What You Need to Know About Ethernet Cable Insulation

There are many different types of Ethernet cable and each one has different insulation. As a result, you need to understand the different types as well as the pros and cons of each one in order to make the right choice.

Quality Ethernet Cables, including Cat6 cables, are made using a variety of components. Insulation in ethernet cables is one such component, and it performs a critical purpose. In this post, you'll learn what ethernet cable insulation is and why it's crucial for best communication.

What Is Insulation In Ethernet Cables?

Insulation is the substance that separates all eight conductors and keeps them from making direct contact. The insulation also protects your Cat6 or Cat5e Cable from coming into direct contact with the outside world. Now comes the question of why insulation is utilized for the aforementioned goals.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and crosstalk are the two factors that wreak havoc on your signal the most (such as alien crosstalk). These two factors degrade the quality of your signal, causing your entire connection to be disrupted. This is where insulation comes in help, as it protects your wires from these two factors while also maintaining signal quality.

Which kind of Insulation is Used?

The material used to create insulation is usually some type of fiberglass. In the most basic sense, insulation is a material that is designed to keep certain areas warm while making others cold. This is done by trapping air in a material that keeps it from escaping. In the case of modern insulation, the air is trapped in a material made from glass fibers or petroleum. Fiberglass is quite common for a number of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that it is much less expensive than other materials like stone wool or cellulose.

As climate change threatens humanity's very existence, the world is swiftly transitioning toward safer and greener sources. In this context, the LSZH cables have a negligible environmental impact because they emit no hazardous elements. This is why people who care about the environment always use LSZH cables, such as Cat6a or Cat5e cables.

Is there a difference between Insulation and Cable Jacket?

Most people mix up cable jackets and insulation, believing they are the same thing and serve the same purpose. That is not the case, as both are distinct entities.

While the insulation in all cables is typically constructed of the same material, the jacket is not. There are four different types of ethernet cable jackets. These are the following:

• PVC
• Plenum 
• Riser
• Direct Burial

Cat6 Plenum Cable, for example, has a CMP-rated jacket, but Cat6a Riser Cable has a CMR-rated jacket. Cat5e cable with a PVC jacket is also known as Cat5e PVC cable.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our blog post about Ethernet cable insulation. We know how important it is to have your network infrastructure working properly, and we’re here to help! Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (347) 748-1818.