How to wire a patch panel

How to wire a patch panel

How to wire a patch panel is entirely dependent on the type of application you are using a patch panel for.  Are you connecting a computer network together in one centralized location?  Are you using it in combination with radio and television broadcasting?  Is commercial or home recording your primary focus?  How to wire a patch panel comes down to the kind of gear you are using, and what your intended application is.  A patch panel can greatly organize your workspace and workflow, and can help in identifying issues with signal flow.

Your first step in how to wire a patch panel is to acquire one through an electrical supply store or outlet.  Patch panels should contain 110 style insulation displacement connectors, and have terminations in varying numbers.  Make sure to account for all incoming ethernet connections in selecting your patch panel.

Making a cable diagram map for the system administrator informing them as to which incoming cables are terminated at patch panel connectors is a good idea  Labeling connections enables technicians to identify problems, creating an easy guide for future upgrades and changes within your network.

On each incoming ethernet cable, the covering jacket needs to be removed.  Use wire strippers and give yourself at least two inches of length at the end of each cable.  If your ethernet cables are CAT6, there will be a small internal plastic jacket under the outside cable jacket that will als need to be removed.  CAT5 cables do not have this added layer, so this step is not necessary.  Wire strippers are available at any hardware store or electrical supply outlet.

The next step in how to wire a patch panel is to untwist the individual cable wires within the cable and spread them all out.  There will be four twisted pairs of these wires within the cable, and are color coded with 4 solid colors within each wire pair, and four identical wires with a white stripe around their counterpart.  Take each of these 8 individual wires and plug them in individually to the 110 style connector within the patch panel in the outlet that has been chosen as the input destination.  There is a color coded label on the patch panel that indicates where each wire is to be placed within the input location.  Make sure each connection sets properly within the teeth of the insulation displacement connector.

Finally, use a patch panel push tool to secure each set of wire into the teeth of the input and output of the patch panels input displacement connector.  If you want to discuss how to wire a patch panel can improve your workflow, drop us a line at +1 (818) 500-8142 or email us at marketing@bittree.com

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