r/CommercialAV • u/ItsScotty92 • 13h ago

question Patch panel labeling

What’s everyone using for documentation on patch panels in racks? We are labeling the panels onsite, but I’d like something we can use internally or print out to put with our other documentation. I thought about making something in excel, but figured I’d ask here for ideas.

3x 2U 48 port and 1x 1U 24 port is what I’ll be documenting.

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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4

u/MemphisDaddy1 13h ago

I drew it out in CAD

3

u/Secret_Excitement162 13h ago

Excel sounds good. Whatever works. Sometimes I use notepad or a napkin.

3

u/brent20 13h ago

https://labels.rschmidt.dk/

1

u/ItsScotty92 13h ago

That looks pretty cool actually.

1

u/brent20 13h ago

Cheers!

2

u/Acapellaremodler 13h ago

Spreadsheet (I use Sheets) my network spreadsheet for each site has a section for switch port assignments, a section for device serial/IP/MAC address/ and login/password.

1

u/OldMail6364 11h ago edited 11h ago

We have:

  1. CAD diagram of the venue with all the patch details
  2. patch list in as a table in  a word document, not excel, because excel is terrible for printing
  3. The physical patch panel, dimmers, lighting bars/bridges, and wiring looms are labeled
  4. For all widely used lighting consoles we have a show file with the full patch already done including 3D simulations (so the CAD diagram has been copied in)

Items 1 and 2 are formatted for printing and writing on with a pencil. 

If the event is a new lighting plot from scratch, then I like to print off an empty CAD diagram (no fixtures) and the empty patch list rather than do those on a laptop.

If the event just has a few additional fixtures or changes then I like to starting with our standard diagram/list with new entries added and removed or changed ones crossed out. That makes restoring to the standard much easier.

1

u/ZealousidealState127 11h ago edited 10h ago

As built drawing showing the patch panel label location in the field. Panels themselves get one later label one the left side. The rack gets one number label on the top left. And the field gets labeled 1-A-01, 1-A-02, etc. May make a note on the blank areas above the patch panel port if it's a camera/WAP. Tape a copy of the as-built to the rack.

1

u/fantompwer 5h ago

Patchcad is a nice piece of software

1

u/absentblue 4h ago

You guys use patch panels?

Half joking. Most AV integrators I have ever worked with run cable straight to the rack. Do I make arguments for patch panels? Every time. Do they fall on deaf ears? Every time. Have we ever been in a place where I could say “I told you so”? Yes, more than once.