DIY Academy IP CCTV & Networking

IP CCTV & Networking · Lesson

How to make a Cat5/Cat6 end (passthrough crimp)

Factory-direct gear TEK install tips Cincinnati based

IP cameras, PoE switches, door stations, and NVRs all need a clean RJ45 end. This lesson shows how to terminate Cat5e / Cat6 with a passthrough plug and matching crimp tool — the easy way to check T568B before you commit.

Tools you need

  • Cat5e or Cat6 bulk cable (solid copper for long camera runs)
  • Passthrough RJ45 plugs matched to the cable (Cat6 plugs for Cat6)
  • Cable stripper (or the stripper slot on the crimper)
  • Passthrough RJ45 crimp tool with a flush cut blade
  • Cable tester (wiremap)

Do not mix a closed-end plug with a passthrough-only crimper, or the other way around. The blade and plug have to match.

Shop standard: T568B

DIY Pro uses T568B on both ends for straight-through camera and network runs. Hold the plug with the latch down and gold pins up. Left to right (pin 1 → 8):

  1. White/Orange
  2. Orange
  3. White/Green
  4. Blue
  5. White/Blue
  6. Green
  7. White/Brown
  8. Brown

Same order on both ends. That is a straight cable. (A crossover is almost never what you want for CCTV.)

Step-by-step

1. Strip the jacket

Strip Cat6 jacket with a cable stripper

Cut the cable square. Strip about 1 to 1.5 inches of outer jacket. Do not nick the copper. On Cat6, pull out and snip the plastic spline / separator so it does not fight the plug.

2. Untwist, straighten, arrange T568B

Eight conductors arranged in T568B color order

Untwist only as far as you need to flatten the eight wires. Keep pair twists as close to the jacket as you can — long untwists hurt PoE and Gigabit. Line them up White/Orange → Brown. Flatten them like a ribbon.

3. Slide into the passthrough plug

Wires passed through an open-nose RJ45 plug

Latch down. Feed all eight conductors through the nose until they poke out the front. Push until the cable jacket sits under the strain-relief bar inside the plug. Read the colors at the tip one more time — that is the whole point of passthrough.

4. Crimp (and trim)

Crimping a passthrough RJ45 with a ratcheting crimp tool

Seat the plug fully in the passthrough crimper. Squeeze until the ratchet releases. Gold pins pierce each conductor; the blade should flush-cut the tips sticking out the nose.

5. Inspect and test

Testing the finished RJ45 end with a cable tester

Check: jacket gripped, no copper hanging past the nose, clip intact. Plug both ends into a tester. All eight should light in order. Fix a bad end by cutting it off and starting over — do not reuse a crushed plug.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong order. Oranges and greens swapped is usually T568A by accident. Stick to B.
  • Jacket not in the plug. If only the colored wires are under the bar, the end will pull out.
  • Too much untwist. Keep twists close to the jacket for PoE cameras.
  • Wrong plug for the cable. Cat6 conductors are thicker — use Cat6-rated passthrough plugs.
  • Dull blade. Tips left long can keep the plug from seating in an NVR or switch port.
  • No test. A bad camera “won’t power” is often a bad crimp. Test before you climb the ladder twice.

Safety notes

  • Crimpers have sharp blades — keep fingers clear of the nose cut.
  • De-energize PoE before re-terminating a live drop when you can.
  • Outdoor / burial jacket for exterior camera runs; indoor CM/CMR stays indoors.

Shop bulk cable · Shop connectors · Shop tools · Cable vs premade

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