[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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