What do you do when you have faulty power cables in your house? Chances are you will call a technician to solve it for you. However, that may not be possible now, given the movement restrictions. So what are you to do? With the correct cable stripper in place, you can also do one hell of a job. Below is information that guarantees you to get the most out of the coax cable.
Table of Contents
- Take stock of your toolbox
- Cable Prep–Every Cable Prep is Unique
- Cable Prep–Always opt for High-performance Tools
- Summary
Take stock of your toolbox
Caption: Handyman checking his cable prep tools
Before starting any coax cable prep job, it is advisable to take stock of what you have. Having a quick look at your current set of tools you trust will determine if you do a good job. Some of the common issues you may discover may include:
Dull blades
Caption: A dull blade with cutting edges
When doing a coax cable installation, you need hardened tool-steel blades to make precise cuts. Using a dull blade leads to faulty connections, which eventually turn costly. If your blade shows signs of rust, it is time for a replacement as it’s no longer a proper cable prep tool. Additionally, any nicks on the cutting surface should prompt you to look for a replacement.
Here are some of the issues you may face when using a dull blade to prep your coax cable:
Intermittent contacts
Captions: Damaged coaxial cable resulting from using the wrong tools
A dull blade does not make a clean cut. You will leave some dielectric residue on the center conductor. Consequently, your signal can often drop or not work at all.
Cable Prep–Double prepping
Caption: inconsistent cuts on a networking cable from using wrong cable prep tools
Another result of using a dull blade is double cable preps. It refers to a situation where you do multiple cuts to overcome the shoddy ones from earlier. Consequently, there is a lot of wastage even after using proper dimensions when prepping the coax cable.
Cable Prep–Worn compression tools
Each cable installation requires a proper functioning compression tool. As these contain movable parts, you must ensure you grease them regularly. Furthermore, depending on the manufacturer, some compression tools are prone to rust. Both these factors can result in the tool not fully closing, leading to unsuccessful cable connector insertions, thus you won’t get optimum performance from your coax cable.
Make sure to clean your tools before and after every cable prep job to guarantee their longevity and smooth operation.
Cable Prep–Every Cable Prep is Unique
Caption: Incorrect use of a knife for cable stripping
Knives belong in the kitchen, not in the cable industry. You may be wondering, are they not blades too? True. However, they are not ideal as coax cable strippers or for prepping cables. They are not cable cutters, and thus do not have a central conductor blade to ensure a smooth cut, with no damage to the central conductor.
Captions: a Worker using a stripper to correctly strip cables
Keeping this in mind, every installation requires a specific tool. For example, if you are using a compression cable connector, use a compression tool. Your hammer is not a suitable alternative for the job.
Also, think about using an all-in-one cable prep tool like the Super CPT during braided and braid-replacement drop cables job. Although it easily strips the cable jacket from any RG-59 coax cable, it won’t make sense to use it where you need a compression connector.
Always ensure that you have the right tools for the job before you begin. Reading the product spec sheet will also help you know what to use where.
Cable Prep–Always opt for High-performance Tools
As you go buying tools for cable installations, always opt for high-performance tools. You will save yourself many headaches in terms of high repair costs resulting from faulty installations. One of the best sources for this information is the CablePrep website.
CablePrep has been around for over 40 years. In this time, the coaxial cable prep tools technology continues to improve, and so do the prepping techniques. The key takeaway here is that you should always keep abreast with emerging innovations. You will find all the verified suppliers in your area and additional information on what is new in the
Summary
As you can see, getting the best out of your cable connection process is not rocket science. The above information is your beginner’s guide to ensure you get the best value from your cable prep job. Visit us for more guides or professional help with your cabling solutions. Whether you’re working with 50-ohm coaxial cable or 75-ohm, Cloom has everything you need for proper cable assembly.
FQA About the Cable Connection Process
1. Why are cable types important?
It’s important to know what cable types you need for your projects.
2. What cable prep tool do you need during the process?
Tools you trust with cable include wire cutters and a cable stripper. Wire Cutters & the cable stripper come in handy when there is a need for some tough work involving high gauge electric cords or braided and braid-replacement drop cables due to their ability to provide more force than what would normally be seen in household scissors. The cable prep cpt-6590 is a reliable solution to the problem of tangled cables. It’s easy to use and helps manage your messy wires with precision performance.
3. Why a cable stripping tool necessary?
Because cable stripping is a tedious process. But with the cable stripper, it does not have to be. This tool will make your job easier and more efficient with its features.
4. How about Cable Prep’s tools?
Cable Prep is a company that offers cable installation services. Also, the Cable Prep’s tool provides an efficient and effective way to prepare cables for termination, testing, or installation without any fuss! Besides, Cable Prep’s revenue has been increasing steadily in the past few years.
5. What is an All-in-One Cable Prep Tool?
An All-in-One Cable Prep Tool can help you connect your various devices together via cables. It includes cable connectors for USB, VGA, and power cords as well as HDMI tools such that any device can be connected with ease!
6. What do coaxial cable strippers do?
Coaxial cable strippers are used to strip the outer coating from coaxial cables and make them ready for termination. This is an essential step in any installation process, as it ensures that you have a clean connection when terminating your wire into cable connectors or other components. The CablePrep CPT-6590S 6 & 59 Cable Stripper is a must for stripping your cable with precision and speed.
7. What is cable dielectric?
Cable dielectric is a material that can insulate electric currents, which has something to do with cable insulation properties. The cable insulation is important for keeping people safe during power outages, and it also helps prevent fires from getting started inside homes or buildings.
8. What do cable prep wipe & cleaner do?
Cable prep wipes are a great tool for cleaning the connectors on your cables. They help make it easier to remove all of that tough gunk from around the cable, and can even be used as an emergency substitute in rainy conditions when you need something wet but don’t have any water handy!
