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CAT 5 Cable pulling tension

[Q] What is pulling tension of CAT 5 Cable? Should I be concerned about it?

[A] There are many different companies producing CAT 5e and CAT 6 ethernet cable. All cable, no matter how it is made, or by which company, will have a limit on how much pulling force can be exerted on the material until it is damaged.

This force is commonly referred to as pulling tension. The company producing the cable will usually place a rating for pulling tension on the box, or it can also be located on data sheets produced for each type of cables that they make. As an example the box might have a label that reads: "Do not exceed 25 pounds pulling tension". This will be the maximum amount of force you would want the cable to experience under any circumstances.

There are a few situations where this may become important. If you are pulling cable from a box or a reel, through conduit and across ceilings, it is very possible to place the cable in a bind. This binding could cause the cable to exceed its recommended pulling strength very quickly. Also, if you are trying to stretch a length of cable between two buildings, unsupported from the ceiling or other elevated location, you can exceed the pulling strength with little effort.

The best way to avoid this problem is to use some of the tools there are readily available, and of course apply a little common sense.

One of the tools that will make this task easier is the use of roller assemblies. Many companies now make clamp-on guide rollers that can be placed in various locations in false ceilings, along framework and basically any place that the cable is pulled around a corner and would normally cause a bind that creates tension on the cable. Simply place the rollers along the path in key locations and you will find it considerably easier to route the cable. It is also helpful to have an assistant on the other end of the run to make sure that the cable pays out of the container correctly, and to look for any potential trouble areas in the run.

It is always best to take a few precautions to protect your investment.

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Keywords: Cat 5 Cable, CAT 5e, CAT 6



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