Best Brands or Products? 1

[chiefred]

Is there any one particular brand that is the cadillac of connectors and jacks? Cable? I know I enjoy working with Allen Tel jacks over Panduit, Leviton, AMP, ICC and other brands and I like to work with AMP RJ45 connectors but I realize that everyone must have particular favorites.

Is there simply one product that is above all the rest in all methods of use, aside from personal evaluation?

Just wondering

 

[Jtodd]

I've looked at the Nordx stuff for the Telcom Room end, but haven't decided on it yet (the Gigabix). I was looking at the space saving issue. Not sold yet. Their regular Gigaflex jacks don't seem to be anything special. Haven't had a chance to install them yet, just setting here in my desk drawer.

Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have also used Nordx jacks and have talked many times to the local Nordx rep. I think the jacks take too much time to terminate and I don't see very many jobs here that use Nordx. I also think it is difficult to remove the Nordx jacks from their faceplates.

jeff moss

 

[wires]

The comments on termination speed when using Panduit TX style jacks bothered me so I did a little testing. I timed 10 terminations with a Panduit CJ588TYL (TX style) module. The shortest time was 45 seconds and the longest was 70 seconds. The average was 60 seconds. The time started when I picked up the stripper and ended when the jack was connected to the wire and free of all tools. All 10 terminations passed cat5 certification with a PentaScanner.

If this is "four times longer" then maybe I should change so I could terminate a 4 pair jack in 15 seconds...

The key to speed is getting the pairs in the proper sequence before inserting them in the wire holder.

"I've found the new Panduit jacks a real pain requiring you to lay the wires, snip, and crimp the jack." Installing any jack is going to involve removing excess wire. It is much faster to do that with four snips with a Plato cutter (two or three snips with scissors) than eight punch downs.

Until I got the hang of it I liked older mini-com modules better than the TX. Now I much prefer the TX since it is easier to get the wires lined up. Threading the older modules was a bit painful unless you first cut the wires at an angle. Then you had to cut them again, wasteful in time and messy with more wire shards.

Properly done a TX module maintains twist almost up to the IDC and all conductors are the same length (very handy if you mess up on a short cable).

Panduit jacks only fit in Panduit wall plates. This is not as bad as it seems since the sizing of "keystone" jacks and plates vary by manufacturer. I have seen many keystone F connectors pop out due to this problem (they get a lot of load with RG6). It reminds me of problems with "universal (GE)" style circuit breakers. They can be inserted in many different panels but may burn your house down because they don't make good contact or the metallurgy is incompatible. I like tend to use Square D panels since incompatible breakers won't even snap in.

The Pass & Seymour parts looks real nice. I like their "load from the front" design, especialy the "cut-in" type wall plates. About the only wallboxes I use these days are the P&S Slater boxes with the Quick/Click screw holes. Top quality stuff.

 

[MarvO1]

So, for the other end, should I use 66 blocks or 110 blocks, or Bix or what?

Just kidding. Don't ever want to go there. Causes a fight on this forum. LOL

MarvO said it

 

[Jtodd]

Thanks for the field test on the Panduit. Being a fan of the Panduit product, I should say that if you only use them occationally, installation time will be longer. I went for awhile with out using them, and got out of practice and was a little slow to start with, but eventually got back up to speed.
The pair untwist (or lack there of) is also a big selling point for me.
One thing I'd like to compare them to that I haven't had time yet is the new Hubbell One Punch. I"ve played with the jacks, but not the new tool. Looks interesting.

Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay

 

[daronwilson]

We were forced to use the Pass and Seymour once, I still have a whole box of it. Personally I didn't like the front load idea, but that's just me.

BIGGEST problem was that the trim/cover plates were physically about 5/16" taller than the standard leviton/everythingelse.

What happened was a vendor change for us, and we got loaded with a load of pass and seymour. Our electricians putting in P&S receptacles and switches, which meant the phone jack next to it had a smaller faceplate and looked silly UNLESS you used pass and seymour phone plates.

After about 2 months we quit buying those and bought leviton electrical products again (or other brands when needed) but they all seemed to be the same size so we could use an allentel phone jack next to a leviton receptacle and they looked fine.

I don't know if P&S has changed to the standard size of coverplate, but I don't use their product for primarily that reason.



It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

 

[Jtodd]

Thanks for the info on the P&S. I've never used their products, or even held them, so I would never have known. Isn't P&S the one that used to be the main Wiremold product? I know I've said this before, but I've never had a lot of luck getting stuff to fit nicely in Wiremold (never mind bend radius issues). Just curious if this is the reason for the odd size for the P&S.

Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay

 

[chiefred]

Hey--AvayaNovice---I got a question about BNC and rg59-- can you email me at jim.biederer@acceris.com

Thanks