There is a switch in the loft,
    which I have renewed.

    All the Cat5e cables into the various rooms simply end in an
    RJ45 plug. I am looking to make this a bit neater, but I am
    not keen to cut into the Cat5e cable, so I was wondering if
    I were to buy a wall box with two RJ45 sockets, how are the
    two sockets wired?

    They're not wired at all.

    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can I
    plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect, say a
    computer and a printer?

    Provided I've understood you correctly. If you wire the two
    sockets together yes can do that unusual but yes you can do it.

    Or is the wiring in the wall box more complex than that?

    You need a few inches of Cat5e solid conductor cable to wire between
    the two sockets and a punch down tool. Use the "B" spec standard
    which is..


    T568A Both T568B
    1 White/Green White/Orange
    2 Green Orange
    3 White/Orange White/Green
    4 Blue same Blue
    5 White/Blue same White/Blue
    6 Orange Green
    7 White/Brown same White/Brown
    8 Brown same Brown


    Ignore the "A" standard.

    Keep the pairs twisted as much as possible and use the orange wire to
    connect pin 2 on the one socket to pin 2 on the other socket, The
    green for pin 6 etc.


    Bob.

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  • From Bob Latham@21:1/5 to All on Wed Oct 20 19:41:02 2021
    In article <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:


    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can I
    plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect, say a
    computer and a printer?


    One advantage of doing what you suggest is that you will gain
    confidence at wiring the 8 wires on the rear of a cat5 socket without
    taking any risk with the existing wiring. Then, when you've got more confidence, cut the plug off and terminate on the rear of one of the
    sockets. Only one though, so either run another cable or blank off
    the second socket.

    bob.

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  • From Russell Hafter News@21:1/5 to UCEbin@tiscali.co.uk on Wed Oct 20 22:52:11 2021
    In article <597e7d155bUCEbin@tiscali.co.uk>, John Williams
    (News) <UCEbin@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
    In article <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>
    wrote:

    There is a switch in the loft

    I'm not sure how happy I'd be with unattended electronics
    in a loft because of a possible fire risk, unless there
    were special precautions/alarms associated with it.

    I had looked for a switch, but could not find it.

    It was a professional electrician who found both the switch
    and the amplifier for the TV signal. He has found one ot wo
    things in the house that I agree need fixed, but no qualms
    about the switch.

    For fire risk I would be more concerned with the gas boiler
    in the loft. Lots of electonics in those!

    It is all surrounded with glass fibre insulation...

    --
    Russell
    Russell Hafter
    E-mail to russell at russellhafter dot me dot uk
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  • From Russell Hafter News@21:1/5 to bob@sick-of-spam.invalid on Wed Oct 20 22:53:39 2021
    In article <597e7ffc3dbob@sick-of-spam.invalid>, Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:
    In article
    <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News
    <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:


    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket,
    can I plug a small switch into the other? So as to
    connect, say a computer and a printer?


    One advantage of doing what you suggest is that you will
    gain confidence at wiring the 8 wires on the rear of a
    cat5 socket without taking any risk with the existing
    wiring. Then, when you've got more confidence, cut the
    plug off and terminate on the rear of one of the sockets.
    Only one though, so either run another cable or blank off
    the second socket.

    Thanks.

    --
    Russell
    Russell Hafter
    E-mail to russell at russellhafter dot me dot uk
    Need a hotel? <http://www.hrs.com/?client=en__blue&customerId=416873103> Friendly web hosting <https://www.xencentrichosting.uk/billing/aff.php?aff=7>

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  • From Theo@21:1/5 to Russell Hafter News on Thu Oct 21 00:13:02 2021
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:
    All the Cat5e cables into the various rooms simply end in an
    RJ45 plug. I am looking to make this a bit neater, but I am
    not keen to cut into the Cat5e cable, so I was wondering if
    I were to buy a wall box with two RJ45 sockets, how are the
    two sockets wired?

    The wallboxes typically have modules which are expecting you to push in the wires using a punchdown tool. That means cutting the wires. With no wires they sockets are unconnected.

    However what you probably want are keystone jacks, which is a standard
    module which goes in sockets, patch panels etc. If you had a keystone
    coupler module it would take an RJ45 cable into the socket on the back and provide a socket on the front (ie it's a female to female adapter): https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/ultima-keystone-rj45-couplers/PG6455

    You can then mount these in a keystone wall plate: https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/ultima-single-gang-shuttered-keystone-faceplates/PG3051
    https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/ultima-bevelled-faceplates-with-keystone-shutters/PG3463

    which would go in a standard electrical backbox (although this arrangement
    can be quite deep, so check what depth you need. The bevelled/angled faceplates attempt to reduce the backbox depth needed).

    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can I
    plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect, say a
    computer and a printer?

    If you had the keystone coupler mounted in a wall plate, you'd only get a single wall outlet if you had only the one drop cable from the loft. You
    could then plug a switch into that, yes.

    Theo

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  • From Mik Towse@21:1/5 to Russell Hafter News on Wed Oct 20 19:58:39 2021
    In article <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> Russell Hafter News wrote:
    I am asking about physical, plastic sockets, that take RJ45
    plugs.
    [snip]
    All the Cat5e cables into the various rooms simply end in an
    RJ45 plug. I am looking to make this a bit neater, but I am
    not keen to cut into the Cat5e cable, so I was wondering if
    I were to buy a wall box with two RJ45 sockets, how are the
    two sockets wired?

    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can I
    plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect, say a
    computer and a printer?
    [snip]
    I understand what you're trying to do, but couldn't you just mount the switch on the wall and plug the loft cable into that?

    Another option would be a splitter (one into two RJ45) or connector (one to
    one RJ45). That way you'd not need to cut plugs off, but I reckon Bob is correct. I'd take the leap and hard wire the back of the socket. It's very simple with a 'wire-push' tool. I'm no expert and I managed to do this
    without a problem many years ago, before BT caught up with their own NTE5
    phone / internet front plate.

    --
    Mik Towse * mik.towse@xemik.com * http://www.xemik.co.uk/
    My writers' site can be found at: http://www.lexis.org.uk

    xemik.net - cost effective web hosting : http://xemik.net

    You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren.
    William Henry Hudson

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  • From Russell Hafter News@21:1/5 to theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk on Thu Oct 21 10:39:12 2021
    In article <cPf*FIcxy@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

    However what you probably want are keystone jacks, which
    is a standard module which goes in sockets, patch panels
    etc. If you had a keystone coupler module it would take
    an RJ45 cable into the socket on the back and provide a
    socket on the front (ie it's a female to female adapter): https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/ultima-keystone-rj45-couplers/PG6455

    You can then mount these in a keystone wall plate: https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/ultima-single-gang-shuttered-keystone-faceplates/PG3051
    https://www.comtecdirect.co.uk/product/ultima-bevelled-faceplates-with-keystone-shutters/PG3463

    which would go in a standard electrical backbox (although
    this arrangement can be quite deep, so check what depth
    you need. The bevelled/angled faceplates attempt to
    reduce the backbox depth needed).

    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can
    I plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect,
    say a computer and a printer?

    If you had the keystone coupler mounted in a wall plate,
    you'd only get a single wall outlet if you had only the
    one drop cable from the loft. You could then plug a
    switch into that, yes.

    Many thanks, Theo.

    That sounds like what I need.

    --
    Russell
    Russell Hafter
    E-mail to russell at russellhafter dot me dot uk
    Need a hotel? <http://www.hrs.com/?client=en__blue&customerId=416873103> Friendly web hosting <https://www.xencentrichosting.uk/billing/aff.php?aff=7>

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  • From Russell Hafter News@21:1/5 to mik@towse.org.uk on Thu Oct 21 10:45:27 2021
    In article <597E819973%mik.towse@xemik.com>, Mik Towse
    <mik@towse.org.uk> wrote:

    If I plug the Cat5e from the loft into one socket, can
    I plug a small switch into the other? So as to connect,
    say a computer and a printer?

    [snip] I understand what you're trying to do, but
    couldn't you just mount the switch on the wall and plug
    the loft cable into that?

    It would require double sided sticky tape, or something like
    that.

    The little switches I already have do not have any mounting
    facilities.

    Another option would be a splitter (one into two RJ45) or
    connector (one to one RJ45). That way you'd not need to
    cut plugs off, but I reckon Bob is correct. I'd take the
    leap and hard wire the back of the socket. It's very
    simple with a 'wire-push' tool. I'm no expert and I
    managed to do this without a problem many years ago,
    before BT caught up with their own NTE5 phone / internet
    front plate.

    Probably the main reason for not wanting to do this is the
    two standards of Cat5e cable.

    I have read horror stories of people wiring type A cable
    using type B setting and vv.

    Or even getting them mixed up.

    At present I have cables that "just work" and I do not want
    to jeopardise that!

    I have enough problems with telephone wires - not least as
    the existing setup uses the orange wires instead of the
    usual blue ones. Easy to deal with, as long as you know what
    is going on!

    --
    Russell
    Russell Hafter
    E-mail to russell at russellhafter dot me dot uk
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  • From Bob Latham@21:1/5 to Russell Hafter News on Thu Oct 21 11:40:59 2021
    In article <597ed2c9c1see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:
    In article <597E819973%mik.towse@xemik.com>, Mik Towse
    <mik@towse.org.uk> wrote:

    Another option would be a splitter (one into two RJ45) or
    connector (one to one RJ45). That way you'd not need to
    cut plugs off, but I reckon Bob is correct. I'd take the
    leap and hard wire the back of the socket. It's very
    simple with a 'wire-push' tool. I'm no expert and I
    managed to do this without a problem many years ago,
    before BT caught up with their own NTE5 phone / internet
    front plate.

    Probably the main reason for not wanting to do this is the
    two standards of Cat5e cable.

    I have read horror stories of people wiring type A cable
    using type B setting and vv.

    Or even getting them mixed up.

    This existing cable you have may have transparent plugs if so, can
    you see the wires inside the plug? That will reveal A or B.

    The other end is in the loft? Did you say it was plugged into a
    switch up there? Do the same up there.

    To be honest this is nothing like as complicated or difficult as you
    seem to think.

    It would be a good investment to get a tester and crimper with your
    punch down tool, I wouldn't be without mine. They test all 8
    connections end to end and as you need a punch down tool maybe
    something like this would be good.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tokmali-Ethernet-Computer-Maintenance-Household/dp/B089SMV2N8/ref=sr_1_38?crid=1XA8MS9JMY47U&dchild=1&keywords=cat5+punch+down+tool&qid=1634810936&sprefix=cat5+punch+%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-38

    If you cut the plug off and terminate in the back of a single cat5e
    socket the tester would tell you if you have some wires wrong and the
    pattern will reveal if its an A-B issue and if it is, just
    re-terminate to the other standard or better still, reterminate the
    loft end also to "B".

    Plenty of videos on youtube on how to put crimp plugs on or punch
    down on the back of sockets. Crimper in the kit above, easy, honest.

    There are very, very few systems wired as "A" almost everything is "B"

    Don't be insulted, I don't know how much you know but this connection
    does not have to match anything else in your home. The A or B bit is
    just for the one cable.

    I find the hardest job is looking at the back of the cat5e socket you
    see the 8 connections and usually 2 colour symbols for each. Working
    out which symbols are A and which B but once you've got it, you're
    away.

    This is a skill worth developing not only for your self but for
    friends too.

    I had some security cameras fitted once and the installer terminated
    both ends of the cat5e into plugs. It worked fine but after he'd gone
    I checked what he done and it was neither A or B it was security man
    special but it worked. It's now B at both ends.


    Bob.

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  • From Dave Plowman (News)@21:1/5 to Russell Hafter News on Thu Oct 21 15:28:47 2021
    In article <597e78abccsee.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid>,
    Russell Hafter News <see.sig@russellhafter.me.invalid> wrote:
    All the Cat5e cables into the various rooms simply end in an
    RJ45 plug. I am looking to make this a bit neater, but I am
    not keen to cut into the Cat5e cable, so I was wondering if
    I were to buy a wall box with two RJ45 sockets, how are the
    two sockets wired?

    Are they moulded cable and plugs, or ordinary CAT5 cable with plugs added?
    The second would be the normal way with house wiring, as getting ready
    made cables of the correct length could be difficult.

    Most sockets use insulation piercing connections. Insertion tools are
    cheap - but you can use a suitable screw driver at a pinch. You may be
    able to find ones that take a plug too - but may need a deeper than common
    back box.

    --
    *Why is a boxing ring square?

    Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
    To e-mail, change noise into sound.

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