How to Hook Up an RJ45 Jack

RJ-45 wall jacks

In order to have a computer network you must have Ethernet cables, RJ-45 jacks and plugs to hook up the computers in your network. RJ-45 jacks are extremely important for connecting a computer to the Internet through modems and gateways. RJ-45 jacks provide a hook up for the dedicated, high speed connection that the Internet and networks demand. Ethernet cables and RJ-45 jacks are standardized so that almost anyone can easily understand how to wire RJ-45 connections.

Things You'll Need

• Wire strippers
• Punch down tool
• RJ-45 keystone jack
• Cat-5e cable

Instructions

Hooking Up an RJ-45 Jack

1. Strip about 2 inches of the wire sheath off at the end of your cat-5e wire with your wire stripper. This will reveal eight separate wires with special color coated sheaths; these are twisted together in four pairs.

2. Pull apart the twisted pairs about 1/2 inch; there are now eight wire ends ready to be put into your jack.

3. Hold your keystone jack; match the wire colors to the color coded chart that came with your keystone jack and slide them into the corresponding space.

4. Punch down the wires one at a time into the keystone jack with your punch down tool. Make sure you are paying attention to the color of the wire and the appropriate spot in the keystone jack.

5. Put the cover on the jack and test for connectivity by plugging in your devices and see if a stable connection is made.

Tips & Warnings

• Trim the excess wire that is hanging off the side of the jack to avoid interference.

• Be careful not to cut into the wire during stripping or there will be signal interference.

References

• LANshack: Making Cat-5e Cables
• "Washington Apple Pi Journal"; Wire Your Home for Ethernet; By Rick Rodman