Domestic Cat5 cable management/patch panels

[Accelebrate]

I've hopefully purchased a flat which is in need of a bit of work, whilst sorting out the rest of the wiring and plug socket locations it seems to make sense to run some Cat5 to the lounge and bedrooms to give me some more options when it comes to streaming/backup/reliably working from home.

There's a small, but tall cupboard which currently contains the gas meters, fuse boards etc. My plan was to locate all the Internet/network stuff in the cupboard to keep it out of the way. I'd like to do things neatly/properly but don't have space for a full sized rack or cabinet arrangement, or really the need for one as we're only talking 8 to 12 cables and the rest of the gear won't be rack mounted.

I know you can get small patch panels, but how and what do you mount them to? I want to keep the cabling as neat as possible and would ideally like to avoid having 12 cables with RJ45 connectors on the ends sprouting out of nowhere in a cupboard. Any links would be appreciated.

[Plotloss]

You're after a 10" cab and panel set.

There's a few around. Think Minitran is your best bet.

[anonymous-user]

If they are all going to be for data(by the sounds yes) and the equipment is not rack mount I would just terminate to plugs. Otherwise 3 double gang socket with 4 modules in each.
ETA, get a switch/router that can be screwed to the wall, keeps it nice & tidy.

Edited by Dave_ST220 on Friday 2nd July 12:02

[Accelebrate]

They look great, the 8U cabinet a patch panel and maybe a couple shelves and a power distribution unit would be just the ticket. Thanks.

Be nice to get a 10" rack mount switch as well, but mini5 only seem to offer a 10/100 8 port version, would be nice to find a 10/100/1000 version but there seems to be limited choice.

[Plotloss]

Netgear SOHO Gigabit switches fit inside them lovely.

[rich1231]

Get a bigger one that you think you will need.

[Accelebrate]

Dave_ST220 said:

If they are all going to be for data(by the sounds yes) and the equipment is not rack mount I would just terminate to plugs. Otherwise 3 double gang socket with 4 modules in each.

Foolishly hadn't thought of doing that, that would be quite a cheap solution.

[Plotloss]

rich1231 said:

Get a bigger one that you think you will need.

42U not enough?

[Accelebrate]

Plotloss said:

Netgear SOHO Gigabit switches fit inside them lovely.

Can you get mounting brackets for them?

[Plotloss]

Stick it on a shelf.

[LocoBlade]

When we did ours I just ran the cable into 100mm cable ducting, the stuff with the clip on "lid", I then mounted a conventional 19" 24 port patch panel directly into the lid of the ducting, so all cabling comes into ducting and is terminated to the back of the patch panel, then the lid is snapped back on hiding all the cable and giving a very shallow 100mm "cabinet" depth and very low cost

Will try and take a pic later.

[lestag]

I use hubbell enclosures. fits in a wall cavity

http://www.hubbell-premise.com/residential.aspx
available at minitran

i actually used two:
one for all the tv/sky coax and repeater/AC power and the other for the cat 5e patch / telephone and switches/ADSL modem

Put a power board in the bottom of one and cabled power between them to keep the modem/switch transformers away from the calbes (interference)

piccy here http://stag.org.nz/stagblog/?p=12
fully structured cabling setup

[Accelebrate]

Plotloss said:

Stick it on a shelf.

Yep, would probably need to stick or screw it down though, wouldn't really want the switch moving about if I catch one of the cables.

LocoBlade said:

When we did ours I just ran the cable into 100mm cable ducting, the stuff with the clip on "lid", I then mounted a conventional 19" 24 port patch panel directly into the lid of the ducting, so all cabling comes into ducting and is terminated to the back of the patch panel, then the lid is snapped back on hiding all the cable and giving a very shallow 100mm "cabinet" depth and very low cost

Will try and take a pic later.

Sounds like a good setup, would be interested to see a photo.

[anonymous-user]

I'd also double up outlets & get the BT socket next to where you plan to have all your cables, Google BT to RJ45 patch kit, that way you can easily swap outlets from voice(telephone) to data (with Internet access).

[Podie]

Dave_ST220 said:

I'd also double up outlets & get the BT socket next to where you plan to have all your cables, Google BT to RJ45 patch kit, that way you can easily swap outlets from voice(telephone) to data (with Internet access).

<-- this man gives good advice.

[Accelebrate]

lestag said:

I use hubbell enclosures. fits in a wall cavity

They look good, although a bit pricey! Nice solution though.

Podie said:

Dave_ST220 said:

I'd also double up outlets & get the BT socket next to where you plan to have all your cables, Google BT to RJ45 patch kit, that way you can easily swap outlets from voice(telephone) to data (with Internet access).

<-- this man gives good advice.

That's not a bad idea, the patch kits look good. At present I think the only telephone socket for the property is rather badly fitted in one of the bedrooms. I was planning to relocate it in the cupboard so that it's handy for the ADSL, so that could be an easy way to get a phone line back into the bedrooms and lounge.

[anonymous-user]

Fit an NTE5 and an ADSL filtered faceplate, that way you have the best possible filtering & all extensions are isolated from the ADSL signal(better BB performance!). If you need help drop me an email

[BliarOut]

Dave_ST220 said:

If they are all going to be for data(by the sounds yes) and the equipment is not rack mount I would just terminate to plugs. Otherwise 3 double gang socket with 4 modules in each.
ETA, get a switch/router that can be screwed to the wall, keeps it nice & tidy.

Edited by Dave_ST220 on Friday 2nd July 12:02

Solid conductor in RJ45 crimps?

[Who me ?]

Unless I'm reading this wrong - bring BT line 2w to phone socket in cupboard .Fit filter in socket ,phone output to patch to rest of phone sockets via cat 5 to secondary baluns in rooms( ringing cap is in filter, so use of master type wuld cause ring trip) .Adsl output to BT hub ,then you can patch output of hub to wherever as needed .BT would like you to think you need one filter per phone -you don't ,if you filter off ADSL at start -just my 2p

[anonymous-user]

BliarOut said:

Dave_ST220 said:

If they are all going to be for data(by the sounds yes) and the equipment is not rack mount I would just terminate to plugs. Otherwise 3 double gang socket with 4 modules in each.
ETA, get a switch/router that can be screwed to the wall, keeps it nice & tidy.

Edited by Dave_ST220 on Friday 2nd July 12:02

Solid conductor in RJ45 crimps?

You do know you can get two types of plug, yes?