Molded vs Assembled Network Cables

What are the differences between molded and assembled network cables? We will try to make this short and easy. A molded cable is usually stronger against the pull of gravity, accidental bumping, and overall a more reliable cable. You can usually tell a molded cable because there is some extra plastic just under the RJ45 connector and you can see the plastic is injected into the RJ45 connector.

An assembled cable is usually made by hand. There is no plastic injected into the RJ45 connector, and there is no extra plastic under the RJ45 connector. Do not confuse an assembled cable with a boot with a molded cable. There are also assembled cables with boots. These have a rubber cover around the connector to protect the clip from getting snagged. But, they make the end of the cable bigger and hard to plug into a switch because they bump into the cable next to it.

As you can see it is hard to tell a molded cable from an assembled cable with a boot. The easiest way to tell is that the boot is bigger than the RJ45 connector where with a molded cable the snagless clip is the same size as the connector.

Another nice feature of a molded cable is that you get the benefit of having a snagless end with sacrificing extra space. Molded cables are great for high density switches where there are lots of cables next to each other. An assembled cable with a boot would be too big but, a molded cable is perfect because they fit better but you also have the snagless clip so that when you have to move a cable it does not get caught on the other cables.

Chris Frank is one of the owners of Network Cables Online, LLC sells network cables, ethernet products, computer cables, Power over Ethernet clock, and PoE LED Displays.

http://www.NetworkCablesOnline.com