Cable Jointing

[Patrick Dunford]

We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
junction for cables going to 2 other panels.

What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
future.

[Richard Crowley]

"Patrick Dunford" wrote ...
> We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
>
> What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables

Depends on how much space you have, what kind of cables (individual
shielded pairs, multi-pair "snake", type of shield (foil vs. braid), etc.)
Perhaps best advice is to get someone to do it who has experience
with that kind of wiring.

> and should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be
> under the floor).

My preference would be a metal box. (For additional RF/electrostatic
shielding/screening.

> Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the future.

Always prudent. Murphy's Law says that if you don't allow access,
something will go wrong with your joint.

[Richard Crowley]

"Patrick Dunford" wrote ...
> We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
>
> What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables

Depends on how much space you have, what kind of cables (individual
shielded pairs, multi-pair "snake", type of shield (foil vs. braid), etc.)
Perhaps best advice is to get someone to do it who has experience
with that kind of wiring.

> and should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be
> under the floor).

My preference would be a metal box. (For additional RF/electrostatic
shielding/screening.

> Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the future.

Always prudent. Murphy's Law says that if you don't allow access,
something will go wrong with your joint.

[Ron McNulty]

Any technician worth his (or her) salt should be able to join cables with
soldered joints, cover them with heatshrink, and assume they will outlast
the walls they are inside. I don't see that putting the joints inside any
sort of box is necessary, or would improve reliability. Just employ someone
who can solder and wield a heat gun.

Regards

Ron

"Patrick Dunford" > wrote in message
. nz...
> We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
>
> What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
> should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
> floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
> future.

[Ron McNulty]

Any technician worth his (or her) salt should be able to join cables with
soldered joints, cover them with heatshrink, and assume they will outlast
the walls they are inside. I don't see that putting the joints inside any
sort of box is necessary, or would improve reliability. Just employ someone
who can solder and wield a heat gun.

Regards

Ron

"Patrick Dunford" > wrote in message
. nz...
> We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
>
> What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
> should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
> floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
> future.

[S O'Neill]

Ron McNulty wrote:

> Any technician worth his (or her) salt should be able to join cables with
> soldered joints, cover them with heatshrink, and assume they will outlast
> the walls they are inside. I don't see that putting the joints inside any
> sort of box is necessary, or would improve reliability. Just employ someone
> who can solder and wield a heat gun.
>


Never misunderestimate the diet of a rat. Leave access and use a metal box.

[S O'Neill]

Ron McNulty wrote:

> Any technician worth his (or her) salt should be able to join cables with
> soldered joints, cover them with heatshrink, and assume they will outlast
> the walls they are inside. I don't see that putting the joints inside any
> sort of box is necessary, or would improve reliability. Just employ someone
> who can solder and wield a heat gun.
>


Never misunderestimate the diet of a rat. Leave access and use a metal box.

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
>
> What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
> should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
> floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
> future.

With no other information than this, I'd say just put the existing box
someplace it will fit (under the floor maybe) and put some gaffer tape
over the open connectors so stuff won't fall into them. You won't
disturb your existing wiring, and it may cost you more in time to make
a new junction-only box than the present box is worth in salvage
value.

If you want to make a new junction box, assuming the present wiring is
used for two-conductor shielded cables of audio at line or mic level,
I'd crimp spade lugs on to all the leads (including the shield) and
use barrier terminal strips in a steel box for connections. If the
wire is compatible, you could use punchdown (insulation displacement)
blocks to join the cables.

I'd definitely make it accessable. Something will go wrong or you'll
decide to change something sooner or later. I'd also consider
replacing the wiring, depending on how much there is and where it
needs to go.




--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
>
> What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
> should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
> floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
> future.

With no other information than this, I'd say just put the existing box
someplace it will fit (under the floor maybe) and put some gaffer tape
over the open connectors so stuff won't fall into them. You won't
disturb your existing wiring, and it may cost you more in time to make
a new junction-only box than the present box is worth in salvage
value.

If you want to make a new junction box, assuming the present wiring is
used for two-conductor shielded cables of audio at line or mic level,
I'd crimp spade lugs on to all the leads (including the shield) and
use barrier terminal strips in a steel box for connections. If the
wire is compatible, you could use punchdown (insulation displacement)
blocks to join the cables.

I'd definitely make it accessable. Something will go wrong or you'll
decide to change something sooner or later. I'd also consider
replacing the wiring, depending on how much there is and where it
needs to go.




--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Patrick Dunford]

In article <znr1095855340k@trad> in rec.audio.pro on 22 Sep 2004 11:50:13
-0400, Mike Rivers > says...
>
> In article > writes:
>
> > We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> > wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> > junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
> >
> > What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
> > should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
> > floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
> > future.
>
> With no other information than this, I'd say just put the existing box
> someplace it will fit (under the floor maybe) and put some gaffer tape
> over the open connectors so stuff won't fall into them. You won't
> disturb your existing wiring, and it may cost you more in time to make
> a new junction-only box than the present box is worth in salvage
> value.
>
> If you want to make a new junction box, assuming the present wiring is
> used for two-conductor shielded cables of audio at line or mic level,
> I'd crimp spade lugs on to all the leads (including the shield) and
> use barrier terminal strips in a steel box for connections. If the
> wire is compatible, you could use punchdown (insulation displacement)
> blocks to join the cables.

It is stranded audio type cable so probably not suitable for punchdowns.

Given that most of it is already soldered, I'd given some thought to
using tag strips and soldering the wires onto them. Alternatively solder
lugs going onto the same type of terminal as you specify.

> I'd definitely make it accessable. Something will go wrong or you'll
> decide to change something sooner or later. I'd also consider
> replacing the wiring, depending on how much there is and where it
> needs to go.

All the current wiring is under the floor and we weren't planning to lift
the floor boards.

[Patrick Dunford]

In article <znr1095855340k@trad> in rec.audio.pro on 22 Sep 2004 11:50:13
-0400, Mike Rivers > says...
>
> In article > writes:
>
> > We have a patch panel with 16 XLR sockets on it installed in a wall. The
> > wall is coming out and so is the panel, which also happens to be a
> > junction for cables going to 2 other panels.
> >
> > What is an appropriate and cost effective way of joining the cables and
> > should the joints be inside some sort of plastic box (it'll be under the
> > floor). Should provision be made for easy access to the joints in the
> > future.
>
> With no other information than this, I'd say just put the existing box
> someplace it will fit (under the floor maybe) and put some gaffer tape
> over the open connectors so stuff won't fall into them. You won't
> disturb your existing wiring, and it may cost you more in time to make
> a new junction-only box than the present box is worth in salvage
> value.
>
> If you want to make a new junction box, assuming the present wiring is
> used for two-conductor shielded cables of audio at line or mic level,
> I'd crimp spade lugs on to all the leads (including the shield) and
> use barrier terminal strips in a steel box for connections. If the
> wire is compatible, you could use punchdown (insulation displacement)
> blocks to join the cables.

It is stranded audio type cable so probably not suitable for punchdowns.

Given that most of it is already soldered, I'd given some thought to
using tag strips and soldering the wires onto them. Alternatively solder
lugs going onto the same type of terminal as you specify.

> I'd definitely make it accessable. Something will go wrong or you'll
> decide to change something sooner or later. I'd also consider
> replacing the wiring, depending on how much there is and where it
> needs to go.

All the current wiring is under the floor and we weren't planning to lift
the floor boards.