Address IDF Closet Relocation Issues with REVConnect Couplers
Installation obstacles are nothing new for network and data center technicians.
Clients change their minds. Budgets need to be reallocated. Unexpected physical constraints require changes to design plans. New services are requested without warning. A shift in leadership sparks new ideas.
Installers tell us about the issues they face first-hand in the field. Lately, however, we’ve been hearing about one challenge in particular: post-installation design changes that require longer cable runs.
Consider IDF closet location as an example. After intermediate distribution frame (IDF) closet locations are identified by the project team, network engineers and/or facilities managers, installers can run cables accordingly. Sometimes, however, IDF closets are moved after the cables have been run.
Shifts like this can happen for a variety of reasons. For example, the project team might find a new location that:
- Offers more suitable environmental conditions (lower heat and humidity levels, for instance)
- Is easier for techs to access for maintenance purposes
- Better supports future expansion
- Reduces interference from other equipment
- Offers improved security
Whatever their reason, these last-minute changes seem to be happening more frequently. And when IDF closets are relocated, longer cable distances are often required. This results in higher costs and lost time due to rework, as installers must remove the existing cable and replace it with a longer one.
While IDF closet relocations are one example, there are many situations where design changes may require a cable that spans a longer distance, including:
- A building renovation that requires connectivity extending beyond existing cable lengths
- Changes in floorplans or furniture layout to support new configurations
- Adding a new device (cameras, digital signage, wireless access point, lighting fixture or access control panel) in a new location
Extend a cable instead of replacing it
When you have to accommodate something like an IDF closet relocation during installation, there’s another option to consider besides cable replacement: Use a REVConnect Coupler from Belden when longer runs are required.
This approach can help you extend your existing cable to the new closet location without having to remove it and replace it with a longer one. It saves time and money, eliminates the need for rework and is likely covered as part of Belden’s 25-Year Product Warranty (in channel lengths under the standard 100 m containing up to two additional couplers).
And this is just one example of how you can deploy the REVConnect Coupler. It can also be used:
- In any panel within a consolidation point application to manage and organize cabling infrastructure
- In wall-mount cross-connect applications to streamline and accelerate termination by using one method for all components
- As a cost-effective transition point for cables used in indoor/outdoor applications
- In standard KeyConnect hardware to create a seamless and efficient network connection
- When switches are mounted vertically instead of horizontally in a rack
- With RemoteIP Cables in extended-reach applications
Because it adds almost zero crosstalk to the channel, the REVConnect Coupler is nearly invisible or transparent in terms of impact.
Within the traditional RJ45 footprint, there are various factors and limitations to consider based on the cable and connector being used: signal attenuation, crosstalk, impedance matching, etc. The REVConnect footprint eliminates those limitations. Because the impact of the component is fully controlled by the system, the result is a more consistent performance.
Meet the REVConnect Coupler
When you face challenging installation hurdles, our REVConnect Coupler may be your answer. REVConnect Couplers support the fastest Category 6A termination possible while increasing density, improving flexibility, reducing costs and maintaining reliability.
Bringing zero crosstalk, they add little noise to the channel and are essentially invisible. If you’re looking for a connectivity solution that creates a world of possibilities, this may be a good option for your next project!
Related links:
- One Coupler—Many Different Ways to Use It
- How Couplers Support Configurability: Real-World Examples
- Solutions to Four Real-World Problems that Installers Face Every Day
About the Author
Michael Bodzay first joined Belden in 2013 as an electrical engineer after earning his bachelor of engineering degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. In that role, he worked on the design and development of interconnect components, such as RJ45 connectors. Most notably, he was a part of the team that developed our REVConnect connector system. Today he serves as a product development manager for Belden’s security and electronic cable solutions. He leads the enterprise connectivity team in introducing functional, innovative, efficient and time-saving security and electronic cabling solutions that meet the needs of a wide variety of customers.
About the Author
Spending nearly 30 years with Belden, Linda White tracks customer needs and buying preferences as she manages broadcast and AV product lines. When new information is uncovered about the industry, broadcast and AV customers or technology trends, she ensures that this data is considered as new products are designed and developed. Involved in product creation from initial concepts through to completion, Linda strives to improve Belden’s existing products while helping to develop new cables, connectors and assemblies for the broadcast and AV industries. During her time at Belden, she has worked in product management in both the broadcast and industrial markets, as well as supervising the inside sales department.