ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Voice - Data - Video Discussion Patch Panel wiring

It's my understanding of a patch panel, that you could patch any of the cables to whatever service, be it DSL or POTS, just by changing a patch lead.

Yes, but how many times is that ever going to happen? You already have two runs to each location and especially in residential what more do you need? Make one voice the other data and be done with it.

In many smaller installations I won't even use a patch panel for data. I just press a plug on the ends of the home runs and plug them directly into the router or switch. Doesn't matter where they go, any port will do so there is no reason to ever change them. Why even bother with a patch panel?

-Hal

Hey Hal I hope you are using the correct plugs for those directly connected cables, as at my current place of employment I have punched down hundreds of cables like that on patch panels as the previous hacks used connectors that were meant for stranded wire not the ones that are for solid 24 awg which the cables are.
I agree with the patching of voice on a patch panel, it comes out much cleaner if all the cross connecting for the voice is done on a 110 block.

Oh yeah! A little while back I had a discussion going over at the computer geek forum about this. A few still refuse to believe me when I tell them that if you use plugs meant for stranded wire with a solid conductor (and vice versa) it will come back to bite you in the a**.

-Hal

I figured you knew better but I just thought I would throw it out there so everyone can avoid the problems down the road if they use the wrong ones. That method is good if you have a handful of cables but where I am now there are some closets where there are 100-200 cables b-lining right to the hub out of a hole cut in a ceiling tile.

One of the advantages of a patch panel is that it is easier, quicker and less error prone to terminate a cable on them than to put a plug directly on the cable.

Like I said, small jobs with maybe a dozen or less runs I'll put plugs on the cables especially if the customer is looking for a cheap job. 100-200 is plain crazy!

-Hal

Hal, I'm glad you came back with that, I was about to disagree with you for the first time......

It's not crazy, it's a disaster!!
They got the lowest bidder to do the job originally, now they are paying me to do the clean-up after those guys. It is a healthe-care facility with 6 floors and 22 IDF's.