ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Voice - Data - Video Discussion Cat-5 installs- staples?

First, let me apologise for my ignorance...almost all of my work is with "power" circuits.
I do pull a fair amount of Cat-5 for my customers, even make terminations at times. I have always bee careful with pulling force, the use of D-rings, etc.
On another job, the customer hired someone else to run the phone/data wire. The firm he hired specialises in this work, and is not the smallest or newest kid on the block.

So what do I see, but the other crew stapling the Cat-5 to the wood beams every few feet- just like the phone company used to do in homes.
I was taught that doing so would ruin the Cat-5.
Yet, I can't believe that this guy would have gotten away with this, for as long as he has, if there was a problem doing so. (To replace a line at this place would entail LOTS of demo- bldg uses 'wood I-beams')

So tell me- am I overly cautious- or is this guy flirting with disaster?

am I overly cautious- NO!

is this guy flirting with disaster- YES

This all depends on the type of stapler... a T-25 will work but is risky - real risky. Not to mention won't pass some peoples idea of visual inspection - deformed jacket = degraded performance - fail!

The T-59 supposedly doesn't do it... http://www.lanshack.com/product1.asp?SID=10&Product_ID=2321

When you say ruin the Cat5, do you mean ruin the Cat5 rating of 100MPS? From what I understand (not personal experience, but 2nd & 3rd hand sources) you can ruin the cable's ability to transmit at these higher speeds, but unless it is certified, you'll rarely know it.

Now if we're talking cat5 for phone use, I'd say yes, you're being overly cautious. if you did happen to short a pair together, you have 3 more to choose from.

The firm he hired specialises in this work, and is not the smallest or newest kid on the block.

Just because they specialize or have been around a long time doesn't mean they know what they are doing- only that they are good at BSing their customers.

There is absolutely no excuse for stapling CAT 5 in new construction. No reputable company will install cable that way. True, it probably will work but that is no excuse to at least try to get it right.

-Hal

What is the current thinking about supporting Cat5

When you compress cat 5 cable you change the impedance of the cable by changing the way the pairs are twisted. No!!! staples as well as no nylon tie wraps pulling a bundle of cable together. use only velcro tie wraps.

What is the current thinking about supporting Cat5?
http://www.erico.com/public/library/Fixing/LT0324.pdf

-Hal

I want to thank you all for your responses...it's so nice to hear I'm right! :-)

Thanks Hal. This has gone a long way since I decided yanking wire was a young man's job
;-)

Stapling Cat-5e wire is OK as long as the following is taken into account:

• The staple should not deform the sheath of the cable at all.
• The staples used should have a soft bit between the staple and the cable.
• Stapling pressure should be kept as enough to insert the staple and no more.

Also, there are cables made in New Zealand here that have a Teflon sheath, which makes pulling them a lot easier, ie: no friction.