How Can You Wire a Keystone Jack? (CAT 6e, 5e CAT 7) with Tools

One of the great ways to retain your network connections ideally is to wire your keystone jacks. Wiring a keystone jack cab saves you capital if you have to do excessive work with wall-mounted Ethernet connections and patch panels.

It takes some time and effort to learn how to properly wire keystone jacks. It would be best if you had appropriate tools and cables for the same. The following guide thoroughly instructs you on the tools required and how to wire a keystone jack.

Related: What is a Keystone Jack? vs. Coupler

If you properly follow this guide, you can quickly manage and configure your keystone patch panels in the way you want.

Essentially, a keystone jack finds application in data communication in a wiring setup. They are also module connectors in patch panels or wall plates.

Before knowing the steps to wire a keystone jack, let’s get familiar with the tools required:

Tools required for wiring a keystone jack:

If you want to wire a keystone jack on your own, use specific tools. The prominent tools you will need are a keystone jack and the cable. However, a wide range of options are available, so you need to choose the one that seems to be the most appropriate for the type of wall-mounted Ethernet panel or patch panel you aspire to build.

You can consider bulk Cat6 Ethernet Cabling, available in different speeds, colors, lengths, shielding options, and ratings. You can also choose from a wide range of RJ45 jack packs, ranging from smaller 10-packs to more cost-effective 50 packs.

Make sure that you purchase the keystone jacks that match the cable you want to use – Cat 5e or Cat 6 or Cat 6a or Cat 8. Also, you have to make sure that they come with the keystone punch-down stands.

Specific keystone jacks are prepared for termination or gender substituting a cable type. Hence, it will not be workable for wiring yourself.

Here is the list of tools required to start wiring your keystone jacks:

• A wire cutter/stripper
• A punch-down tool
• A punch down stand

Other accessories or tools are necessary to consider if you don’t have a wall mount or patch panel. Ensure that a patch panel you choose can scale to your wall mount measurements or rack configurations.

Moreover, it would be best if you ascertained that it is big enough to fulfill the enormous number of cables you want to wire into your keystone jacks.

If you intend to use a bulk patch cabling to create your own Ethernet cables, you also need to buy a crimping tool, a set of strain relief boots, and a pack of RJ45 modular plugs.

The typical process to wire a keystone jack:

After you have arranged all required cables and tools, you can begin wiring keystone jacks. It is necessary to clear a workspace and free it from spill hazards and clutter. Make sure to put all your tools in easy reach before starting the wiring process.

The steps mentioned below work for both 90° and 180° keystone jacks. Keep in mind that a 180° keystone jack offers more orientation options.

Step-1: Firstly, take your bulk patch cable, and with the help of the wire cutter, you have to strip the protective rubber coating of the cable by an inch or two from the termination. The purpose behind this is to disclose different twisted pairs inside.

Step-2: If your patch cable possesses an internal spline, you need to cut it when the rubber coating ends, making it simpler to manipulate the wires. Be cautious not to harm the internal wiring.

Step-3: Now separate the twisted pairs into their relevant colors. Make sure not to stretch the wires when separating. Now untwist them to make sure they can be separately wired into the keystone jack.

Step-4: Now, take one of your keystone jacks, and in case there is a punch-down stand available, you have to place it inside the stand to retain it in place. Instead, hold it firmly in your other hand prior to continuing.

Note: Various wiring schemes are available to choose from when wiring a keystone jack. However, T56b is the most typical one and is recommended. If you are confused about which one to use or how to place the wires, you can refer to the side of the particular keystone jack. All of them contain color-coded wiring guides to simplify the process.

Step-5: In this step, you have to push the patch cable up towards the opening of the keystone jack. Make sure not to surpass it. Now start inserting the wires inside the keystone jack as selected by your wiring scheme.

If you are using the T56b scheme, then follow the below order:

1. Orange stripe
2. Orange
3. Green Stripe
4. Blue
5. Blue stripe
6. Green
7. Brown stripe
8. Brown

Note: If you feel that the wires may come out loose, you could use the non-bladed part of your punch-down tool to provide them with a harder press inside the keystone jack.

Take care not to punch them down immediately, but that additional push can let them stay in place while you complete the process of putting the other wires.

Step-6: After you have inserted all the wires in the proper position and are contended with the layout, the next step is to punch them down. For that, you have to take a punch-down tool in one hand and firmly hold either the punch-down stand or keystone jack in your other hand.

Now push it down on the top part of each of the wires in turn. Consequently, it will firmly place the wires inside the keystone jack so that they stay immovable. Also, it will offer an active contact for the keystone jack to use.

-The punch down tool must also have cut off any additional wires that were projecting out of the keystone jack. But if not, you have to use a wire cutter or other cutting tool to discard the excess.

If any of the wires don’t appear appropriately punched down, you have to use the punch down tool another time to secure them into the keystone jack tightly.

Step-7: After you ascertain that everything is perfect, push the keystone jack’s dust cap(s) into place. Once they are locked in, you will hear a snap. This prevents wires from being dislodged.

Step-8: Now, you can place your newly connected keystone jack into your wall mount or patch panel and test it. Alternatively, you can proceed to your next keystone jack. Iterate the process as required for the number of keystone jacks you want to wire.

An alternate method to wire a keystone jack:

Step-1: Stripping:

To start with the first step, you must have a twisted pair of cables. There is no need to be concerned about the suitability if you choose an RJ-45 connector compatible with any cable like Cat 6 plenum cable (1000 feet) or Cat 5e bulk cables or others.

Another thing you must have is a wire stripper. Now cut out the exterior sheet of the twisted pair cable at a proper length which is suitable for a keystone jack. Take care not to move the cable much inside the stripper because it could cut the wires beneath too.

Step-2: Separate:

After completing the first step, you can see wires of varied colors in that particular twisted pair cable. You need to separate the wires by color. Take care that wires don’t stretch during the separating process.

Step-3: Select a configuration:

After separating the wires, take a keystone jack and open its cap. After you open its cap, you can check the wire configurations printed on the jack name A and B. Now you need to choose the layouts as required. Remember that the configuration you choose must be identical at the other end of the jack.

Step-4: Place the wires:

After choosing the appropriate configuration, place the wires inside the keystone jack. Inside the jack, you can see various color lines. So, it would be best if you set the wires likewise in the jack.

For instance, if you want to put a blue wire inside, then search for a blue color line there and then put it. Enlarge the wire from the slot to its maximum length.

Step-5: Punch Down Wires:

Once you have placed the wires in the proper slots, take a punch-down tool. This tool assists in punching the cables inside the jack. Now align the tool on the exterior edge of the jack.

Make sure to properly punch down each wire by placing it on every wire and pressing it till you hear a click sound. This tells that you have successfully punched down the wire.

Step-6: Testing:

After you have successfully punched down all the wires, you have to check whether the cables are firmly punched at the ends of the jack or not.

Moreover, you have to check whether you correctly placed the wires in their corresponding color line or not. If both these things are correct, you can move to the next step.

Step-7: Place the jack:

After you ascertain that the wires are successfully punched, you need to put the jack inside a mounting box. So, open a mounting box. There you will see a frame that helps adjust your jack. Now put your jack in that frame.

The jack’s cables will be easily inserted within the zip ties. After the wires are successfully inserted into the zip ties, one more step is remaining, which is discussed below:

Step-8: Put the cover:

After you have mounted the jack into the mounting box, it’s time to put its cover, which you had removed in the first setup while placing and punching the wires inside the jack.

Properly take out the cover and firmly put it back into the jack. After the cover is placed on it, your jack is ready to use.

Step-9: Wallplates:

Your keystone jack needs to be placed into your keystone wall plates. It is possible to put your jack inside the wall plate. After you have replaced and punched down the wires, you can find the cover of the jack, put it properly, and then firmly put the jack assembly into the wall plate. Finally, screw the wall plate into the wall.

Steps to wire a 90° keystone jack:

Step-1: Strip 1 inch of the jacket through the jacket stripper:

With the help of a cutting tool, you need to cut off 1 inch from the jacket from the top part of the cable. If you use scissors or another cutting tool, you have to make sure not to cut through the wires into the cable.

Step-2: Cut the pulling string:

If there is a pull string with the cable, you have to cut off the projecting part. The pull string is available to strip the jack too. Hence, if you want to take off a little more jacket, you can use it.

Step-3: Cut the spline:

If there is a spline or cross separator in the cable, you have to cut off the showing part. Try to cut off as many parts as you can without harming the wires.

Step-4: Unwrap twisted pairs:

In this step, you have to unwrap the twisted pairs so that it becomes simpler to insert over the 90° keystone jack. It is vital to decide which wiring scheme to choose. The recommended wiring scheme is t568b. Follow the wiring scheme guides on the side.

Note: Before placing the wires on the contact area, you can cluster the green pair and orange pair together, brown and blue pair together. So, this assists in connecting the wires on the accurate sides.

Step-5: Jacket part stays exterior of 90° keystone jack:

In this step, you have to avoid inserting the cable jacket very far into the keystone jack. Also, try to insert the jack simply inside or touching the end. Another vital thing to take care of is not to keep any wire exposed from jack to jack.

Step-6: Put the wire inside the groove:

Based on your chosen wiring scheme, you have to lay down the wires inside the grooves of the particular keystone jack.

Step-7: Insert the keystone jack in the 90° punch down tool

If you plan to use a punch-down tool, it is possible to place the jack inside the punch-down part of the tool. Take care that the degree of the punch-down tool perfectly matches that of the jack. Also, you have to insert an open side that faces the grooves of the punch-down tool.

Step-8: Squeeze punch down tool:

After squeezing down the punch-down tool, the wires are now tightly within the contact area of the jack. Those wires projecting off the side must have been trimmed off. You can cut off the residual part through a cutting tool.

In this step, carefully check that the wires are thoroughly inside the contact area. If any of the cables are absent in the contact area, you have to use the tool once more to punch them down.

Step-9: Shut down the cap:

Once the wires are punched down, grab the cap to the keystone jack and then cover the wires.

Steps to wire a 180° keystone jack:

All the steps to wire a 180° keystone jack are identical to that of a 90° keystone jack discussed above except for the following:

You can position the cable in two ways –either going straight onto the jack or from the side like the one you did for a 90° jack.

How can you wire an RJ-45 keystone jack?

• Take a keystone jack.
• With the help of your wire stripper, cut out the exterior sheath.
• Rotate only up to 3-4 times; otherwise, it will cut the interior.
• When the length of exposed wires is at the proper distance, you need to separate wires by color.
• You will see colors on the keystone jack. Line up the wires up to the corresponding color (for example, white, orange-orange)
• Use the punch-down tool with a bigger side of the blade on the exterior to punch the wires inside, and it would cut off the surplus.
• Repeat for each color
• Open up the mounting box, where you will find a frame for the jack to snap into
• Put the jack inside the mounting box where there is a place for zip ties to keep the cable in place.
• Put the cover on top
• Test the line through a cable tester.

Discover keystone jacks based on your needs:

You can choose from a wide range of keystone jacks designed for RJ45 Ethernet connections, fiber optics, and coaxial inputs. Usually, RJ45 keystone jacks are the most versatile and famous. They are available in a wide range of category certifications and varied shielding ratings and color options.

One of the most cost-effective keystone jacks is a 10-pack Cat6 RJ45 keystone jack. It offers the same performance as Cat 6 rated wiring. Moreover, it is compatible with 23 and 24 AWG gauge wiring.

The compatibility is also found with wall plates, keystone jack panels, and surface mount boxes. For easy identification, you can wire it in either T568a or T568b wiring schemes and color-coding for each keystone jack.

They come with anti-corrosive, gold xd contacts. Furthermore, they are prepared with impact-resistant plastic and possess strain-relief dual IDC covers.

If you want to work with more extensive patch panels or expand the thing you have in the future, you can consider a 25-pack of those Cat 6 RJ45 keystone jacks. They are available in matching color options with similar features and have their own punch-down stand, making the wiring process more accessible and cost-effective.

To build a slimline patch panel, you can consider slim-profile keystone jacks. They are compatible with the standard Cat 6 decorator type of wall plates.

Other options are performance-efficient keystone jacks like the shielded RJ45 Cat 8. They are future-proofed and can support network speeds up to 40 Gbps.

Moreover, they are backward compatible with Cat 6A, Cat 6, and Cat 5e cables. Similar to 180° jacks, they’re simple to install termination blocks in, and with a full metal housing, they offer the pinnacle in electronic shielding and physical protection for your cabling.

Other keystone jacks and patch panel accessories worth considering for your personal or professional wiring project include: Blank keystone jack inserts for walling off portions of your patch panels; gender-changing keystone jacks for converting male to female connections, or vice versa; HDMI, coaxial, Toslink, or fiber optic keystone jacks for a range of patch panel connection options, and even banana jack binding posts, for fitting speaker wiring in the wall for a more professional, hidden installation.

Where can you buy Keystone jacks?

• Cable Matters UL Listed 25-Pack RJ45 Keystone Jack (Check on Amazon)
• VCE Cat6 RJ45 Keystone Jack Insert (Check on Amazon)
• Iwillink RJ45 Cat6 Keystone Jack (20 Packs) (Check on Amazon)
• Cat6 Vertical Keystone Jack – 180 Degree (Check on Newegg )
• 2-Pack 8K HDMI Keystone Jack (Check on Cablematters.com)
• 20-Pack Blank Keystone Jack Inserts in White (Check on Cablematters.com)