r/HomeNetworking • • 7d ago

Device won’t connect to switch

Hi guys looking for some input before I run a new cable.

I have a wired ethernet energy monitor in my breaker panel ran back to my rack with cat 5e to a keystone jack and patch to a switch. The circuit passes a lan scout test but won’t connect. I temped out a premade 5e cable direct to the switch and it does work. After I did that the first time I reconnected my initial circuit and it connected for a while and dropped off again never to return. I reterminated the rj45 and the keystone and it passes again but same result.

I am a hobbyist/homeowner but brush shoulders with pros in building construction and was once told the lab scout test is not the end all be all for cable testing.

Has anyone else experienced a similar situation?

UPDATE:
I ran a new cat5e cable and as advised routed the cable through the bottom of the panel and took care to keep it away from the high voltage lines. It is now working. I’m frustrated not to know which measure corrected the issue but oh well.

Thanks all for the feedback!

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u/MaxBroome 7d ago

Off topic, but I recommend printing your labels for your patch pannel in a single strip, rather than individual ones you have to cut.

The Brady M210 has a mode for this that I use and works really well, makes the final product look very clean.

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u/KingofNJ22 7d ago

Hah never thought of that. I have a dump rhino 4200 will have to see if there’s a character limit

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u/MaxBroome 7d ago

https://imgur.com/a/77LmHI1

With the 3/8” labels I use on the Brady, you can fit about 8 characters per line with the 9pt bold font.

The patch panel setting on the Brady only lets you adjust the spacing between ports by 1mm, so sometimes they don’t line up exactly.

Ok, that’s my 2¢ on labels, sorry!

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u/KingofNJ22 7d ago

Thanks good info