Can't find the patch cables I'm looking for!

[dax_]

Hi everyone

A few jobs ago, I saw and helped look after a server room where the network cables had 2 small pieces of plastic on each end of the cable.

You had a specially designed torch which would hug the cables and pulse a light - the light would travel all through the cable and the other end would then flash/light up.

This is incredibly handy when trying to trace cables in a comms room without unplugging and re-wiring everything.

Has anyone seen these too, if so, what are they called? Where can I find them? I've been scouring the internet and for the life of me I cannot find them. Unfortunately when I was working with them, I never noticed how useful they would be till now.. Any help in trying to track these down would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

 

[Lutfij]

Are you referring to this contraption?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ5V3cHlISk

 

[dax_]

No, I know that's a cable tester - but i'm talking about a device which will allow you to trace a cable without unplugging it.

something like this.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz5zd9MPnwY

 

[Lutfij]

Hmmm, interesting! Apparently it's a it since you're going to need the jacks/connector to be able to translate the light from one end to the other apart from the mandatory PatchLight device.

http://www.patchsee.com/en/kit-cables-patchsee.php

 

[dax_]

I came across this about the same time as you did, i saw in the video that it was titled "PatchSee" which i didn't realise was the company name...

Thank you !!

 

[Lutfij]

Nah, thank you, I learned something very eye opening today! 😉

 

[nigelivey]

I may be a little thick but can you explain the point of this? Are you saying you have to replace all your patch cables so that at some point in the future, if you didn't label them or have a toner and probe you can find the other end????

 

[bill001g]

It only is useful if you plan to do the job wrong. If you label all your cables it is not all that hard to find them. Very professional data centers actually number every cable and then keep a file that tell exactly what port in what rack everything is connect to. You don't even have to trace the cables.

Why would you spend extra money for a cable rather than just doing the job correctly.