Patch Panel Cabling—the Right Choice

What Is a Patch Panel?

The patch panel is a device that integrates both cable management and termination functions. The patch panel cabling is conducive to the structured cabling as the cables are put orderly on the patch panel. As the interface between multiple optical fibers and optical equipment, it serves as a termination unit that helps networking and fiber distribution from wiring closet to various terminal applications.

Lying on the front of it are an array of ports where we insert the cables. The ports in the back will lead to a server, switch, or another type of device. Each port in the front will have a cable coming from a PC, phone, fax, or any other device that needs to be networked together. Each port on the patch panel labeled with a number will connect via an Ethernet cable punch down on the back, through the wall, cross space or added to another location in the house.

Benefits of Patch Panel Cabling

It lets you use the proper type of cable in the proper place. Other than the point-to-point cabling, the patch panel contributes to a structured cabling, representing you a professional and neat look. In a large home or office with lots of connections, patch panels make quick work of re-configuring networks by enabling operators to identify where the cable is coming from and going to. By managing varying port densities and speeds in a single high-density patch panel, you save valuable rack space, helping to lower data center costs. A single patch panel can manage as many as (168) 10Gb ports.

Patch Panel Recommendations

We all know that the fiber transmits data faster than copper does. But the role of patch panels is to direct signal traffic rather than send the signal at a certain speed. Both copper and fiber panels are governed by the same TIA/EIA standards(the highest level of criteria that products must perform to) required to produce speed and signal performance for the rest of the cabling network. Patch panels must coerce data into performing up to the standards.

The 24 ports Cat5e shielded feed-through patch panel, a star product in FS.COM, can be mounted in to 1U racks. The shielded patch panel can minimize the crosstalk between cables, ensuring the smooth transferring of signals. It features with number coding, removable rear cable manager and rear cable management bar.
cat5e shielded patch panel

1U 19″ high-density fiber patch panel offered by FS.COM can hold up to 48 fibers with 24 ports. High quality steel adapter panel is suitable for 1U 19″ frame rack mount or cabinet, designed for backbone-to-backbone and backbone-to-horizontal fiber cabling. It is fully loaded with fiber couplers to save much cost.

fiber patch panel

Conclusion

A patch panel allows you great flexibility to move, add and change cables. It gives you the neat look and a simple way to manage and configure and reconfigure your network. If coordinated with a cable manager, the patch panels will do better in cable management since the cable manager has both horizontal and vertical options while the patch panel is only designed in horizontal type at present. It can be easily installed into the wall mount enclosure and rack mount enclosure. What’s more, the whole rack will be much nicer and the networks will work orderly. Remember that 30% space in the cable managers should be left for future growth.

Shortcuts to Install Your FHD Wall Mount Enclosure

As a space-saving fiber optic enclosure, the wall mount enclosure is popular with people around the globe. Except FHX fiber enclosure, FHD fiber enclosure is also our signature product to provide the essential interface between multiple fiber cables and optical equipment installed on the customer’s premises. To install it on the wall and to place the accessories in it may be a puzzle for some people. In the following part, I will make a illustrate to help you avoid the unnecessary triviality.

Two Ways to Load the FHD Wall Mount Enclosure

FHD wall mount fiber patch panel comes with two separate compartments with two steel doors. As shown below, the left side is used for accommodating outside plant cables entering the building, pigtails and pigtail splices. Whereas the right side is designed for internal cable assembly networking that connected by fiber adapters or fiber optic cassettes.

Come With Fiber Adapter Panel

According to its capacity, the wall mount fiber enclosure can accomodate two or four adapter panels. Start with a blank enclosure, after inserting the adapter panels, we may need spools ready on its place to manage the fiber slack. Take out both the covers on the slots of the adapter panels and the cables, and then couple them. Mark the slacks with number and strip them into a grommet for better protection. Use a strain relief brackets outside the enclosure to protect the cable.

with adapter panel

Come With Fiber Optic Cassette

Take FHD MTP-LC cassette an example, the front side of it, 12 or 24 fiber connects are used to match with with LC or SC patch cables, while the rear side of it is to interconnect MTP backbone cabling. Since there are not many cables and yet enough space, the spools aren’t used here.

with fiber cassette

Hold up FHD Wall Mount Enclosure against the Wall

The wall mount enclosure can be fixed quickly and easily to the wall using four screws.There are four key slots on the back of the enclosure for wall mounting. Make sure the size of the wall is large enough to hold the entire enclosure. And plan properly the optimum height, otherwise the equipment will be lower that people will bump on it when passing by or it will be too high that is beyond the users reach to complete the cabling.

Conclusion

Fiber optic adapters are the critical part of fiber enclosure to accept the various fiber optic connectors. And MTP fiber optic cassettes are pre-terminated and pre-tested enclosed units. Whichever you choose is reasonable. In addition, the accessories mentioned above will be offered freely by FS.COM. And we have produced a short video about wall mount enclosure installation for your reference. Any question or suggestion form our esteemed customers will be sincerely considered. We really hope to grow better and be your best partner alongside you.