How to identify other end of a cable without a continuity wire going back?

[luvtheheat]

Years ago I pre-wired a number of RJ6 and CAT5e cables from a central location to various room/locations throughout the house. I did a bad job of labeling them at the central location, and today I cannot identify the "central" location cable corresponding to the other end of a particular cable, at the end point. Picture 10 cables at "central" and 10 "end points" scattered in various rooms.

Each "end-point" has 1 or 2 RJ6 cables, and 1 or 2 CAT5e cables.

I have an ohm-meter and understand how to measure continuity, but that would require a very long lead from "end point" back to "central".

Anyone have a way to ID these cables without a very long lead from "end point" back to "central"?

 

[mike93lx]

Twist together two wires at one end then measure resistance across those two at the other end

 

[MFortie]

Use a cable tone set.

 

[Steve.S]

Use a cable tone set.

X2. I have this one and it's great for this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FTADX0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[cgrutt]

^ this. Buy a toner plug one end into transmitter use probe at other end to identify cable.

The Fluke is nice but you can get a basic Klein or generic brand much less expensively (about $40).

ETA you can also use a LAN tester if it has cable mapping this will also confirm if cable connections are good or help you trace down a break. These are a little more $ though ($75-$125 or more depending on brand and features).

 

[cvairwerks]

Just need a loopback plug....

 

[JRC3]

This works plenty good enough. https://www.harborfreight.com/cable-tracker-94181.html Dig up a coupon and maybe get it for $21.60. I've gone through 2 over the years. Used to chase Romex and RG6. Never used it for cat cable but I'm sure it does fine.

Just bought this one last week. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-T...e-Tracing-Set-VDV500-820-VDV500-820/309927727

 

[CoogarXR]

Cable toner is the easiest way, if the cables have jacks on them.

If they don't, just strip/twist the orange pair on one CAT5 together, green pair on the next, blue pair, etc. Then go to the other end and use your ohm meter to find the pair with the orange shorted, the green, blue, etc. That way you can at least identify 4 cables at a time.

I suppose you could do even more color/stripe combinations to get all 10 done at once.

 

[ycgoat]

For verifying I have the correct cable I will ground one end and check continuity to ground, using the shielding, building steel or electrical ground

 

[Metal-Marc]

For verifying I have the correct cable I will ground one end and check continuity to ground, using the shielding, building steel or electrical ground

Waste of time.

Use a tone set.

 

[BreeStephany]

A cable toner or a cable test set is your quickest and easiest means of quickly identifying terminated cabling without having to mechanically short conductors of the cabling to do individual continuity tests to determine which cables are which.

Just my two cents.

 

[sparky 1971]

You can go get a cable toner set and that will be the fastest once you get back with the tool, but if the time were to start right now, the fastest will be to do the continuity test mentioned in post #2. Strip the wires of the cable you want to identify, twist one pair together. Go to the central location and test for continuity on that pair of wires. With the RG6 you can tie the wire to the shielding. Even if you find it on the last of the cables, it's faster and cheaper than buying the test set. I have a test set on my truck, but there are a lot of times it's faster to do the continuity test since I have that tester within arms reach at every jobsite.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Did anyone say cable toner already?

 

[PelicanPines]

ALSO... to the suggestions above... buy a LABEL MAKER.

 

[ycgoat]

Waste of time.

Use a tone set.

I like a toner to find the cable but do a continuity test to verify, especially if it’s in a group of cables

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I like a toner to find the cable but do a continuity test to verify, especially if it’s in a group of cables

No need to do that if you get a tone generator that changes tones when you short the two terminals together

 

[Metal-Marc]

I like a toner to find the cable but do a continuity test to verify, especially if it’s in a group of cables

Waste of time.

Don't be a chump, use a tone set.

 

[Norcal]

I made up a short length of coax cable with a connector at one end, stripped the the other end to expose the center, twisted the braid, then using a coupler, not sure of the correct nomenclature, connect it to the desired cable & attach the toner then go hunting for the other end.

 

[luvtheheat]

Thanks to all who provided suggestions.....