How to Wire a Patch Panel

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Acquire the patch panel or patch panels.

   The patch panels purchased should have 110 style insulation displacement connectors.
   
   Patch panels with various numbers of terminations are available.
   
   Acquire enough patch connectors on the patch panels to accommodate all of the incoming Ethernet cables.
   
   Patch panels are available through electronic supply outlets and some electrical parts stores. , The map should tell the system administrator which incoming cables are terminated to which patch panel connectors.
   
   A map of the patch panel connections is necessary, and labeling the patch panels is helpful in diagnosing system problems and handling future changes and upgrades., Use wire strippers to cut off the cable jacket about
   1.5 inches (38 mm) from the end of each cable.
   
   Remove and discard the jacket.
   
   Wire strippers are available at electrical parts stores and hardware stores., If the incoming Ethernet cables are Cat6 type, they will have an internal plastic jacket under the outer cable jacket that must be carefully removed and discarded using wire cutters.
   
   Wire cutters are available at electrical parts stores and hardware stores.
   
   If the incoming cable is Cat5e type this step will not be necessary., There will be 4 twisted pairs of wires inside the Ethernet cable.
   
   Untwist all of the wires and spread them out.
   
   Note that the wires are color coded with 4 being solid colors, and 4 with a white stripe around the color., Place all 8 wires into the 110 style connector of the patch panel in the patch panel outlet that has been chosen to receive that cable.
   
   There will be a color code label on the patch panel that indicates which wire is to be placed into which connector pin.
   
   Make sure that each wire spans both sets of teeth of the insulation displacement connector., Use a patch panel push tool to firmly press down on each wire so that it is grasped by both sets of teeth of the insulation displacement connector.
   
   Patch panel push tools are available at electronic supply outlets and electrical supply stores.
   
   If the patch panel push tool has a cutting edge, make sure that the cutting edge is placed over the cut ends of the Ethernet cable so that excess wire will be cut off during the pushing operation.
   
   If the patch panel push tool does not have a cutting edge, use wire cutters to remove excess wire from the Ethernet cable that hangs out over the edge of the insulation displacement connector.
2. 2

   Step 2: Make a cable map.

3. 3

   Step 3: Remove the cable jacket from each incoming Ethernet cable.

4. 4

   Step 4: Remove internal tubing for the cables.

5. 5

   Step 5: Spread out the cable wires.

6. 6

   Step 6: Set the wires into the patch panel connector.

7. 7

   Step 7: Make the connections.

Detailed Guide

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