trueCABLE’s Shielded Wall-Mounted Patch Panel - Overview and Installation Guide

Written by Don Schultz, trueCABLE Senior Technical Specialist, BICSI TECH, INSTC, INSTF, Fluke Networks Copper/Fiber CCTT Certified

One of the key components in a properly constructed structured cabling system (SCS) is a patch panel. Encouraging the use of high performance termination hardware, these handy devices make termination, organization, and troubleshooting of your system far easier. Patch panels are typically found at the “head-end” of an installation, where all of your permanent cables come together and are organized into one neat spot so they may be patched into a switch or router. You may be getting a visual of a huge seven foot tall rack and complex equipment. You would be right more often than not, and that is how many installations look.

But…not all structured cabling systems need something this elaborate (and expensive). Space constraints can play a significant role as well, such as in a residential setting. That all said, a less elaborate setup should not mean backing away from proper cable installation and termination practices. How would you tackle a smaller system that preserves performance and organization? Use a wall mounted patch panel! In this case, we will be talking about a very versatile type of patch panel known as a shielded wall mounted patch panel.

What is a Wall-Mounted Shielded Patch Panel?

Today, we will talk about a compact wall mountable shielded patch panel that accommodates 12 ports--specifically 12 shielded keystone jacks. This is the tool-less variety, as discussed in Punch Down, Feed-Through, and Toolless Keystone Ethernet Patch Panels Explained.

Shielded patch panels are constructed from conductive metal that offers the ability to bond to ground, so that your cable shields can drain off unwanted Electromagnetic Discharge, Electromagnetic Interference, and Radio Frequency Interference (ESD/EMI/RFI).

Ideal applications include:

• Small equipment/server rooms
• Network closets
• Residential networks
• Industrial applications

…that leverage one or more shielded drops (cable runs) of any Category.

If you are curious about the larger panels meant for racks, we have the bigger brother of the panel we are discussing today in How To: trueCABLE Shielded 24 Port 1U Toolless Patch Panel.

Here is a picture that will say a thousand words!

trueCABLE 12 port shielded wall mount patch panel. Metal panel and plastic mounting bracket shown.

Although you can mount this patch panel to a rack, the primary installation method is to use the “89D” plastic bracket that would be screwed down to a wood backboard or drywall. The panel frame itself (the black portion) is entirely metal. The reverse side of the panel frame is nickel plated for maximum conductivity with shielded keystone jacks.

Reverse side of panel frame shown with stock bond wire and mounted shielded keystone jacks with shielded cable

Why Choose a Shielded Tool-less Patch Panel ?

A shielded tool-less panel will provide maximum flexibility. You may use unshielded keystones and cable (with one caveat regarding unshielded Cat6A or above) in addition to shielded keystones and cable without restriction. If your installation leverages one or more shielded drops, then you need to simply bond the patch panel to ground for proper cable shield functionality. If no shielded drops are installed, the patch panel does not require grounding. That said, the option is there.

Product Overview: trueCABLE’s 12-Port Shielded Wall-Mounted Patch Panel

Key features:

• EMI, RFI, ESD protection with integrated grounding
• ABS UL94V-0 fire-rated 89D bracket
• Compatible with shielded Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, Cat7, Cat8 keystones & cables regardless of operating frequency
• Compatible with unshielded Cat5e and Cat6 operating at 250MHz or less
• Depth offset for up to 41mm long jacks
• Individually numbered ports, modular snap-in design
• Detachable panel frame for easy install/maintenance
• SECC nickel-plated steel back, powder-coated steel front
• UL Listed, RoHS, TAA compliant, meets EIA, FCC, IEC standards

While it is true that many wall mounted patch panels on the market also possess the same characteristics, here are the key differences and what makes the trueCABLE 12 port shielded patch panel stand out from the crowd:

• Shielded and tool-less. Most wall mount patch panels on the market are designed for unshielded cable and very few are tool-less with the ability to accept shielded keystone jacks.
• Two position bond wire attachment. The panel has two places where the bond wire can be attached (opposite ends).
• Extra depth bracket and panel design to accommodate the longest shielded tool-less keystone jacks without the cables contacting your mounting surface in such a way that it literally will pop the frame off the bracket!

For the product specification sheet, which provides very detailed information, please see Shielded 12 Port Wall Mount Patch Panel Spec Sheet.

What’s in the Box?

• 2 x Philips Screws for wood backboard mounting (or for use with drywall anchors)
• 2 x Drywall anchors
• 89D wall bracket
• Panel frame with pre-attached 8” long bond wire for rack applications

Supported Keystone Jacks & Cables

• Compatible with Cat5e–Cat8 shielded keystone jacks/cables, and all unshielded Cat5e/Cat6
• Also accepts BNC, RCA, HDMI, USB, fiber, snap-in couplers (note limitations for 10G+ with unshielded)

The big caveat is Cat6A, Cat7, and Cat8 unshielded cable and accessories are not compatible with this panel, due to the non-stagger design. This limitation has to do with 500MHz and above operating frequencies and keystone to keystone cross talk (ANEXT).

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

For detailed installation instructions with diagrams and visual aids, please see Installation Infographic.

Pre-installation checklist

Measure twice and cut once, right? Well, before you mount anything anywhere you want to have the following squared away and available:

• A firm idea of where the patch panel would be best installed for your particular use case
  • Your permanently installed cable already run to the remote outlets and bundled up to where your patch panel will be installed
  • For applications that require bonding to ground (in other words you are installing at least one shielded drop) where no formal RBB (rack bus bar) is present, you will need a three prong AC outlet, properly wired and within six feet of the panel so you may use the Shielded Ethernet Patch Panel Bond & Ground Extension Wire Adapter.

Tools to gather

• Stud finder with AC detection
• Level
• Drill/driver with standard sized Phillips bit
• Marking pencil
• ⅛” drill bit for pre-drilling wood backboard (if mounting to wood backboard or through drywall and into studs)
• 5/16” drill bit for drywall anchors (if mounting to drywall without backboard or stud support)
• Ethernet cable jacket strip tool
• Flush cutters
• Cable cutter
• Keystone jack termination tools needed for the particular jack type
• Ensure the wall surface (drywall or wood) is flat and smooth

trueCABLE recommends mounting the 89D bracket to a wood backboard (backboard itself mounted to studs) or directly into wall studs for maximum installation stability.

Be absolutely certain you know where your AC circuits are at. This is what the stud finder with AC detection is for, besides being used to locate the stud. DO NOT drill into a stud that has AC power running along it, as a miss may cause a short in your AC circuit with the risk of serious personal injury and fire.

Mounting the Patch Panel

• Locate the studs for mounting, or choose a location on the wooden backboard that is already mounted.
• Use the level to ensure the plastic 89D bracket is plumb.
• Mark out the location where you will drill with the marking pencil. Use the outside mounting holes for wall installation. Alternatively, you may use the holes found in the center of the bracket for rack mounting.
• Secure the 89D bracket directly to the wood backboard using the included screws, or for drywall installation drill and insert the drywall anchors and then secure the bracket to the anchors.
• Create your figure “8” shaped service loop. Leave enough slack for at least five feet of service slack, plus slack down to the patch panel. The goal is to end up with a minimum of five feet of service slack post termination to accommodate mistakes, adds, and changes. Ensure the service loop complies with the bend radius requirements for your specific cable type. For more on bend radius limitations, please refer to Obey the Bend: Bending Radius of Cable.
• For wall mount installations, remove the stock 8” long bond wire. The stock bond wire is used for rack mount installations where there is access to a rack bus bar (RBB). You will instead be using the Shielded Ethernet Patch Panel Bond & Ground Extension Wire Adapter, but don’t attach it yet.
• Attach the patch panel frame to the bracket and route your individual drops through the keystone jack holes.
• Cut the cables evenly with the front of the patch panel frame.
• Label the front of the panel with the cable identification so you can match the correct cable to the correct port. They will all be different lengths due to the varying heights of the keystone ports.

Tip: Your cables are likely temporarily labeled towards the ends. Be sure to re-write any temporary identification further up the cable BEFORE you cut them! It is all too easy to cut off your identification markings.

It is far better to have too much cable slack than too little. The most expensive cable in the whole world (per foot) is the one you had to replace because it was 1” too short!

Cable Termination & Keystone Jack Installation

• Back out the cable drops and reverse the patch panel frame. Snap it onto the 89D bracket backwards (inside out).
• Install the Shielded Ethernet Patch Panel Bond & Ground Extension Wire Adapter using the screw that came with the panel or one of the two extra screws that came with the extension adapter. Use the screw hole that will allow for the easiest reach to the AC outlet.
• Terminate your Ethernet cable drops to the appropriate Category of keystone jack that matches the cable type. For shielded tool-less keystone jacks, please see How to: Terminate a Shielded Toolless Keystone Jack.
• Snap each keystone jack into the patch panel frame, matching the cable identification with the port identification.
• Carefully take the patch panel frame off of the 89D bracket, turn it around, and snap it back onto the 89D bracket in the correct orientation.
• Snap keystone blank inserts into any unused ports.

Test and Finalize Labeling

• Test connections with a cable tester to ensure functionality. Test equipment selection is a complex topic. Please see Ethernet Cable Testers: Which Is Best for My Application?
• Re-label the numbered ports with permanent labels if necessary, for easy identification. It’s a good idea to also permanently label your Ethernet cable runs with adhesive labels.
• Don’t forget to be sure your remote outlets are also labeled!

Best Practices

• Organize and secure cables for a clean, clutter-free appearance.
• Never bundle or affix your cables with nylon ties. Use velcro hook and loop straps as they focus much less pressure on the cable jacket.
• Keep cables organized to minimize signal interference and improve airflow.
• Always make use of the “circle 8” pattern for service loops at the patch panel when using unshielded Ethernet cable. It is permissible to use a circular storage pattern when using all shielded cables.
• Avoid “cable combs”, especially with unshielded cable drops. Cable combs are proven to increase cable to cable crosstalk (ANEXT) by lining and bundling cables up too nicely.

Mock-up. Ready for patching into a switch or router! Bond wire not shown for clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this with unshielded cable?

Absolutely! This is one of the biggest advantages of a tool-less shielded patch panel. You can use both shielded and unshielded cable as needed (within the limitations guidelines outlined earlier).

What’s the max length of keystone jacks?

41mm. Essentially, it will accept the longest tool-less shielded keystone jacks on the market as of time of writing.

What if I need more than 12 ports?

Great question! If you need or foresee a need for more than 12 ports, you are best off purchasing a 24 port tool-less patch panel. This would also require either a wall mount or floor standing 19” rack frame.

Can I mount this on metal surfaces?

Yes, but you will need to use machine screws meant for metal and skip the screws that came with our patch panel.

Do I need truePLUG Bond & Ground Extension Adapter?

For any wall-mount application, yes. For rack mount applications where the stock bond wire will reach the RBB (rack bus bar) then you can skip the extension adapter.

Conclusion

So there you have it! If you were wondering how to bring a high performance cabling solution to your residential or small business installation then you found the correct patch panel. Shielded wall mount panels provide a level of versatility that other panels cannot match.

HAPPY NETWORKING!!

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