Need a tool that measures the length of a network cable being strung out

[Utterman]

Hi,

I'm going to be making wiring kits for a nationwide project where I have to measure out 120 foot lengths of Cat 5e network cable to put on a spool. What I need is a mechanical counter that tells me how many feet I have pulled from the cable box. I know home depot has a counter that does what I need, but it seems like it is a trade secret to find one that I can use. So if you can help me find one, that would be greatly appreciated

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.psiber.com/mktg/ct50br_a.pdf

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I think he'd like to measure out 120 feet and cut it, not measure the amount of cable on the spool! While the electronic testers are handy, they're not very useful for the stated purpose.

Personally, when I had this problem, I went for the low-tech solution. I just fastened two stakes at a measured distance, I happened to use 25 feet, and wound the entire spool around it. Then we unwound enough to make the length we needed, and cut it. It's simple and effective, and probably more accurate than most of the mechanical counters.

 

[sswingle]

The last 1000' box I got had a lengh printed on the side of the cable every foot. Is this a rarity? Just go find yourself a box of that

 

[Utterman]

Thanks for your help, let me provide some more info, so you get what I need

The setup I plan to have are three spools of 1000' cable being strung to a smaller spool, so I will have just one spool containing three strands of 120' of cable. I just want the wire to go from one spool to the other one so it will save time. A mechanical counter will be used to find out how many feet I have strung out from one main spool to the smaller one so I won't have to guess how many feet are on the spool.

The spool of the three 120' wires is going to be used as part of a wiring kit for the wiring of a nationwide store. This kit is to make it so all that needs to be done for a drop is to take all three wires and fish them to their proper location.

Once again, thanks

 

[martind1]

I have a fancy new tool i use new fangled product try that.





lol seriously though, I think most cable in boxes comes with markings on the cable ever so many feet (1, 5, 10 something). try that. or the stakes options is good.

 

[cmetz]

Utterman, quite seriously, find a long hallway, tape down a measuring tape and make two lines, a start and a finish, and just pull it out to the finish line and cut at the start.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: cmetz
Utterman, quite seriously, find a long hallway, tape down a measuring tape and make two lines, a start and a finish, and just pull it out to the finish line and cut at the start.

indeed, I used to make all kinds of different cables for odd manufacturing purposes, odd lengths, and many different connectors, that really is the best way.