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Cable bends

LegoFan9
By LegoFan9
in Networking
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Posted

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

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Posted

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

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Posted
3 hours ago, Eigenvektor said:

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

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.

My 4 helpful infos/guides: My 5G Home Internet (mobile) guide, PSU watt size guide, Wifi transmit power/range since WiFi 5, and making SSD benchmarks more meaningful.

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Posted
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.

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Posted

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

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

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