Stripping Cat5 Cables?

[CosmoKid]

So I am putting in an IR target under my plasma. Before construction I ran Cat5 to the location from the media closet. All I then need to do is snip the cable that came with the target and map the proper colors. No big deal.

Here's the problem:
None of my wire strippers are small enough to strip the colored wires that come inside the cat5 cable. Cat5 usually gets crimped. I need to strip. Advise?

[mtbkr]

i do this for a living. most of these cat5 cables have a string that you can pull back. that will rip the jacket back away from the twisted pairs. now are you needing the colored jacket taken off the copper wire itself or what?

[Snowgod]

While you may need to strip back the outer jacket (see above about string), you do not need to strip the copper pairs.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

Here's the problem:
None of my wire strippers are small enough to strip the colored wires that come inside the cat5 cable. Cat5 usually gets crimped. I need to strip. Advise?

Test your skills on a spare piece of wire to get the hang of it. Using a pair of needlenose pliers crimp down hard on the individual lead where you want the bare wire to start. Then back off the pressure but still keep enough for the pliers to still grab the wire. Pull the pliers away and the insulation will come off leaving the bare un-nicked wire. Stripping off a little more than you actually want is OK, simply cut off the excess.

If you can't easily pull the pliers off with it grabbing the lead you are gripping it too hard. Don't use diaganol cutters or any cutting plier, any nick in a small gauge wire will usually cause it to break right there. The squeezing action of the needlenose causes the insulation to break but not the wire.

[mtbkr]

i just use my finger nails. you dont damage the wire and no tools necessary.

[CosmoKid]

i am assuming i need to undo the twisted pairs and just use a stripped single colored wire.

i am going to try everyone suggestions from easiest (finger nails) to most difficult (pliers).

i am also assuming i need to peel back the colowed coating to reveal the bare copper since i need to twist it with the wire attached to the IR target.

thanks everyone for the suggestions. hopefully i can pull this off.

[CosmoKid]

Fingernails did the trick. Amazing how easy it was!

[Sammy]

No stripping is required if you are using the right connectors.