At a typical head end, I will have a few rows of patch panels wall mounted on stand off brackets. For example, I might have one patch panel for cables from TVs, WAPs and touch screens; one panel for camera cables; one panel for speaker cables; etc. Cables that belong to a given patch panel exit the wall right at the level of that panel.

One problem I have is dealing with spare wires. For example, I will run 2 cat6 for every camera, with one being a spare. Or, I will wire for 8 WAP locations, with only 4 locations intended for immediate use and the other 4 locations wired just in case they are necessary.

I don't terminate the spare wires because this seems like a waste of labor. This, however, leaves the issue of how to manage the spare wires. If I have them exit the wall where the patch panels are, then I have to some how route them to a free area where I can coil them up, and this gets messy. If, alternatively, I coil them up out of the way - say in ceiling space above the wall - then it could be quite difficult snaking them through the wall to the appropriate panel if and when they need to be used.

This seems like such a simple problem to solve, and yet an elegant solution eludes me. Thoughts?

One thing I've done that worked OK, was install a large distribution panel behind the rack. Have some double gang wire ports just above the panel. During prewire, route the wires you're likely to use through the appropriate rings, but leave the extras down in the panel. Don't zip tie anything between the panel and the wire ports, so if you do need a wire you can pull it up through the wire port from the panel. The excess wire mess goes in the panel, assuming you don't need a huge tail.

I suppose if you can put the excess wire in the ceiling, attic space or whatever, you could just use a big ol' conduit for use later to route cables down.

I've used single or double gang boxes with the top and bottom cut out, wires labeled right at the box, and let the extra wire just drop down into the wall void. As long as there aren't way to many, it's pretty easy to get to that one wire you need.

I've also done this on a pre-wire to protect the wiring from the drywall butchers.

Have also done the same with a distribution enclosure.

Terminate all wires to a can using DIN rail.

If they were installed for some purpose in the future, put them in the area where they would be terminated and connected.

It may be a waste of labor, but it may actually save time, later. Who knows who will go back to handle any future connections- I look at it as a way to make my life easier when I need to go back, not if. As good as my memory is, if I just need to insert a couple of cables into a port or jack that was already labeled, I won't need to decipher what is needed. If they go to a structured wiring enclosure, maybe they can be wrapped with the other cables.

+1

Are you saying to run ALL wires into a can instead of to wall mounted patch panels?

+1

Exactly. If they are there in case they're needed, punch them down with cables fkr the,same or similar purposes. Then if you need them, you'll look them up in a fable, connect, and you're done.

Yes, yes,yes.

Yes.

You can mount a recessed 12-14" low voltage enclosure above your patch panels, to coil the extra cables, or patch. The cables you use will exit the LV enclosure at the lower knockouts, and exit the wall at your patch panels. No visible cables.

I got the idea from Mac who does the same thing at the ceiling.

More and more I am bringing all our wires into the rack, unused cable is routed in the rack and coiled up at the bottom of the rack.

We use quickports and angled patch panels for our Cat connections:

[Link: leviton.com].

Alarm and door access control still goes in 48" cans so extra wire is minimal and easy enough to dress.

This I agree with...attenuation is real in any breaks in the cable...another possible sport for a bad termination.... bring it in with a big coil in back for service

every job, large or small. every wire gets terminated except spare or un used speaker wires, they get coiled at bottom of rack.

Let me finish the sentence. While you are standing there with the tools in your hand.
This is proactive labor.
Unless you are slow enough that extra time on truck rolls are needed.