Introduction: Meet the Haydon Blue CAT5 Patch Lead (0.50 m)
The Haydon Blue CAT5 Patch Lead, 0.50 m (SKU: ITM001077 / CAT5PATCH/0.5M/BLUE) is a compact, purpose-built Ethernet patch cable designed for short interconnects in racks, patch panels and close-proximity device connections. This short blue RJ45 (8P8C) patch lead is aimed at installers, IT technicians and home users who need a tidy, colour-coded link between switches, routers, patch panels and networked devices. While the product record labels it as CAT5, the supplier record advises confirming whether the cable is Cat5 or Cat5e if you require Gigabit (1000Base-T) performance.
Key features at a glance
- Compact 0.50 m length— ideal for short patching runs and maintaining tidy racks.
- Blue jacket— helps with port/patch identification and colour-coded cabling schemes.
- RJ45 (8P8C) connectors— standard connectors for Ethernet patching (confirm contact plating and exact connector spec with the supplier).
- Haydon SKU ITM001077— vendor identifier for ordering and stock checks.
- Cost-effective— suggested retail price: 1.99 (cost price 1.20), making it an economical option for bulk installs or replacements.
Detailed specifications and benefits
Understanding the technical specifics helps decide whether this patch lead meets your requirements. The product record includes these core specification points, with several items flagged for supplier confirmation:
- Length:0.50 m — a very short cable intended for direct patching, ideal where devices or ports sit only a short distance apart.
- Colour:Blue — useful for visual management and sorting cable runs by function or service.
- Cable category:Labelled as CAT5 in the record. Cat5 reliably supports 10/100 Ethernet. Many modern short patch leads are sold as Cat5e to support 1000Base-T (Gigabit). If you need Gigabit capability, confirm with Haydon whether ITM001077 is Cat5 or Cat5e.
- Conductor construction:Likely stranded copper (common for patch leads) which offers flexibility and repeated bending resistance. Confirm AWG and whether its 24 AWG stranded or another specification if cross-compatibility and power handling (PoE) matters.
- Connector contacts:Typical patch leads use gold-plated contacts to resist corrosion and maintain low contact resistance; verify with the supplier for exact plating thickness or standards compliance.
- Jacket material:Could be PVC or LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen). PVC is common and low cost; LSZH is specified for public buildings and areas where low smoke is required in a fire. Confirm jacket type before installing in regulated environments.
- Standards & certifications:Record shows insufficient data. If you require assurance of EIA/TIA or ISO/IEC compliance, request the datasheet or test reports from Haydon.
- Commercial details:Cost price 1.20, suggested retail 1.99, stock shown as 0 and last updated 2025-09-12. Warranty is listed as 0 (confirm warranty terms with the supplier).
Benefits derived from these specifications include neat cable management in confined spaces, simple visual identification via the blue jacket, and suitability for typical 10/100 networks. If confirmed as Cat5e and with appropriate conductor and connector quality, this lead can also support Gigabit networks for short runs.
Use cases and scenarios where the product excels
This 0.5 m patch lead excels in environments where short, reliable connections are required without introducing cable clutter. Typical use cases include:
- Patch panels and rack management:When ports on a switch sit directly adjacent to a patch panel, a 0.5 m lead prevents excess slack and keeps cable bundles tidy—critical in dense rack environments and data cabinets.
- Switch-to-switch or switch-to-router short links:For stacking or short interconnects where devices are mounted close together, the short length reduces crosstalk from excess cable loops.
- Desk-to-wall port connections:In offices where a wall outlet and a workstation are very close, a short lead looks neater than a longer cable coiled behind furniture.
- Test labs and deployment trays:Technician benches and staging areas benefit from short patch leads that make swapping devices quick and organised.
- Colour-coded deployments:Using blue leads for a specific VLAN, service or client makes troubleshooting faster and reduces accidental unplugging during maintenance.
Note: If you plan to use the lead for Power over Ethernet (PoE) or Gigabit links, confirm conductor AWG, category (Cat5 vs Cat5e) and connector ratings with the supplier to ensure reliability and safety.
Comparisons with similar products on the market
Short patch leads are a crowded market, with variations in category (Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6), jacket material, shielding, and connector quality. Heres how the Haydon Blue CAT5 0.5 m lead typically compares:
- Cat5 vs Cat5e:Cat5 is sufficient for 10/100 networks. Cat5e is the minimum recommendation for Gigabit (1000Base-T). Many suppliers now ship short leads as Cat5e by default; if Gigabit is a requirement, opt for confirmed Cat5e or Cat6 equivalents.
- Cat5e vs Cat6:Cat6 offers better crosstalk and higher frequency handling, beneficial for longer runs or future-proofing. For very short (0.5 m) runs, Cat5e may be adequate and cost-effective, but Cat6 patch leads are often used in modern installations for consistency with backbone cabling.
- Shielded vs unshielded:Shielded (STP) patch leads are used in electrically noisy environments or when connected to shielded infrastructure. The Haydon record does not state shielding; if your environment has EMI concerns, choose a shielded lead explicitly.
- Jacket material:PVC is common and inexpensive. LSZH leads are pricier but required for public buildings and enclosed spaces by some regulations. Verify the Haydon jacket type before deploying in regulated areas.
- Connector quality:Premium leads highlight solid gold plating thickness and moulded strain reliefs to extend life in frequent-move scenarios. Confirm the Haydon connector construction if the lead will be unplugged frequently.
Customer feedback and reviews
No customer reviews are available in the provided product record. If you need real-world feedback, consider requesting sample units for in-house testing or asking the supplier for references. In practice, technicians often report these consistent, practical observations about short patch leads like this one:
- "Perfect for tidy racks—zero unnecessary slack and clean colour coding."
- "Cheap and useful for staging; I keep a box of short leads for lab benches."
- "Make sure you check Cat5 vs Cat5e if youre using it for Gigabit switches—some units labelled Cat5e are truly Cat5e, others are older Cat5 stock."
These examples are representative of typical technician commentary and should not be taken as verified endorsements of this specific SKU. For validated testimonials, you should request customer reviews from the supplier or marketplace listings where the product is sold.
Tips for purchasing and installation
- Confirm category:Ask Haydon to confirm whether SKU ITM001077 is Cat5 or Cat5e if you need Gigabit performance.
- Verify jacket type:Confirm PVC vs LSZH if the installation is in public or enclosed spaces where low-smoke performance is required.
- Check conductor and connector details:Request AWG, stranded/solid construction, and contact plating details if you need PoE compatibility or durability for frequent re-patching.
- Buy appropriate lengths:Use short leads like this for direct adjacent port connections; longer runs should use appropriately rated permanent link cable and terminations.
- Order spares:Low unit price and common utility make it sensible to keep a few spares in your toolkit; suggested price is 1.99 so replacement is inexpensive.
Conclusion: Why choose the Haydon Blue CAT5 0.5 m Patch Lead?
The Haydon Blue CAT5 Patch Lead (0.50 m, SKU ITM001077) is an economical, practical solution for short patching needs where neatness, colour-coding and low cost matter. Its especially useful in racks, patch panels, and test environments where excess cable length would create clutter. The primary considerations before purchase are confirming whether the lead is Cat5 or Cat5e (affecting Gigabit capability), verifying jacket material for fire-safety requirements, and confirming conductor and connector specifications for PoE or heavy-use scenarios.
For technicians and installers who need tidy, low-cost interconnects, this Haydon lead will often be a sensible choice—provided you confirm the few outstanding technical details with the supplier. If future-proofing for Gigabit networks or strict fire-safety environments is a priority, consider requesting a Cat5e/Cat6 or LSZH alternative from Haydon or other vendors.
If youd like, I can draft a short supplier data-request email to confirm category (Cat5 vs Cat5e), conductor AWG, connector plating, jacket type (PVC vs LSZH) and any certification details for ITM001077.