Which is the best way to conect rs485 and 5v sensors in one cord

[nicolasmaker11]

I am developing a multiparameter soil meter with electroconductivity, pH and nutrient sensors. The equipment consists of 4 probes connected to an Arduino Mega.
The display part consists of an I2C LCD, an Arduino Mega, the MAX485 to convert the signals from 3 sensors that travel through RS485, the battery (12V 3A) and the DC DC 12V-5V converter.
The second part of the probe is 3 RS485 sensors connected to 12V, from the battery, configured at 9600 baud. And a moisture sensor connected to 5V from the arduino that uses two digital inputs.
I currently have two shielded wires each of 4 x 22 AWG, one for the 3 rs485 sensors and one for the 5v probe.

The device works well. But I would like to have only one cord and use a single connector on the display part so I can connect and disconnect the probes easily with male an female connectors like rj485.
The length of the cord from the arduino to the probes is not very long, it is 7 ft.
I'm not sure if I can use a UTP cat 5,6 or higher wire for this?, since I have seen that although it has 8 wires it can only really handle 4 signals. (I haven't worked with this before). The other option is to use this type of connector.

I think that at this distance and frequency I should not have noise problems, but I need to know what solution may be better.
Thanks in advance.

[Paul_KD7HB]

@nicolasmaker11

I'm not sure if I can use a UTP cat 5,6 or higher wire for this?,

Find another wire!. All CAT wires are solid copper which will quickly harden and break if moved about. Use stranded wire.

[gilshultz]

I have used Stranded CAT 6 for several years and breaking out the conductors is nice for Arduino projects. It does not do good with protoboards but great with the Dupont pins. Go to your favorite browser and search for "stranded cat 6 wire" I used duckduckgo and got pages of offers.

You need the appropriate connectors as the most common are for solid wire.

I got mine accidently when I ordered it with a purple jacket. A 1000' goes a long way.

[Paul_KD7HB]

Thanks. Did not know. I still have rolls and a partial carton of the solid wire up in the loft. Use the blue colored out of doors and insulation is still in good shape.