Being compatible with all standard 19-inch cabinets and racks and allowing 48 terminations in the height of a single U, the Cat6 patch panel meets customer requirements for better port density in small cabinets, where air circulation is essential.

 

“In typical installations, up to four 1U patch panels are loaded at the bottom and rear of a cabinet, with servers and switches at the front. While patch panels deployed in this configuration only occupy 4U of space, they can severely restrict airflow within the cabinet—especially to the equipment at the bottom—making cooling IT and telecommunications equipment a real challenge,” says Ken Hodge, R&D Manager at Brand-Rex. “We developed the 1/2U Cat6Plus patch panel as a direct response to customer requirements and have achieved truly high port density while also maximizing airflow in the smallest possible space.”

 

Lighter, shorter, and narrower than conventional patch panels, this Cat6Plus patch panel is ideal for small telecom enclosures, server rooms, and any project with space constraints. Tested down to the component level to deliver true Cat6 performance, the new patch panel is also backward compatible with Cat5e, allowing users of that standard to future-proof their systems.

It features a patented contact pin matrix design, along with a conventional termination method that provides the installer with maximum accessibility for inserting cable terminals. The 1/2U Cat6 patch panel is easy to install and handle, and even allows for a third set of cables in the cabinet if needed. Equipped with standard LSA quick-connect blocks, all ports are numerically identified for TIA 568B "Wiring A" and "Wiring B" applications, and the writable surface facilitates additional port labeling.

 

The patch panel also features comprehensive rear cable management, ensuring optimal connection performance and providing easy routing and stress relief for installed high-performance cabling. Available in shielded or unshielded versions, the 1/2U shielded patch panel incorporates new mounting clips for optimal connection grounding, while both versions come with cable ties, mounting hardware, and installation instructions.   
“Cat6Plus offers two distinct advantages over traditional patch panels: high density for a standard cabinet and minimal footprint for a server cabinet.

“The patch panel is shallow, which is an added advantage of its 1/2U height, as it helps increase the space at the back of the cabinet for better airflow,” Hodge adds. “The Cat6Plus patch panel, along with its robust mounting design (which includes grounding in the shielded version), is an excellent example of how market needs drive innovation in structured cabling system design.”

 

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