Cable bends

[LegoFan9]

Hello all,

I have some CAT6 Ethernet cables in a rats nest and I’ve noticed one of them needs replaced because it got bent too tight. I was wondering if anyone has any idea what the ideal curve radius for a regular CAT6 cable is. A lot of them are going 90 degrees, and all of them are round about 0.65 CM sheathing, except for one flat cable.

Thanks

[tkitch]

Ethernet is usually fairly forgiving of most bends, unless it's super-kinked, especially if it's a static run and isn't moving.

[Eigenvektor]

Search for Cat6 minimum bend radius on Google, these things are generally well defined…

• https://www.comms-express.com/infozone/article/bend-radius/
• https://www.nvent.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam/assets/F1275W-NAEN.pdf

[NobleGamer]

3 hours ago, Eigenvektor said:

Search for Cat6 minimum bend radius on Google, these things are generally well defined…

• https://www.comms-express.com/infozone/article/bend-radius/
• https://www.nvent.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam/assets/F1275W-NAEN.pdf

Call me dumb for wanting a better visual, but am I the only one who doesn't think it is well defined in text in either place?

 

Theres a picture of a cable bend metal apparatus shown in the PDF, but I have no point of reference for whether is 1 or 2 inches thick, given that it allows for a cable to 180 bend back the way it came.

 

With the first link:

Quote

A bend radius refers to the bend in a cable. Bend radius specifications are a measure of the tolerance of the wire or fibre cabling. The minimum bend radius refers to the lowest radius at which a cable can be bent.

...

The minimum bend radius for Category 6, 5, and 5e cable is four times the cable diameter, or approximately 1 inch. 

I can't tell from this description if the "1 inch" is the shortest distance in which cat 5+ can bend to achieve:

 

• A right angle (90 degrees)
• Bend back on itself (180 degrees)
• A full circle (360 degrees)

...without damage.

[Blue4130]

20 minutes ago, NobleGamer said:

 

With the first link:

I can't tell from this description if the "1 inch" is the shortest distance in which cat 5+ can bend to achieve:

 

• A right angle (90 degrees)
• Bend back on itself (180 degrees)
• A full circle (360 degrees)

...without damage.

It is the same for all three that you listed. A one inch radius is 1 inch. It doesn't change.

[Falcon1986]

6 hours ago, LegoFan9 said:

I have some CAT6 Ethernet cables in a rats nest

I'd be more concerned about the rats.

[Godlygamer23]

IPC 610 defines the minimum bend radius as being 4 times the outer diameter.