RJ45 fisical wire connection testing ...

[b4u]

Hi,

I'm installing a network on a client's office, and for that I'm creating my own cables, with "wall-sockets". That way, the users only have to connect a 1m-2m cable to tthe wall, instead of a full 10m-15m meter cable layed on the floor. You get the idea.

Now my problem is that I'm not an electrician, and I have no tools to messure up the cable connections, so I was thinking about creating a basic circuit with 8 led and a 1.5 Volt small battery to check up the connections (like 1 led for each pin, and I would see the 8 led on if the cable was successfull connected).

Now my first question is: since I'm not an electronic geek, does a 1.5 Volt battery with just a led will be enough for the network cable? Or will it ruin it (I don't think it will)? Or is it possible that 1.5 Volt will be too powerfull for an individual led?

Is there any software that can emulate electronic circuits? Sort of test-before-buy-and-burn-your-house kind of software?

What tool would a professional electrician use for testing these kind of connections?


Thanks

 

[ribbon13]

Some relevant info

 

[b4u]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Some relevant info

Nice link ... great info there ... thanks

You know of any software that can simulate electronic circuits?

 

[Rubycon]

If you're just testing continuity then it's much easier to get one of these.

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: C6FT7
If you're just testing continuity then it's much easier to get one of these.

Even though the shipping and device is only like $10, I'd get soooooo pissed waiting for it to arrive Hong Kong. Seriously, how fast could you expect something like that to arrice in the US from hong kong with $5 shipping?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: ribbon13

Even though the shipping and device is only like $10, I'd get soooooo pissed waiting for it to arrive Hong Kong. Seriously, how fast could you expect something like that to arrice in the US from hong kong with $5 shipping?

Time and price all relative. I suppose if the OP wants it yesterday this can be accomplished with the proportionate loss of greenbacks. Definitely not rocket science - however careful planning prevents such urgent needs! Once they have this tester it should provide a lifetime of use.

 

[b4u]

Yes, I must think of something a bit more professional, like one tool like that one.

Since I have not many time left to test the connections, and I love to put my hands on the geek circuitry (sp?), I think I'm going to try something more home-made ... chicks love it lol

Now C6FT7, I saw those products in a more detail, and they seem to be the some sort of stuff the ribbon13 sent in the link ... but there is something disturbing my mind ... the tool seems to test individual wires, wereas the manual-product on the link seems to test the wire-pairs only.

Now I'm no expert in electronics, but how the hell do they test individual wires?

I mean, the circuit with the battery is connected in one extent, then the terminator goes to the other extend. If I want a complete circuit, the power comes out of battery, passes a resistor/led/... right into the start-pin1, then flows through the wire beeing tested, right into the end-pin1 ... then to make it back, the terminator connects it to the end-pin2, and it comes back to start-pin2, which leads to the battery end. So if that led don't power on, it means pin1 connection OR pin2 connection is not working ... that means the pair1 isn't working properly, and since there are 4 pairs, it leads to a total of 4 testing led ... how can they test the individual pin1?

 

[Rubycon]

Yes these testers will assure the each connection is in its proper physical location and the continuity is good.

If you want to test other parameters that often affect performance in use you must purchase a tester that is considerably more expensive.