THE ADVANTAGES OF THE LED PATCH PANEL

Ask to network installer who has been given the job of pulling a bundle of network cables through to the communications room what the most time consuming part of his job is, and he´ll tell you : “It´s the long process of identifying each cable to the work are outlet.” With today´s balanced, high-speed data cables, a tone generator transmits cross talk over several at the far end making it difficult to locate the proper cable.

Pre-labeling the far end (the predominant method being taught) is a time consuming process that must be carried out with care. The tags must be marked correctly with the proper workstation designation and the tags must be put on securely or problems and confusion exist on the far end after the pull. The problem is further exacerbated y the fact that most contractors hire helpers or temps to do the work of marking cables and the tags are occasionally mislabeled or come off. Markers are expensive and non-reusable.

In order to begin sequentially punching down the cables to the corresponding patch panel port, the cabling tech has to find workstation number “1” out of the bundle of cables. The time spent sequentially punching down the cable is wasted later when adds, changes or moves are implemented thus destroying the sequence.

If you are not required to sequentially label workstations, you can save several days or weeks on the identification process by using LED Patch Panel.

Even when workstation and patch panel ports are required to be sequentially labeled, the LED Patch Panel is a great tool for finding mislabeled cables, lost ports and performing adds, changes and moves.

Using the LED Patch Panel the advantages to installer and user are
The LEDs shine brightly for the cabling installer to identify the ports.
The LED patch panel are the latest state of the art that meet or exceed all of the latest ANSI EIA/TIA standards, including the UL Category 6 standard.
The LED patch panels carry 25-year WARRANTY, except for the LEDs.
Each LED Patch Panel is shipped with a power unit/power box.
Full Category 6 Channel and Link certified by UL (UL File No. E222902).
Of course Cat.5e version UTP and STP patch panels are available.


LED-PATCH PANEL PORT IDENTIFIER INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1 : Punch down all network cables on the LED patch panels randomly .There is no need to pre-label the cables.

STEP 2 : Connect patch cord from power unit/power box into work station outlet(Any 1:1 wired patch cord will also work). Note that the power unit automatically comes on when patch cord is plugged in. Do not leave patch cord plugged in beyond the normal time that it takes to locate the LED patch panel port in order to prevent unnecessary battery usage.

STEP 3 : At the LED patch panel frame, observe which port lights up on the LED patch panel and label the work area outlet with that number.
Example : Port 6 on the LED patch panel will be marked “6” on the work area outlet; Port 15 will be marked “15”, etc. You may use any numbering scheme desired. Example : Using two 48 port LED Patch Panels, label the second panel 49-96 in order to eliminate same numbering. Conversely, you may label the LED patch panel port with the work area outlet.

STEP 4: Using one power unit/ power box switched to “RED” and other to “GREEN”, you will observe a red indication or a green indication on the LED patch panel dependent on which helper is plugged in. The observer at the LED patch panel might respond over the radio or phone “Green 21” or “Red 38” in order to distinguish between the two locations.


HINT : Use two-way or three-way communications between workers to make the job go faster.

NOTE : * The Lithium battery for power box, used for LED patch panel , is not replaceable, but durable. It´s 550 hours. LED lights up time can identify about 200,000 ports, enough for life time use.

* Additional power units/boxes are available.