23 - 568A and 568B Colors - 3.2

International and National Standards
- Ethernet wiring standardization extends internationally.
- Managed by the ISO 11,801 cabling standards document.
- In the US, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) oversees standards.
- The specific standard for commercial building installations is found in ANSI/TIA-568.

Definition of Color Schemes
- TIA-568-A:
- Uses specific color wiring for RJ-45 connectors.
- TIA-568-B:
- Similar to TIA-568-A but with slight differences in color coding.
- Commonly used in the US and likely most places.
- Importance of standardization in installations:
- Ensures consistent wire color coding across different buildings and installations.
- Facilitates troubleshooting of cables and systems.
- Mixing standards:
- Mixing TIA-568-A and TIA-568-B is not advisable, especially in a gigabit network, due to potential connection issues.
- This can lead to misinterpretations, such as confusion with crossover cables.

Color Coding Details
- TIA-568-A pin configuration:
- Pin 1: White with Green
- Pin 2: Green
- Pin 3: White with Orange
- Pin 4: Blue
- Pin 5: White with Blue
- Pin 6: Orange
- Pin 7: White with Brown
- Pin 8: Brown
- TIA-568-B pin configuration:
- Pin 1: White with Orange
- Pin 2: Orange
- Pin 3: White with Green
- Pin 4: Blue
- Pin 5: White with Blue
- Pin 6: Green
- Pin 7: White with Brown
- Pin 8: Brown
- Commonalities
- Pins 4 and 5 (Blue colors) are identical in both standards.
- Pins 7 and 8 (Brown colors) are also identical in both standards.
- Memorization focus on differences in pins 1, 2 and pins 3, 6.

Identifying Standards on Ethernet Cables
- Upon inspection of an Ethernet cable, one should be able to identify the used color scheme.
- Example provided to illustrate cable wiring matching TIA-568-B standard.
- Care must be taken during crimping to ensure wires are properly ordered before they are secured.

Crimping Process
- Insert wires into RJ-45 connectors before crimping.
- Check to ensure colored wires align with the correct pinouts based on the selected standard.
- Readjust if necessary before final crimping to avoid mistakes.
Using Punch Down Terminals
- Some jacks may have color coding aids for installation (e.g., specific placement for TIA-568-A or TIA-568-B).
- Example jacks given:
- One has designated color areas for top (568-A) and bottom (568-B).
- Another jack demonstrates how to punch down wires based on the color scheme selected:
  - For TIA-568-A: White-Green, Green, Blue, White-Blue.
  - For TIA-568-B: White-Orange, Orange, Blue, White-Blue.
- Importance of following specified colors to ensure correct cable function.