Solution and prevention of immersion in structured cabling systems

Structured cabling systems play an important role in Internet cafes. They are the basis for network operation, but ye may often encounter problems, such as immersion problems, today we will talk about how to solve the problem of water immersion and do a good job of prevention.

And summer. This means that rainfall, thunderstorms, typhoons and floods are coming soon!

During this rainy season, it is often reported to the Technical Support Department of the Molex enterprise cabling network Department that the structured cabling system is the most vulnerable to water damage. This article focuses on the impact of water inlet on data cables and the impact of cables in floods to different degrees. This article will discuss what IT managers and wiring installers should know about the possibility of water injection in structured cabling systems and what measures can be taken to prevent damages.

Impact on Electrical Performance

The entry of water into a data structured cabling system will have serious consequences for its ability to support high-speed data applications such as fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. In some cases, cables that are very close to the limit or degree of attenuation of the link length cannot meet the standard requirements after the flood. This is because, when the cable is damp, its insulation performance is changed, thus affecting the impedance and related parameters such as attenuation and return loss.

Cable Structure and immersion

People often mistakenly think that the material PVC used for the outer skin of the standard data cable is waterproof. On the contrary, it absorbs water. The standard cat5e and cat6 cables have PVC skins and are designed for indoor use. They are not suitable for wet environments.

Moisture or outdoor cables used in water contain synthetic moisture-proof ingredients such as Band Separation and filled gel, which are expensive and sometimes degrade conductivity. It is worth mentioning that many of these kinds of moisture-proof GEL are extracted from petroleum and have fire hazards. Therefore, they cannot be used indoors unless on the demarcation points ). The distance allowed to be laid in the building is usually subject to national standards.

In addition, the cable structure will affect immersion. The low smoke halogen-free (LSOH) cable prevents water immersion, because the selected jacket material is more wet than PVC ). FTP cables with longitudinal foil shielding can effectively prevent water immersion. the shielding material is the same as the waterproof isolation tape. However, it should be noted that FTP is still not "waterproof ".

Intensity of immersion

The impact of immersion also depends on where the water comes from and how long it will last. Short-term immersion in a small amount of clean water may not affect the middle of a PVC cable. On the other hand, LSOH cables directly laid on the concrete floor without intervals or protection will be much more dangerous if they are soaked for less than a week. The water contains pollutants, such as the floor from the plaster, which can also cause great danger.

A more serious threat than the effects of cable jacket immersion comes from terminals that are soaked in water and open cables. A tightly twisted line in a data cable acts as a capillary tube, which can inhale a certain length in the cable and damage its electrical performance. Almost all cables affected by this method have to be replaced.

Prevention is better than remedy

Changing a damp structured cabling system will take a lot of time, expensive and destructive. It is obviously the best way to prevent cable moisture. Ideally, enterprises located in very dangerous areas should consider flood threats in the network design phase. Some measures can be taken even for the current network.

If possible, close the cables above the ceiling. This is less affected by floods than the laying on the floor. Optional device: the cable basket is superior to the drain after the cable is wet, but when a small amount of water is encountered, the completely closed device can provide better protection.

When cables must be laid on the floor, the distance from the cable tray or cable basket to the ground should be as high as possible within the height range of the movable floor.

Because small floods, such as water pipe bursts, are much less harmful than river floods, it is necessary to keep water equipment away from cable-intensive areas, such as wiring rooms and/or equipment rooms. Do not allow water pipes to pass through these communication spaces, or set a kitchen or bathroom next to them. Avoid placing wiring rooms or equipment rooms in the basement-especially when rivers are nearby!

If isolation is not possible, consider installing a rack or cabinet, or creating a wall in a less sensitive area to let water flow through.

Conclusion

When the cable is damp, the measures taken depend on the number of affected cables. We recommend that you retest the cables to see if they meet the standards. It cannot be determined that the cost of cable replacement is more dangerous for enterprises than that of cable replacement.

The inlet cable should be replaced by the capillary action of the open terminal. Cables that are heavily immersed in water due to jacket need to be replaced. Test the network completely and follow the suggestions of the manufacturer or a trusted installer. If you have any concerns, replace the cable.

1. Considerations for applying the network cabling system on campus
2. Analyze the network layout of the data center and plan the Integrated Wiring
3. How to reasonably manage the Integrated Wiring System
4. Effective methods for selecting integrated wiring systems
5. Comprehensive Analysis of ingress testing in Integrated Wiring System Testing