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RJ-45 Connector Guide
The trick with selecting the correct RJ45 connectors is making sure there is plenty of contact area for a good connection between the Cat5 cable you are terminating and the connector itself.
Examining the Contacts
The contacts are the metalic pins that come into contact with each of the 8 conductors coming from your Cat5 cable. First of all, we highly recommend a 50 micron gold plating for your RJ45 head's contacts. Since both electricity and data are conducted around the surfaces of conductors and contacts, a gold plating is all you need. Gold is considered one of the best known conductors and is a good idea, especially for lesser experienced cable crimpers.
Many manufacturers of these connectors attempt to cut corners and include as little metal material into these connectors. Make sure when examining the connectors that the metal contacts are already touching the conductor shaft. Some connectors will require you to crimp down hard in order to bring these contacts closer to the shaft, requiring you to bend the conductors down as well. Getting connectors that already overlap the shaft will ensure a 100% contact every time, even with a little user error.
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