568B Color Order (Pin 1-8)

Left to Right:

Quick Memory Aid: Orange-Orange, Green-Green (same pair colors together)

Keystone Jack Termination (568B)

Front View (Face of Jack)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

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

Back View (Punch-Down Side)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Position A: White/Orange (Pin 1)
Position B: Orange (Pin 2)
Position C: White/Green (Pin 3)
Position D: Blue (Pin 4)
Position E: White/Blue (Pin 5)
Position F: Green (Pin 6)
Position G: White/Brown (Pin 7)
Position H: Brown (Pin 8)

Termination Tips:

• Strip 1/4 inch of jacket only
• Insert wires into colored slots matching 568B order
• Use punch-down tool firmly (typically 45-degree angle)
• Tool auto-cuts excess wire - don’t manually cut
• Verify all wires fully seated in slots

Patch Panel Pin Mapping

Standard 48-Port Patch Panel

• Ports 1-24: Top row (left to right)
• Ports 25-48: Bottom row (left to right)
• Pin numbering: Front face shows port numbers
• Back termination: Follow 568B color order for each port

Patch Panel Wiring Best Practice

• Orange pair (Pins 1-2): Always TX+/TX- for consistency
• Green pair (Pins 3,6): Always RX+/RX-
• Blue pair (Pins 4-5): Spare or PoE Power-
• Brown pair (Pins 7-8): Spare or low voltage aux

Labeling Standard

• Label format: [Room/Location]-[Device Type]-[Port]
• Example: OfficeA-Phone-01, ConferenceB-Camera-03
• Use label maker or permanent marker on patch panel
• Document on patch panel diagram and keep updated

Wall Outlet / Keystone Configuration

Typical Low Voltage Wall Plate

• Single gang (1 port): Most common for offices/classrooms
• Dual gang (2 ports): Common for conference rooms
• Quad gang (4 ports): Data closets, equipment rooms

Recommended Outlet Setup (568B)

• Port 1: Network data (primary)
• Port 2: Network data (backup) or VoIP phone
• Port 3: Access control / Building automation
• Port 4: Future use / Reserved

Power/Data Separation

• Never mix low voltage and mains power in same plate
• Keep network cables at least 12 inches from AC wiring
• Use separate wall plates for different systems (data, power, AV)
• Label each port clearly at outlet

PoE Pin Assignments (Cat 5e)

PoE Mode A (Most Common) - 802.3af/at

Power Delivery: Pins 1-2 (+48V) and Pins 3-6 (Ground)

Common Devices: IP cameras, Access points, IP phones, Building automation sensors

PoE Mode B (Midspan Injectors) - Less Common

Power Delivery: Pins 4-5 (+48V) and Pins 7-8 (Ground)

When Used: Legacy midspan injectors, device interference avoidance

Power Budget by Device

• IP Phone: 3-6W
• Basic IP Camera: 6-12W
• PTZ Camera: 20-30W
• Wireless Access Point: 10-20W
• Building Automation Controller: 5-15W

Important: Verify PSE (switch) budget before connecting multiple PoE devices

Cat 5e Cable Specifications

Wire Gauge (AWG)

Most Common: 23-24 AWG for Cat 5e in low voltage (balanced performance/cost)

Cable Types

• UTP (Unshielded): Standard for offices, most cost-effective
• S/UTP (Shielded): Better EMI immunity, slightly higher cost
• Outdoor rated: UV resistant, use for external runs
• Plenum rated: Fire-rated, required in HVAC returns (expensive, rarely needed in low voltage)

Maximum Distances

• Ethernet runs: 100 meters max (patch cable + horizontal + vertical)
• PoE runs: 100 meters effective (voltage drop minimal at distances <50m)
• Practical limit: 90-95 meters leaves margin for patch cables

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Connection Not Working

• Pin 1 (White/Orange): Present and making contact?
• Pin 2 (Orange): Present and making contact?
• Pin 3 (White/Green): Present and making contact?
• Pin 6 (Green): Present and making contact?
• Jacket stripped properly? Only 1/4 inch - not too much
• Wires untwisted? Minimal untwisting, pairs maintained
• Punch-down fully seated? No wire sticking out?
• Correct standard? 568B on both ends (straight-through)?

Poor Performance / Intermittent Drops

• RSSI strong? -50 dBm or better for wireless APs
• Bent cable? Check for kinks, damaged jacket
• Near AC power? Keep 12+ inches away from electrical lines
• Patch panel labeled? Verify connected to correct port
• PoE budget exceeded? Check total wattage on switch
• Cable length? Under 100 meters total?
• Connector loose? Jiggle gently at both ends

Device Won’t Power (PoE)

• PoE enabled on switch port? Check switch configuration
• Correct PoE mode? Mode A most common (check device specs)
• Power budget available? Switch may have limit per port
• All 8 pins connected? Even unused pins need continuity for PoE
• Correct polarity? Pins 1-2 and 3-6 for Mode A
• Device supports PoE? Verify specs - not all devices PoE capable

Reversed or Swapped Pairs

• Symptom: Connection works at reduced speed (10 Mbps instead of Gigabit)
• Cause: Pins 3 and 6 (green pair) reversed or swapped
• Fix: Reterminate - verify 568B order exactly
• Test: Use cable tester to verify pair continuity

Common Low Voltage Applications

IP Cameras

• Typical Power: 6-12W per camera (basic), 20-30W (PTZ)
• Requirements: PoE Mode A, Cat 5e minimum
• Port Type: Dedicated camera network segment recommended
• Cabling: Run to patch panel in closet, then to PoW injector or PoE switch

VoIP Phones

• Typical Power: 3-6W per phone
• Requirements: PoE Mode A
• Port Type: Shared data network acceptable
• Cabling: From wall outlet to phone, can share wall plate with data

Wireless Access Points

• Typical Power: 10-20W per AP
• Requirements: PoE Mode A (some require PoE+)
• Port Type: Dedicated network segment, isolated VLAN recommended
• Cabling: From patch panel to ceiling, use plenum or outdoor if needed

Building Automation Sensors

• Typical Power: 5-15W per device
• Requirements: PoE Mode A
• Port Type: Can share network with cameras/phones
• Cabling: From wall outlet to sensor, runs often in walls/conduit

Access Control

• Typical Power: 5-12W per reader
• Requirements: PoE Mode A
• Port Type: Dedicated or isolated VLAN for security
• Cabling: From patch panel to access point (door reader, etc.)

Connector Types Still in Use

Standard RJ45 (Most Common)

• Style: Unshielded
• Cost: Least expensive
• Use: General data, offices, standard installations
• Wiring: 568B standard

Shielded RJ45 (S/FTP)

• Style: Metal shielding around connector
• Cost: 2-3x standard
• Use: High EMI environments, industrial
• Wiring: Same 568B, requires shielded cable

Right-Angle RJ45

• Style: 90-degree connector
• Cost: Similar to standard
• Use: Wall outlets, tight spaces behind furniture
• Wiring: Same 568B

Keystone Format

• Style: Punch-down (not crimped)
• Cost: Moderate
• Use: Wall plates, patch panels
• Wiring: Punch down in 568B order

Installation Best Practices

Cable Management

• Label everything - both ends of every cable
• Use cable ties or velcro wraps (not too tight - allows movement)
• Keep cables organized and visible for troubleshooting
• Leave 10-15% slack in runs for maintenance
• Avoid sharp bends (minimum 1-inch radius)

EMI/RFI Protection

• Keep Cat 5e at least 12 inches from AC mains
• Route away from high-voltage equipment
• Do not run in same conduit as electrical lines
• Use shielded connectors in high-EMI environments
• Ground shields only at one end (patch panel side)

Documentation

• Document every port on patch panel with location/device
• Keep record of IP addresses assigned to devices
• Maintain cable run diagrams showing path from outlet to closet
• Update documentation when changes made
• Create quick reference card for main closet

Testing

• Test every cable with certified tester before leaving job
• Verify continuity on all 8 pins
• Check for reversed pairs, opens, or shorts
• For PoE devices, verify power delivery at wall outlet
• Document test results and keep records

Vocabulary

RJ45 - Registered Jack 45, standard 8-pin connector for Ethernet Keystone Jack - Modular jack that punches down into wall plates/panels Patch Panel - Centralized termination point for all network cables Punch-Down - Termination method pushing wire into slot (cuts insulation) Mode A/B - PoE power delivery methods (which pins carry power) Plenum - Space between dropped ceiling and actual structural ceiling Cat 5e - Category 5e twisted pair, supports Gigabit Ethernet to 100m AWG - American Wire Gauge (smaller number = thicker wire) UTP - Unshielded Twisted Pair (standard, most common) S/FTP - Shielded/Foil Twisted Pair (better EMI protection)

Quick Reference Checklist

Before Installation:

• Cable type selected (UTP vs shielded?)
• 568B standard confirmed for entire project
• Patch panel location determined
• All devices identified and planned
• PoE budget calculated

During Installation:

• Cable routes planned (avoid AC lines)
• Outlets/jacks positioned for accessibility
• All cables labeled before termination
• 568B order verified at each termination
• Excess wire trimmed, no exposed conductors

After Installation:

• Every cable tested with certified tester
• All connections documented
• Devices powered up and verified working
• PoE devices tested for power delivery
• Documentation updated and filed

Notes

• 568B is still used in many existing installations - be consistent with existing infrastructure
• Most modern equipment auto-detects and adapts, making straight-through cables universal
• PoE power and data coexist on same wires without interference
• Cat 5e is adequate for all current low voltage applications (cameras, phones, access control)
• Proper termination is more critical than cable grade for low voltage performance
• Keep spare patch cables on hand - they fail more often than fixed runs
• Label all cables immediately - unlabeled cables become mysterious problems later
• Test before leaving job - finding issues on-site is easier than getting called back