• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

proper way to run a patch panel

F

fireburster

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Mar 29, 2002
Messages
1,265
So i have a 4 post rack and im not in the IT field so im lack in my proper ways to do things.

I just got a new house and i have converted my rack to an av rack on one side but i want to put the patch panel on the other side. I ran the runs through the side and into the patch panel but it just hangs upside down when im punching in. Am i supposed to get to it from the back? Is there a way to swing them out? I just ordered a accually punch down tool and im going to get everything ready for when its in.

last house i punched in cables to each of the pcs in there then just had to get 1ft patch cables to the switch. It was pretty slick, is that ok?
 
Last edited:
I just zip tie the cables to the loops on the patch panel and let it hang. My rack is a wall mounted swing out style but I still prefer to let it hang when I work on it.
 
Depending on the patch panel, the wiring usually comes in from one side or the other on the back. The tab on the jack on the front of the patch panel usually points downwards. You punch down from the back. There are kits to make the patch panel swing outwards from either side, called a hinge kit. You can order a patch panel with a built-in hinge. I've also seen patch panels swing downwards at a 45 degree angle.

So to punch down, I usually just leave it loose, hold the patch panel in one hand and punch down with the other. Most of the patch panels have a built-in punchdown 568A/B color code. After awhile the cabling will hold it in place. When finished, zip tie or velcro the wiring to the patch panel for support. Then screw down the patch panel into the rack and finish dressing the cabling. I like to leave a "service loop" in case of moving the patch panel in the future to a new location. Loop can be any length you want, though I usually leave a couple feet extra. Enough to punch down again if I had to for some reason.
 
^^ or browse around in the network gallery section of this subforum. lots of cool pictures in there to get ideas from.
 
You use zip ties to secure a patch panel, it's meant for permanent wiring and it has loops specifically for small zip ties...
 
aaronearles said:
You use zip ties to secure a patch panel, it's meant for permanent wiring and it has loops specifically for small zip ties...
Click to expand...

Ahh, yes securing the patch panel, but not the actual cat5/6 :) right... is that what you are saying ?
 
I don't have a problem with zip ties...just don't snug 'em too tight. They're easy to snip off if you need to make any changes. And for visual purposes I snip off the loose end, and spin it so the clamp part is hidden behind the bunch.

On the rare chance that I'm changing things around, it really is wicked easy to snip and remove.

Velcro is nice, sure, but it gets expensive.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
I don't have a problem with zip ties...just don't snug 'em too tight. They're easy to snip off if you need to make any changes. And for visual purposes I snip off the loose end, and spin it so the clamp part is hidden behind the bunch.

On the rare chance that I'm changing things around, it really is wicked easy to snip and remove.

Velcro is nice, sure, but it gets expensive.
Click to expand...

I guess it's ok to use zipties, however some people who use them snug them so dam tight that it crushes cables, I have seen it so many times.
 
i use zip ties as well, crank them so tight the cable looks like a V, more cable density faster right?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top