How to wall mount patch panel

Hardware Hub Networking
1

I’ve following patch panel:

Cable Matters Rackmount or Wall Mount 1U 24 Port Keystone Patch Panel with Cable Management and Support Bar

I can find bunch of examples about mounting it on rack.
However I don’t see any example of wall mount.

  1. Are there examples (videos/photos) about mounting patch panel directly on wall
  2. Is there a reason I should avoid this?
  3. If I mount it on rack, is there cleaner (air tight) way to plug the hole from where 24 wires will be running?
2

You need something like this if you are trying to mount it to the outside of the wall.

https://www.amazon.com/RackPath-Vertical-Wall-Mount-Rack/dp/B09F2DX3TK/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?

3

oh I do have a rack (Echogear 15U open frame), I’m trying to avoid mounting patch panel to rack mostly because if I use something like: https://www.amazon.com/Echogear-Wall-Cable-Hider-Mount/dp/B086CCHHV9 , insects can crawl through?

4

I think you need to better explain exactly what you are trying to do here. I and several other people here do professional installation of f low voltage and have experience in residential wiring of networking gear.

What is your situation now and what are you trying to accomplish?

5

Please let me know if following explains it correctly:

  1. Planning to run network cable through attic / crawl space.
  2. Installing routers and switches on rack, patch cables from switch to patch panel.
  3. Cables from crawl / attic need to come to patch panel - this is the step I’m trying to solve
  4. Either patch panel itself is installed on wall - I feel like this is good solution but don’t see any example
  5. Or make a hole in wall pull out cables and use https://www.amazon.com/Echogear-Wall-Cable-Hider-Mount/dp/B086CCHHV9 for hole in wall.

I’m trying to see if step 4 is possible. Basically if I can use patch panel same way as RJ45 wall plate. (patch cables look like they are plugged in wall)

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6

When you say “on the wall,” do you mean a patch panel as a socket, like an electrical outlet?

Then individual cables from the rack, can lead to, and be plugged in to, the sockets? So you just don’t see the connections out the back?

Normally, a bundle is routed through the wall/ceiling into the rack cabinet, in a thick bundle, then wired in to the back of the patch.

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7

yes exactly.
patch panel should look like electrical outlet.

[EDIT] : I’m trying to understand if that’s even possible, and if I can see example if someone has done it. I think it’s possible because name says it’s wallmount (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0072JVT02)

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8

Sounds like it would kind of be permenantly installed. And I don’t think the make back boxes, like the do for electrical outlets, which recess into the wall…

I’m not in the business, but presume the two reasons network guys don’t do that, is
A:it’s easier to detach and replace a bad cable if they have access to it
B: it’s easier in general, from initial patching onwards

9

I’m not meaning to say “don’t do it” simply that it’s not standard

You do you, and set up your network in a way that makes sense for you! And your team/holiday cover/ replacement

10

I see.
But then for bad cable anyways cable (through crawl/attic), RJ45 wall plate etc are replaced.

However if I go with something like: https://www.amazon.com/Echogear-Wall-Cable-Hider-Mount/dp/B086CC2QPK, is there clean solution? (Should I be worried about bugs crawling from inside of the wall to house) ?

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11

lol yup I’m leaning towards it but trying to see if anyone done it before making hole in wall

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12

When they say wall-mount, they mean you can use it with a hinged wall-mount bracket like this:

I’ve seen plenty of situations where wall mounting like that makes sense.

Cutting a rack-size hole is your drywall is a VERY BAD IDEA. Mainly because most homes are built with studs every 16" on center, and rack equipment is 19" wide, so you would literally need to significantly weaken your structure (violating building codes) to mount the patch panel inside the wall horizontally. Vertically would be a bit safer, but still risky as most walls will have diagonal members somewhere as well.

What you probably want for clean, household look, is keystone faceplates:

1-gang/6-ports for $1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034XRLHU/

2-gang/12-ports:

You’ll want 1-gang or 2-gang low-voltage (classs 2) old work brackets as well.

Keystone jacks with these faceplates work great in a home, but NOTE: in a rack, I absolutely DESPISE them. For a rack, I always go a proper, complete, non-keystone patch panel like this:

1u/2u keystone patch panels are much more expensive than normal (non-keystone) patch panels, far more time-consuming to punch-down all ports, and also infinitely more fragile as well…

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13

Thank you so much.
Now it (wall mount) makes sense to me and also 6/12-gang solution looks clean.

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14

I’ll tell you how I would do it.

Cut the holes and do solid core riser cable runs directly from the back of the patch panel in your rack to the attic and crawl space. When you have all of your wires run then seal it with expanding foam at both ends of the run to maintain insulation integrity and to stop critters from using it as a passage. Use keystone face plates and low voltage boxes at the client end of the run.

Links to products I use:

Expanding foam:

Low Voltage box:

Pass-Through for coming off your rack patch to the wall:

Keystone face plates:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=6727

Keystones:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5384

If you are needing to go outside then I like these for cleaning up the hole and protecting it:

If you really want then you can put the keystones and faceplates at the server side as well but unless you are planning on moving your rack out of there soon I would recommend against it.

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15

ooh expanding foam, nice

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