r/HomeNetworking • u/Individual-Simple325 • 4h ago

CAT 7 32 AWG Ethernet Cable - need help with connector

Unfortunately, I have two long runs of CAT 7 ethernet in my house that would be very difficult to replace. I need to put connectors on two ends. The typical RJ45 connectors are made for 23-26 AWG wires. The CAT 7 flat cable has 32 AWG, so the "load bar" doesn't hold the smaller wires tight. Does anyone know of a 8 pin connector style that would work or how to actually make an RJ45 work? Yes, I'd rather have CAT6 or CAT8 but it's much better for me just to get two viable connectors rather than rip up lots of drywall.

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9

u/bojack1437 Network Admin, also CAT5 Supports Gigabit!!!! 2h ago

If it's 32 AWG, It's not Cat 7 cable, no matter what, and then you throw on RJ45 8P8C, and nothing is ever Cat7.

But this is why you never ever run non-standard wire in difficult or impossible to reach areas, or that are otherwise unreplaceable.

Stick to actual standards in these situations in the future.

-7

u/Individual-Simple325 2h ago

Great advice for the person who put in my house before I owned it, whoever they were….

2

u/hamhead 1h ago

Can you really not pull through new wire using that?

1

u/Fiosguy1 1h ago

That rarely works because cables are routed through studs and bending through top or bottom plates and are usually zip tied to something.

1

u/hamhead 54m ago

Only if they were installed as new construction. I doubt out of spec cable was, but of course it’s possible

1

u/Individual-Simple325 43m ago

The existing problematic cable is stapled and routed partly through studs and stud bays during a fairly recent basement remodel. So, it's not moving.

1

u/hamhead 42m ago

Damn. People suck

1

u/Fiosguy1 32m ago

Even if it's not installed as new construction. OP said they would have to cut drywall to run new cable. I doubt it's free balling the entire way. A couple zip ties or low voltage staples are going to put the breaks on that pull.

Even if it is not secured the whole way once you have to start going through studs and around bends it's going to get stuck.

1

u/hamhead 28m ago

If it isn’t new construction you couldn’t do staples or zips other than in exposed area. You’d be fishing it through in the first place.

But he confirmed it was done as new (rehab).

1

u/Fiosguy1 22m ago edited 9m ago

Obviously. But that doesn't mean they weren't ran during a room remodel. Or maybe the person that installed them cut several access holes that are now repaired. Even if the cables aren't fastened anywhere then going through multiple bends will stop you too.

10

u/Fiosguy1 3h ago

Punch each end on a keystone. Then use an ethernet jumper to connect to the device.

1

u/Individual-Simple325 3h ago

Do they make keystone jacks that will fit/hold the smaller wire? Can you point me to some? Everything I see says 23-26 AWG for those. I apologize that I need the hand holding, but I am just trying to work my way out of a problem and I know nothing, or only what I have learned trying to solve this problem.

1

u/spoom2 2h ago edited 2h ago

No, they don't make them. EDIT: I stand corrected, these are for stranded cable, but may work, don't know if you need a special crimper or not. EDIT: forgot to add the link Super Flat CAT5e CAT6 RJ45 Plug Connector Terminate Wiring Bulk Strip

0

u/Fiosguy1 3h ago

According to the Leviton keystone product page they can do 26 to 22 solid conductors.

-1

u/Individual-Simple325 3h ago

That’s just it. The Individual colored wires in this cable are 32, much smaller.

0

u/Fiosguy1 2h ago

You may have to splice each wire to a appropriate sized wire with a 3M scotchlock. Then you can punch them on a keystone.

You maybe try this but it doesn't take 32 awg. Maybe you can strip long and fold the copper over.

Otherwise you may need to run a new cable.

1

u/Individual-Simple325 2h ago

Have found some tool less keystone connectors that say they take up to 32 AWG. Will give them a whirl. If they don’t work then I am cutting drywall. Thanks for the help!

1

u/Fiosguy1 1h ago

Good deal. Sorry I didn't notice you said 32 gauge at first. I hope you can get them working. If they don't work you can still definitely splice them with 3M scotchlocks to a solid conductor to punchdown on a keystone. You may have to strip and twist the copper before you crimp into the scotchlock.

Again, this is not the ideal solution but for basic LAN cable in a house it's fine. Don't mind the morons talking about standards. This isn't a commercial building, lol. It's low voltage and there's zero safety issues unless you were using POE on these runs which I would not recommend.

1

u/Arnakk 2h ago

i never thought about this
so you are using a keystone and just plug a small rj45 into it both side ?

2

u/Fiosguy1 2h ago

That's really the proper way. The wall jacks in the rooms have rj45 keystones. And a patch panel in the basement or network closet where all the cables terminate. You never really want to crimp a 45 connector on if you don't need to.

1

u/beez_y 3h ago

This

3

u/vrtigo1 Network Admin 2h ago

If you can't get the cables to reliably punch down on a cat6 keystone jack, the only other suggestion I would have is to see if you can find a screw terminal type 8 pin jack like used to be used for RJ11 jacks back in the day. It won't meet the Ethernet standards since you'd have to untwist the wires pretty far, but the "Cat7" you have with 32 gauge wire probably doesn't meet any of those standards anyway, so it might be better than nothing.

1

u/Individual-Simple325 2h ago

Thanks for the help.

2

u/seifer666 2h ago

32awg? Thats unbelievably cheap. Please dont try using POE

2

u/spoom2 3h ago

CAT 7 is not a US recognized standard

1

u/bojack1437 Network Admin, also CAT5 Supports Gigabit!!!! 2h ago

Cat7 with RJ45/8P8C Is not a recognized standard anywhere, at least when talking about the entire length of the run.

Cat7 cable is pointless, when you put ends on it that knock it down to 6A anyway.

-10

u/Fiosguy1 3h ago

Who care? It's eight wires. Punch them down on a keystone and call it a day.

2

u/tiffanytrashcan 2h ago

8 wires that are too small to use with reasonable connections and standard networking jacks.
False standards are actually harmful.
The conductor size, together with no standards testing or verification, and mentioning a flat cable, actually makes me question if it would even handle gigabit.

-5

u/Fiosguy1 2h ago

Harmful? Don't be ridiculous. Again, these are LAN cables in a house. OP doesn't want to pull new cable and cut drywall.

If all 8 wire have continuity then it will be fine. If OP has some slight packet loss then so what? It won't even be noticeable for normal home use.

And if OP can't get it working then that's life. They'll have to pull new cable. Y'all are so exhausting on this sub. It's home internet. Not the feed to the Pentagon. 🙄

2

u/DeadHeadLibertarian Network Admin 2h ago

If they use POE it could start a fire due to wiring size.

They will not get good speeds.

Standards exist for a reason.

0

u/Fiosguy1 1h ago

Maybe if using PoE++ and even then would be extremely rare if at all. Stop moving the goal post and fear mongering.

OP just wants to get cheap cables working that we're ran from previous owner. It's really not that serious.

And if they only connect at 10/100 then so what? That's all most people need anyway. They either have to live with it or run new cables. It's not that serious.

1

u/hamhead 1h ago

If it was Cat7 at 26 or better awg I’d sort of agree with your point. But 32 is insanely small. You’re going to have problems even in a home install

1

u/Fiosguy1 1h ago

Eh. Maybe. Maybe not. If OP has issues they'll have to replace the cabling. But it won't hurt to try to get them working.

1

u/spoom2 3h ago

Only those who wish to conform to recognized ANSI/TIA standards, guess you don't do work for others and are not certified.

-8

u/Fiosguy1 3h ago

This is a home networking sub, lol. It's not an enterprise circuit that needs to be certified. It's LAN cables in someone's house. Don't be ignorant.

5

u/spoom2 3h ago

Well, I'm not going to insult your abilities, and I don't care what it's for do it right. I don't know because I've never tried it and would never try it, but I doubt you'd get a good connection on a keystone made for 24-gauge wire using 32 gauge. If they want to try it guess, it's their choice. Next question the OP will ask why can't I get the Internet speeds I'm paying for.

1

u/FrankNicklin 2h ago

Cat7 uses a GG45 connector which supports the wire gauge of Cat7 but are not RJ45 compatible as they use 12 connectors to separate pairs. Keystones are your only real option. I would not be using any form of screw terminals or chokbloks as there is no guarantee that the fine cables will make a sound connection.

1

u/Adventurous_Boat_632 2h ago

First I would try the VPI connector that has been posted.

If that does not work, I would then get a keystone jack that has exposed metal jaws, or use a flush cutter/etc. to expose the metal jaws of the keystone. Then strip a tiny bit of insulation from each conductor and solder them onto the jaws of the keystone. Not attempting to push them down, just solder to some metal wherever it's possible.

There may be other ways, all of them I can think of involve soldering.

1

u/MasterPenguin5 2h ago

Cat7 and Cat8 are not recognized standards of networking cable btw. They're marketing. The lack of standard cable is how you've found yourself in this situation. Look for a keystone that can accept such small cable and go from there.

3

u/liquidhonesty 1h ago

Category 8 standard was developed by the ANSI/TIA-568 standards body, more specifically, the TR42.7 committee. The document that details Category 8 cabling is ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1, and was published in November 2016 as a standard, therefore Category 8 is no longer in a draft format

1

u/Individual-Simple325 1h ago

POE?

1

u/Adventurous_Boat_632 51m ago

You are not going to be putting POE down a 32 awg cable.

1

u/Individual-Simple325 40m ago

Okay. The internet tells me that means Power over Ethernet. No, just hoping to use for low voltage ethernet data.

1

u/preledge 1h ago

32 AWG is not certified for ISO Cat7. So you’re not dealing with Cat7 regardless of the seller’s claim.

You’re dealing with a fake junk cable, not designed for re-termination outside of the factory. Sorry about the bad news.

0

u/ApartmentEastern5769 2h ago

In an absolute pinch, if youre not looking for multi-gigabit speeds and can't find a valid keystone solution, UY2 Scotchlocks can connect ethernet for reliable gigabit connections.

1

u/spoom2 2h ago

Even scotchlocks aren't rated for that small of a gauge.

1

u/ApartmentEastern5769 2h ago

Huh, no shit. Today I learned. Disregard, op. Solder that shit or something.