Department of Education

SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CITY OF MEYCAUAYAN

Pag-asa St., Malhacan, City of Meycauayan, Bulacan

Senior High School

Learning 11
Activity Sheet
in
COMPUTER SYSTEMS
SERVICING
Third Quarter – WEEK 4
Installing and Configuring Patch Panel
TLE_IACSS9-12SUCN-IVa-j-33
 INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING PATCH PANEL

I. Introduction
A patch panel is essentially an array of ports on one panel. Each port
connects, via a patch cable, to another port located elsewhere in the
building / premise.

II. Learning Competency/ Unit of Competency

Lesson 4: Installing and Configuring Patch Panel.
TLE_IACSS9-12SUCN-IVa-j-33

III. Nominal Duration

2 Days

IV. Objectives/ Learning Outcomes

1. identifies and obtains network materials necessary to complete the
work in accordance with established procedures and checked
against systems requirements;
2. obtain tools, equipment and testing devices needed to carry out the
installation work accordance with established procedures and
checked for correct operation and safety; and
3. install and configure a patch panel.

V. Content/ Lesson
Installing and Configuring Patch Panel

Materials:
Learning Module
Video Presentation
URL reference
UTP Cable
Input-Output (IO) Jack
Patch Panel
Punch down Tool
Wire stripper
Cable tier
LAN Tester

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VI. Procedure (Knowledge)

How Do Patch Panels Work?

Patch panels bundle multiple network ports together to connect

incoming and outgoing lines — including those for local area networks,
electronics, electrical systems and communications. When patch
panels are part of a LAN, they can connect computers to other
computers and to outside lines.

Those lines, in turn, allow LANs to connect to wide area networks or to

the Internet. To arrange circuits using a patch panel, you simply plug
and unplug the appropriate patch cords. Troubleshooting problems are
simplified with patch panels since they provide a single location for all
input jacks. They’re frequently used in industries that require extensive
sound equipment because they work well for connecting a variety of
devices.

Advantages of Patch Panels

Patch panels are important piece of equipment in the data center.

Using a patch panel comes with many advantages that make it well
worth the investment. Some of the most significant benefits of using
patch panels include:

1. Scalability – After installing a patch panel, you can easily add new
devices without having to run new cables end-to-end.

2. Reduces Cable Clutter – Patch panels are typically located closer

to the actual equipment. This makes it possible to use a shorter
patch cable. From the panel, a fiber optic or other high capacity
connection runs to the next network or the internet.

3. Inexpensive – Patch panels aren’t considered “smart” devices in

that they don’t perform any function other than facilitating the
passing of data. This means they are very inexpensive.

4. Lowering Cable Cost – Having a patch panel allows you to use

shorter cables, which cost less than longer ones. Typically, you can
also use inexpensive cat-5 cables to get to the patch panel rather
than costly fiber optics.

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5. Easier Maintenance – If you ever need to run a test cable, test a
port, or perform any other common maintenance tasks, it can be
done more quickly and is much easier than if each device had a
cable run to its final destination.

Patch panels are one of the oldest types of technical equipment still
popular today. They are quite simple in their design and function, but
still, help to improve the organization and function of a data center or
almost any other environment with lots of equipment.

Configuring Patch Panel

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

Mounting

1. Remove the patch modules from the patch panel by pressing the
latches inward until the latches disengage from the opening. Refer
to figure below.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

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2. Using two of the four mounting screws, mount the patch panel onto
the bottom bracket of the SCS enclosure. Refer to figure shown
below. If a starter panel is being used, subsequent patch panels
should be installed below the starter panel.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

Termination

1. Using the wire stripper, remove the outer jacket of the UTP cable
approximately 2 inches (50mm), this ensures a nice clean fit into
the patch panel without the risk of exposing too much cable and
damaging it.

https://www.fibertronics.com/how-to-punch-down-a-cat-cable-into-a-patch-panel

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2. Set the wires into the patch panel connectors and input / output
(IO) jack. Place all 8 wires into the connector of the patch panel
in the patch panel outlet that is used to receive the incoming
cables. You will see the color code labels on the patch panel, that
indicates which wire is to be placed into which connector pin.

(Note: There are two color patterns, T568A and T568B. Make sure
to terminate both sides of the cable on the same pattern used.)

https://community.fs.com/blog
/cat5e-patch-panel-wiring-
steps.html l

3. Begin terminating each wire. Use a punch down tool to firmly

press down on each wire so that it is grasped by both sets of teeth
of the insulation displacement connector. Punch down tool is
with a cutting edge, you can use it to cut the excess wire of the
UTP cables during the pushing process.

https://community.fs.com/blog/cat5e-
patch-panel-wiring-steps.html l

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 4. Mark the terminated incoming cables with a label. This step is
optional but recommended. Mark the terminated incoming cables
with a label indicating where the cables are from with the room
or floor numbers. It will help you locate the system problems
precisely or handing the futures upgrading projects.

https://www.durafastlabel.com/printers-by-technology/patch-panel-label-printers/

5. Use a cable tester to assure that you correctly terminated all the
wires. Now you can plug a short patch cable from the desired port
on the patch panel to the closely located hub or switch. The other
end of the wire would be terminated at a wall socket.

https://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-chronicles/say-goodbye-weakest-links

7
Routing the Cable

1. Separate the voice (telephone distribution) and data (computer

networking) cables and insert them through the cable hole plugs
of the enclosure. It is recommended that the voice cable be
located on the left and the data cable on the right of the enclosure.
Allow a minimum of 46 cm [18 in.] of excess cable inside the
enclosure.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

2. At the back of the patch panel, attach a universal wiring label,

with the T568A color code side out, to each patch module.

Important Notes:

Rear panel port numbering may be different from this photo. Some patch
panel have their own wiring scheme and placements. Please do read
your manual in order to obtain correct configuration.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

8
3. Arrange the wires according to the T568A color code if you are
going to use T568B just interchange the position of green to
orange, white green to white orange and terminate the wires to
the blocks according to the instructions included with the tool.
Keep wire twisted to a maximum of 13 mm [.50 in.] from the
termination.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

4. Install the patch modules into the openings in the patch panel,
feeding excess cable into the wall cavity. Label each port to
identify the cable.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

9
VII. Assessment (Knowledge)
Activity 1

Directions: Give the meaning of the following underlined acronyms:

1. IO Jack
2. LAN Tester
3. RJ 45
4. UTP Cable
5. CAT 5e

Activity 2 (Understanding)
Directions: In a paragraph, explain why is it important to label the ports of
the patch panel? What are the implications if left unlabeled?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3 (Performance)
Directions: Perform the installation and configuration of Patch Panel using
the directions given below.

Mounting

1. Remove the patch modules from the patch panel by pressing the latches
inward until the latches disengage from the opening. Refer to figure
below.
2. Using two of the four mounting screws, mount the patch panel onto the
bottom bracket of the SCS enclosure. Refer to figure shown below. If a
starter panel is being used, subsequent patch panels should be
installed below the starter panel.

10
Termination

1. Using the wire stripper, remove the outer jacket of the UTP cable
approximately 2 inches (50mm), this ensures a nice clean fit into the
patch panel without the risk of exposing too much cable and
damaging it.
2. Set the wires into the patch panel connectors and input / output
(IO) jack. Place all 8 wires into the connector of the patch panel in
the patch panel outlet that is used to receive the incoming cables.
You will see the color code labels on the patch panel, that indicates
which wire is to be placed into which connector pin.
3. Begin terminating each wire. Use a punch down tool to firmly press
down on each wire so that it is grasped by both sets of teeth of the
insulation displacement connector. Punch down tool is with a
cutting edge, you can use it to cut the excess wire of the UTP cables
during the pushing process.
4. Mark the terminated incoming cables with a label. This step is
optional but recommended. Mark the terminated incoming cables
with a label indicating where the cables are from with the room or
floor numbers.
5. Use a cable tester to assure that you correctly terminated all the
wires.

Routing the Cable

1. Separate the voice (telephone distribution) and data (computer

networking) cables and insert them through the cable hole plugs of
the enclosure.
2. At the back of the patch panel, attach a universal wiring label, with
the T568A color code side out, to each patch module.
1. Arrange the wires according to the T568A color code if you are going
to use T568B just interchange the position of green to orange, white
green to white orange and terminate the wires to the blocks
according to the instructions included with the tool.
3. Install the patch modules into the openings in the patch panel,
feeding excess cable into the wall cavity. Label each port to identify
the cable.

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References

Sherwin Maningas. Computer Networking. Accessed January 6, 2021.

https://sir-sherwin.blogspot.com/p/computer-networking.html

Irving, Making How to wire Ccat5e Patch Panels. Accessed January 7, 2021.
https://community.fs.com/blog/cat5e-patch-panel-wiring-steps.html

Dev Ismael, Patch Panel Configuration. Accessed January 7, 2021.

https://bit.ly/2L91NV8

All Rights Reserved

2020

Acknowledgement

CAROLINA S. VIOLETA EdD

Schools Division Superintendent

JERRY D. CRUZ, PhD, CESE

Asst. Schools Division Superintendent

DOMINADOR M. CABRERA PhD

Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division

EDWARD C. JIMENEZ PhD

Education Program Supervisor- LR Manager

RAMILO C. CRUZ PhD

Education Program Supervisor-EPP/TLE/TVL

ELGER DAVID/ FLORDELIZA P. GALINDEZ

Language/Content/ Layout Editor

NIÑO JESUS S. JABONERO

Developer/Writer

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