Pulling CAT6

Countryman

Member
Nov 2, 2006
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I just visited the website of a cable vendor and the FAQ states that you shouldn't pull CAT6 cable. This is a new one on me..... Anybody else come across this?

Cheers,
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
You can pull it just fine. What you can not do with CAT 5 / CAT 6 and especially
fiber is let the cable get kinked as you pull it or let it get caught as you try to go
around a turn or thru a hole in like a floor joist.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Like all category specifications there are limits to "pulling" the cable. You can "pull" category 6 cable just fine, just don't pull on it beyond specifications, the same as you don't "pull" on any category cable. Stay within the specs for installation and you're fine. There is a reason why there is training for this kind of thing.

The bad part about it is there is so much misinformation on the internet about proper cable installation procedures that I kind of give up after a while.
 

cmetz

Platinum Member
Nov 13, 2001
2,296
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Countryman, most (all?) modern cables have a strength member inside them, either something like nylon pull cord, or the plasticy separator that goes down the middle. This helps a lot in terms of protecting the wires inside when you pull on the cable. There will be a vendor defined pull tension limit, which is usually pretty reasonable. Basically, be reasonable and you're fine. Don't yank with all your might. Make very sure you are feeding the cable *gently* around bends and dealing with snags gently, not by just pulsing hard pulls.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,540
5,585
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I guess the term I like to use is "laying" cable. If I have to pull it through a wall or something, I set up some sort of guide.
Once I get the cable roughed into place, I use products like Caddy cablecat wide supports to reduce friction and bending, and take measures to avoid pulling another cable through a bundle of existing wire.
If you drag or pull another cable through a bundle, you stand a good chance of "burning" one of the earlier layed cables. this happens when dragging in the new cable heats up an existing one, and literally saws through the jacket and even the wire itself.
The new cable is unaffected by the heat, since it is spread along the whole length of it.
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
I had the alarm guys "pull" all the cable in my new house. I am sure they did not follow the official CAT-6 specifications for installing cable, but it all seems to work reasonably well. (I had them put in 2 CAT-6, 1 CAT-5 and 1 or 2 Coax to about 10 locations.)

That being said, if you are installing CAT-6 for a business use, you should probably try to be a little more selective in choosing your installers. ;)

MotionMan
 

Countryman

Member
Nov 2, 2006
53
0
0
Guys, many thanks for the responses and sanity check! You agree with what I thought but I was thrown somewhat by the 'advice' on the cable vendor's site. Here in France all cables have to run in plastic conduit (gaine) so there are no sharp bends between the patch panel and wall jacks. It's my home, so I will be extra careful!

Cheers.
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
5,471
2
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Pulling tension is usually ~ 10-14 pounds for most UTP.

If you pull too hard, you stretch the jacket, and risk displacing the pairs (or break 'em if you pull hard enough). That changes the transmission characteristics of the cabling and tends to degrade cable performance.