Re: Advice on Patch Panel to Patch Panel Config

["Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> How would the wire config be? Can you "piggy-back" the punchdown in the
> back? Or do I have to reverse wires?

Just setup a new panel in each place and use jumper patch cables to bridge
from the current panel to the new one.  Do NOT attempt to stuff another wire
into a 110 block.  66 block might afford better options but it depends
entirely on what you've got setup now.

Think of it this way, punching down wire is not designed to allow reusing
that wire.  When you pull it back out of the punch down clip you need to
trim it and use a fresh spot.  That loses some length on the end of the
wire.  Some wires are patched down quite closely and may not have enough
slack.  Or require skinning back the insulating jacket to expose more of it.
All that handling of solid core wire may well break it.  Sure, the wire's
not "fragile" but unless you're very used to handling it properly you may
well break it.  Usually all the way back at where it leaves the insulating
jacket (on that already too short wire) and now you've got NO slack.

Better to leave the existing panel in place and use the socket side of it to
just jumper to a new panel.  The cost is trivial and WELL worth it for the
peace of mind it can buy for a DIY setup.

You could hide the patch panels behind some sort of panel or box.

I suppose you could do something like using beanies to splice the wires but,
ugh, that'd be reallllly tedious and error-prone.  Not to mention voiding
the CAT5 aspects of the wire.

I'd lean toward just setting up a new panel next to the old one and use
jumpers.

-Bill Kearney