All computer installations need some type of data wiring to connect the various pieces of networking equipment (network switches, PCs, printers, routers, etc.)

Here is a good source of data wiring installation materials and tools:  https://www.lanshack.com/

Lanshack carries the “ultra thin” data patch cables.  These cables are ideal for freeing up space in vertical and horizontal wire managers.
https://www.lanshack.com/Cat-6-Ultra-Thin-Patch-Cable-C838.aspx

Here is a link with some good info about the slim patch cables:  https://community.fs.com/blog/the-slimmer-the-better-4-faqs-for-using-slim-patch-cables.html

  • Ultra thin patch cables generally use #28 gauge wire as opposed to #23 gauge wire in standard patch cables.  #28 gauge wire has about four times the resistance as #23 gauge.
  • The ultra thin patch cables, for a given length, cost about twice as much as standard patch cables.
  • Ultra thin Cat 6 cable should never be used for home run cables.
  • With a max home run cable length of 90M (TIA standard), the patch cable length for standard cables can be a max of 10M (5M on PC end and 5M on patch panel end).
  • With a max home run cable length of 90M (TIA standard), the patch cable length for slim cables can be a max of 6M (3M on PC end and 3M on patch panel end).  Normally, our patch cable length on the patch panel end is a max of 2M.

Cable Tips:

  • Never use any data cables (home run or patch) that are manufactured in China or Mexico.
  • Never use data cables (home run or patch) that have aluminum cores that are copper plated.
  • Never terminate home run cables (solid conductor wire) on RJ45 plugs.  All home run cables need to be terminated in IDC connections.

Typical wiring installation problems to avoid:

  • Using non-US wiring cables and accessory hardware
  • poor terminations on RJ-45 jacks
  • damaged pins on RJ-45 jacks
  • stretching of cable during install
  • not following color codes
  • having wiring run exceed 90 meters
  • running cables near fluorescent lights or AC power cables
  • using solid conductor patch cables
  • using stranded conductor home run cables
  • splicing home run cables (I once had a wiring contractor splice almost every home run cable in the ceiling – we had to fire the contractor, rip out all the wiring, and install new wiring).
  • installing RJ45 couplers in home run cables – couplers should never be used for permanent installations
  • terminating home run cables directly on RJ-45 plugs instead of RJ-45 jacks in an outlet box
  • using PVC cables in ceiling overhead spaces as opposed to fire resistant cables
  • laying home run cables over the top of ceiling tiles (city building inspectors will usually catch this)
  • using the suspended ceiling support wires for supporting home run cables (city building inspectors will usually catch this)
  • not testing cable for TIA specs
  • data cables not passing all TIA wiring tests and the installer does not tell the customer
  • using wiring test sets that are out of calibration
  • the wiring installer not giving the customer a software copy of the wiring test results
  • Not labeling ends of home run cables
  • Not managing the wiring vendor

Tips on managing the wiring vendor

  • Wiring installs that look bad are never acceptable, even if the wiring appears to work OK.
  • Bad wiring vendors can do excellent work if properly managed and good wiring vendors can do bad work if not properly managed.

If you have questions about a wiring install, I am always available to inspect the work.  Over the past twenty-five years, I have managed a number of large data center wiring plant projects across the United States.  So if there is a way to do the work wrong, I have already done it that way.  🙂