Have a customer that bought a house that was outfitted with a system that was wired with cat 5 to control points. The cat5 runs are approx 75 feet. The old system is fried and he would like to replace with a Crestron system. Specifically APADs for interfaces. Has anyone successfully used cat5 for control wires? I know Crestron doesn't support this but I have heard that some dealers have done this before. Just not sure how stable it is. Any input would be appreciated.

I had to do this in a home 3 years ago and it is still working well. Use two conductors each for power and ground then use a twisted pair for Y and Z. Cresnet wire is still the best solution when you have a choice.

Works fine in my own home. Pick a twisted pair for y and z and the remaining conductors make power and ground.

I used CAT5 in my own house to connect numerous APADs. Crestron has a specific data sheet for this connection. I suggest you go online or contact support to get a copy. As mentioned in an earlier post, they specify sharing pairs for power, but I’m not sure about data.

I do NOT love the APAD as an interface. They have the new TPMC-4SM that is POE, is designed for a single CAT5 and will blow the doors off the APAD if you can handle the price. Did I mention that I didn’t love the APAD? I meant to say, I can’t imagine ever designing one into a new job.

I've used Cat 5 for cresnet for years....back to 1999.

I would use a pair for every signal : 24, Y, Z and G.

You could still use 1 pair for Y and G.

I would also use Cat5 for RS-232, and IR : you could use it over 100'.

It was the norm for many to cut costs and use Cat5, I have even had to use16/4 in a pinch. No I did not wire this way. Just be careful and very conservative with your Crestnet power calculations when doing this...

Obviously run Crestnet wire whenever possible...

The job is a bit cost restrictive but now that you mention it, I'll try him on with the TPMC-4SM. Will throw in a couple of CEN-SW-POE-5 switches to get power to the panels.

Not sure that I'd push thnvelope with 232 over 75 feet.....

Under no circumstances should you follow this advice and split the pairs on a UTP data cable. While it might work and I know of some large salons who've foolishly hit on this particularly wiring scheme it is not only wrong it will likely cause issues on a larger system.


This is far better advice. When using CAT5 for Cresnet I use 1pair + 1 wire for power and ground ( eg., blue pair + brown for +24, Green pair + brown/white for ground and orange pair for Y and Z ). Be sure to do a voltage drop calculation, particularly when using CAT5 for power. At 75 feet with APADs you will be fine if you follow my 3 wire for power and ground.

I have also used CAT5 for serial at 100 ft. Given the gage you will want to be careful. You will also may run out of wires since smart money would have each pair as signal and ground (eg., blue for TX$, blue/white for TX$ gnd; Orange for RX$, OR/white for RX$ gnd. Green for RTS/CTS, Brown for DTR/DSR ).

Alan

I do not have the document on the pc I am on now, but Crestron does have a document posted on the dealer side of the site regarding how they want Cat5 termitated along with a distance calculator as it relates to power draw.

hope that helps.

Per Crestron True Blue Tech several years ago, think about 4 years ago or so, when wiring with Cat5,

24 is the orange pair
y is blue
z is blue white
G is the green pair.
Brown pair is unused

Like I said, that's how Crestron told us to do cat5 years ago, if you have a problem, that's the first question they will ask you though, are you using cat5 or cresnet.

FWIW I yanked a full elan system that had cat3 cable in a 7Kft house and put in an adagio a few years back with apads and 12 button keypads and worked fine and so far no call backs with issues....the real fun part was integrating the z600 door station...lets just say it involved a couple relays and power supplies.

What he said.

That doc is no longer available on true blue support site. I think they just gave up given the expense of supporting dealers who think you can do this


I sincerely hope you are not remembering correctly and have not really been wiring crestron homes this way since 1999.

it works! i've done it more than once.

In thoses days, I was working for a company. If they gave me cat5 to do it, I would.

Time has changed.