DIY Networking: How to Terminate Cat 6 Cables with Pass-Through Connectors

If you’ve ever struggled to crimp your own Ethernet cables, you know the pain: trying to cut the wires to the exact perfect length, guessing if they reached the end of the plug, and praying the tester lights up green.

In our latest video feature, we looked at PoE Texas’s Cat 6 RJ-45 Pass-Through Connectors, a game-changer for anyone building custom network cables. Whether you are a pro installer or a home lab enthusiast, these "Pass-Through" style plugs make the job significantly easier and faster.

Here is your step-by-step educational guide to mastering these connectors.

What is a "Pass-Through" Connector?

Standard RJ-45 plugs are closed at the end. You have to trim your wires perfectly before inserting them. If you cut them too short, they don't reach the contacts; too long, and the cable jacket doesn't get secured.

Pass-Through connectors (like the ones in the PoE Texas 100-pack) are open at the front. This allows the individual wires to feed completely through the connector and stick out the other side. This simple design change solves two major problems:

• Verification: You can clearly see the wire colors coming out the front to ensure you haven't crossed any wires.

• Positioning: You can push the cable jacket far into the plug for a secure crimp without worrying about wire length.

Important Note: While pass-through connectors make cable termination easier, they are not recommended for outdoor use. Exposure to moisture, sunlight, or extreme temperatures can degrade performance or cause failure over time. Additionally, proper wire trimming is essential, using sharp snips ensures each conductor is cut cleanly for reliable contact and prevents common mistakes that can lead to connection issues.

Tools You Will Need

Before you start, ensure you have the proper gear. While you can improvise with standard tools, the right tools make a huge difference:

• Cat 6 Cable (Solid or stranded UTP).

• Pass-Through Connectors: The video features the PoE Texas Cat 6 RJ-45 plugs.

• Pass-Through Crimper: A crimping tool designed to crimp and slice off excess wire at the same time.

• Cable Stripper & Sharp Snips.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Strip the Cable Jacket

Use your cable stripper to remove about 1.5 to 2 inches of the outer blue (or gray) jacket.

Tip: Be careful not to nick the copper wires inside. If you do, cut it off and start over. Nicked wires can cause speed issues and failure over time.

2. Untwist and Straighten

Cat 6 cable has a plastic "spline" (divider) in the center to separate the pairs. Snip this flush with the jacket. Then, untwist your four pairs of wires. Smooth them out with your fingers or the shaft of a screwdriver so they are perfectly straight.

3. Arrange Your Order (T-568B)

The most common wiring standard is T-568B. Arrange your wires from left to right in this order:

1. Orange-White

2. Orange

3. Green-White

4. Blue

5. Blue-White

6. Green

7. Brown-White

8. Brown

Educational Note: You may see T-568A used in some government or legacy installs. The only difference is that the Green and Orange pairs swap places.

4. The "Pass-Through" Insertion

This is where the magic happens. Hold the connector with the clip facing down (gold pins facing you).

1. Push the wires firmly into the connector.

2. Let them slide all the way through the open front.

3. Verify: Look at the wires sticking out the front. Are they still in T-568B order? If they crossed over, pull them out and fix them.

4. Push the cable jacket all the way into the connector so it sits under the strain relief tab.

5. Crimp and Trim

Insert the connector into your Pass-Through Crimper. Squeeze the handles firmly. The tool will do two things simultaneously:

1. Push the gold pins down into the wires to make contact.

2. Slice off the excess wire sticking out of the front of the plug.

Tip: Using sharp snips before crimping ensures that each wire is trimmed cleanly. This helps prevent shorts, loose contacts, or other common issues with pass-through connectors.

6. Test Your Cable

Always use a continuity tester to verify your work. Even with pass-through connectors, mistakes happen. A simple tester will save you hours of troubleshooting later.

Why This Matters for Education

Learning to terminate your own cables is a fundamental IT skill. It allows you to:

• Save Money: Bulk cable is much cheaper than buying pre-made patch cords.

• Clean Up Clutter: Create cables that are the exact length you need, eliminating coils of messy wire behind your desk.

• Fix Broken Links: Repair a damaged Ethernet end in under 5 minutes without re-running the whole cable.

By following these steps and using the right tools, pass-through connectors can be a reliable and efficient solution for your indoor network installations, while avoiding the pitfalls that have caused controversy among some installers.

Check out the full video linked above to see these connectors in action!

Ready to simplify your wireless deployment?

Using the right converter ensures your high-capacity backhauls stay powered and protected. For more technical details, you can visit the PoE Texas website for the full manual.