Best Patch Panels: Effective Network Cable Management Guide

 

1. In the 1^st part,we will introduces patch panels and cable management racks in network systems.

 

1.1 What is a patch panel and its function

A network patch panel is a centralized modular device used to manage network connection points in a data center. It is primarily used for connecting two different subsystems or connecting server room equipment to external network connection points, and it centrally manages, allocates, and adjusts the cables of these systems. Network patch panels are usually composed of paired connectors and use patch cables for cross-connections, making cable management and maintenance easier.

A network patch panel is a physical device in a computer network system used for centralized management and installation of various network cables and RJ45 connectors.

As seen in the image above, a network patch panel is a device that consolidates keystone jacks together and mounts them on a network rack. In a network system, the functions of a network patch panel include the following:

 

1.1.1 Management and maintenance:

A network patch panel can centrally install and manage various network devices and cables, making network cabling more standardized and orderly, facilitating management and maintenance, and reducing troubleshooting time.

 

1.1.2 Providing convenient access points:

A network patch panel offers standardized interfaces and access points, allowing network devices and cables to be easily plugged in and replaced, reducing connection issues between devices.

 

1.1.3 Reducing signal interference:

A network patch panel will reasonably arrange and install various network cables, avoiding issues such as excessively long cables and cross-interference, thereby improving the stability and reliability of signal transmission.

 

1.1.4 Enhancing security:

A network patch panel can provide physical security protection, preventing unauthorized access and damage, and also facilitating monitoring and maintenance personnel for management.

 

1.1.5 Supporting expansion:

Network patch panels typically have scalability, allowing for the addition or replacement of more devices and cables as needed to meet network expansion requirements.
In summary, network patch panels play a crucial role in computer network systems by centralizing management, providing access points, reducing signal interference, enhancing security, and supporting expansion.

1.2 What indicators of network patch panels are worth paying attention to

In addition to the materials and metal pins of the network or telephone modules themselves, when selecting a network patch panel, you can see many classifications and various flashy feature introductions. However, the key points can be summarized as follows.

1.2.1  Different types:

Network patch panels are mainly divided into Ca 5e and Cat6. Cat 5e patch panels are suitable for general office and network applications, while Cat 6 patch panels are used in scenarios requiring higher bandwidth and speed. In addition to those suitable for networks, if you also need a purely telephone voice system, you can configure a voice network patch panel. The appropriate type can be selected based on specific needs in actual networks.

1.2.2  Specifications and port quantity distinctions:

Common network patch panels have 24-port and 48-port types. The appropriate port quantity should be chosen based on the number of network points and cabling needs to avoid resource waste or shortage. If a telephone voice patch panel is selected, common telephone patch panels have 25-port, 50-port, and 100-port options. However, with the increasing adoption of IP phones in office environments, the configuration of voice patch panels has become relatively less common.

1.2.3  Other features:

Some high-end patch panels come with cable management racks and labeling functions, allowing corresponding line numbers and interfaces to be printed on them. This makes managing the cabling system in the server room very convenient, and cable managementand maintenance become easier. Choosing patch panels with these features can improve work efficiency and maintenance convenience.

1.3. How to distinguish between patch panels, cable management racks, and patch cords racks

In this issue, we mentioned introducing cable management racks and patch panels. Those unfamiliar with cabling systems may not know the difference between the two. A patch panel is used in a structured cabling system, as mentioned above, a standard 1RU patch panel with built-in network information modules. Cabling engineers can use a crimping tool to crimp the network cables into the keystone jack terminals of the patch panel according to the colors on the Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) terminals. A cable management rack, on the other hand, is only used for organizing cables to make the cabling more aesthetically pleasing and does not come with keystone jacks.

A cable management rack is a full rack with cable management holes that allow cables to be arranged as needed. Cable management racks are suitable for cable routing and device arrangement in server rooms, making cable management for rack-mounted equipment more convenient. They are often used in conjunction with patch panels to manage various patch cables used for front panel cross-connections of patch panels.
Another term that is often confused is a patc cord rack. A patch cord rack and a patch panel may look similar, but they are different. A patch cord rack consists of flame-retardant modular plastic components with several tooth-shaped bars for terminating wire pairs, completing the termination of voice backbone cables and voice horizontal cables. Common specifications include 100 pairs, 200 pairs, 400 pairs, etc.

patch cord racks are mainly used in server rooms with program-controlled telephones. Once the telephone lines are connected to the program-controlled switch, the lines exiting the switch are for extension numbers. These lines are then all secured to the patch cord rack, and the lines are routed from the patch cord rack to the extension numbers. You can label the numbers on the patch panel. If a certain phone has a problem, when troubleshooting, you can check the number on the patch panel and follow the line to find the problematic one. It's very easy. Without a patch cord rack, it would be a total mess with cables all over the place.

 

2. In the 2rd part, we continue to introduce the technical indicators of patch panels and cable managers in network systems that are worth paying attention to.

 

2.1  Surge Protection and ESD Protection

Remembering back to 2005, when deploying switches in a northern city, many access-side switches were installed in head-end junction boxes. After a thunderstorm, over 30% of them failed the next day. Since then, I've learned the importance of surge protection against lightning strikes. Surge, also known as a voltage surge, is a sudden change in high voltage or high current in the device circuit. This change usually lasts for a very short time but can cause severe damage to electronic devices and circuits. Surge events can be caused by various reasons, including lightning strikes and power switching. Our topic this issue is still about patch panels, which are theoretically passive devices and should be less susceptible to impact compared to devices like switches. However, we discuss surge and ESD protection because of the GB50434-2012 standard. Additionally, if the system uses PoE, surge protection should be a consideration.

 

 

 

 

2.2  Basic Structure and Materials of Patch Panels

Currently, network patch panels on the market are generally 24-port, with a length of 19 inches (482.6mm±0.5mm) and a height of 1U (44.4±0.1), in black. The front shell of the network patch panel is usually made of ABS plastic, designed to handle impacts during installation and over a 15-year lifespan. It has excellent resistance to high and low temperatures, operating between -40℃ and 93℃, meeting the needs of most regions using network patch panels, which range from -20℃ to 70℃. Additionally, ABS resin is insoluble in common solutions, ensuring that the patch panel is not easily corroded during use. It has a good surface gloss, easy to color, and suitable for secondary processing such as electrostatic spraying, allowing for various colors to meet different needs. Furthermore, ABS resin has excellent insulation properties, which are basically unaffected by temperature, humidity, and frequency, ensuring that the circuit does not short and guaranteeing effective signal transmission. In summary, ABS resin is a widely used synthetic resin in network patch panels. The frame of the patch panel is made of cold-rolled steel, which has good mechanical properties, capable of withstanding various compressions and impacts. It is not easily deformed, and the cold-rolled steel does not rust, meeting the at least 15-year usage requirement of network patch panels.

The back of the patch panel consists of IDC wiring pillars and a back cover, made of ABS plastic. The cover plate is labeled with TIA 568A/B wiring sequences and wire core color codes. The shell of the IDC wiring pillar is made of PC plastic, also known as polycarbonate plastic, which has excellent elasticity and impact resistance, quickly returning to its original shape after being deformed. Therefore, the IDC wiring pillar made of PC plastic not only does not get damaged after being impacted by wiring tools but also quickly returns to its original position and clamps the cable, preventing it from falling off.

The core of the wiring pillar is a nickel-phosphorus bronze clamp pin. The upper part is used to clamp and break the wire core skin, making contact with the conductor inside the wire core, transmitting the signal to the circuit board. The lower part is soldered to the circuit board. The interior of the patch panel is a circuit board; generally, a one-piece patch panel shares one circuit board among six information sockets, while a modular patch panel has a separate circuit board for each information socket. Circuit boards of different brands of patch panels generally differ because the twist pitch of cables from different integrated wiring manufacturers varies. The circuit board of the patch panel is designed according to the cable structure scheme. Therefore, circuit boards of patch panels from different manufacturers generally differ.

 

2.3 Common Types of Patch Panels

Currently, common network patch panels on the market mainly include one-piece patch panels, modular patch panels, corner-type patch panels, and electronic patch panels, with one-piece patch panels being the most popular option.

 

2.3.1  One-piece patch panels

From the outside, a one-piece patch panel encapsulates 24 RJ45 sockets in the patch panel frame, connected as a whole. Its internal structure generally shares one circuit board among six RJ45 sockets. The advantage of this patch panel is that the production process is mature, and the production materials are low, so the price is cheaper than other types of patch panels. Moreover, the construction process is simple; construction personnel only need to install the cable to the patch panel. Therefore, it is popular among integrated wiring construction personnel.

Due to the characteristics of one-piece network patch panels that cannot be replaced if damaged and inflexible port replacement, integrated wiring manufacturers have conducted extensive research and improvements, introducing modular patch panels. As the name suggests, a modular patch panel encapsulates each RJ45 information socket independently and then assembles them together in the patch panel frame. The advantage of this design is that each information socket has its own circuit board, encapsulated in PC plastic within an independent space. In terms of transmission performance, each information socket of the modular patch panel is independent, and the interference between information systems connected to the modular patch panel is minimal. It enhances the anti-external interference capability of the connected information system.

Early one-piece and modular network patch panels were all straight-line designs. Network patch panels need to be paired with horizontal cable managers to better organize patch cords and tidy up the wiring environment. However, the design scheme of network patch panels plus cable managers requires 2U space in the network cabinet. Since the cabinet is generally 42U, corner-type patch panels were developed.

2.3.2 Corner-type patch panels

This type of patch panel divides the information sockets originally arranged in a straight line into two parts, making a broken-line treatment. The connecting part in the middle is installed with a rotating screw, allowing the user to rotate the patch panel 0-120° along the Z-axis according to needs. Using this patch panel can not only isolate part of the crosstalk between cables but also automatically divide the cables into two parts and perform step-by-step cable organization. The user only needs to lay the cable according to the length of the information socket, and patch cords can be connected to the next RJ45 port without needing a cable manager. This design saves 1U of cabinet space.