sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring how do you test your cables, if more than one installed

Hello,

How do you guys test your cable runs when you pull more than one?

I am not in the field, but have to run on occasion a few cable here and there at my job, sometimes more than one at the time.

Do you test each one individually, use multiple remotes?

I developed a method that seems to be working every time at least for me, one remote connected to dual gang plastic old work box, with 12 port cat5e jacks wired in a daisy chain?


this is just a method of testing proper pin crimp on one end and corresponding pins of the jack or another plug on the other end. Mostly cat5e, and occasional cat3

Constructive criticism welcomed.

Sounds to me like you've terminated your cables with modular plugs. :bang:

I take the time to test each one individually. When I walk out the door, if something doesn't work, it's the CG's problem with HIS equipment.

I use a Fluke DTX 1200, for larger jobs have a smaller continuity tester for smaller jobs.

Yes, the those are data terminations, modular rj45 plugs, as they just plug directly into the switch(es)in the server room ( which looks horrible due to several reasons, I have added a few pounds of tasteful blue and gray spaghetti to it, at least I labeled those cables. )
The room looks terrible due to lack of care on the owners part, I just have to sometimes make new runs and make it blend in with the rest mess that's already in there ,as the owner does not want spend money on making things look good and be organized so that future installs and troubleshoots would be easier.
Anyway, back to the testing of the cables, so one end has the plugs all plugged into the hommemade rig, and then I just walk to the other end of the cable run ( diff. offices) and use the tester to make sure all the wires are crimped correctly on both ends to 568B. This allows me only to use one remote on one end where all the cables are ran to, this eliminated the need of switching the remote from one tested cable on to the next one. This way I can test up to 11 cables only by going from one office on to the next one, and not back and forth from server room to the next office.

The test you're doing will only test continuity and proper pinout. It won't detect things like split pairs, nor noise, or a bunch of other things that can kill data.

I would never put 8p8c plugs (did I get that plugs on the end of building wiring cables - permanent wires should never be movable by the user, certainly not for routine work. They are expensive to put in, and things that move break. That's the reason for patch cables - they are cheap and replaceable, and they are what will get damaged when a user pulls on cables or runs over a cable with a chair - not the permanent wiring.

Fluke DTX 1800. One cable at a time of course.

I also scan every cable installed with a DTX1800

Cepega:

All data wires should be terminated on female 8p8c female jacks.

There should be jacks at the work station end, and a panel of jacks at the equipment room end. Then, there should be patch cords that plug into the female jacks at the following locations:

Back of the computer

Wall jack

Patch panel

Router / switch

The patch cords are expendable. The permanent wiring never gets touched after the initial installation.

If you use this method, and are careful, you will not need to test for correct placement of conductors, or continuity.

I do not have even one 8p8c male plug in my truck, nor do I have a crimping tool to use with them.

Do it the right way, and it will never give you a problem.

Let me clear up the confusion here, I installed the jacks in the offices, its the server room condition that bugs me every time I have to go inside there, there is no patch panel(s), all voice and data cables plugs in directly into merlin sys and few switches respectively. The owner does not care for the certification of the cable runs, just make sure it works, simple continuity is good enough for the price paid. I'd love to clean it up , but it seems like as long as it works, leave it alone policy is in place.




Here is my quick wiring of 12 port rig I setup, I also made a 5 port version of the same concept from siemon jacks that were salvaged



Here is how it works, plug remote into any port, and plug the rest of the cables in, now go to the other end of the cable where the jack are and just plug the tester into them using a patch cord.
Quick and easy