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WAO (WORK AREA OUTLET)

BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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Telecom Cabling

What do we plug our patch cords into?At the PC or telephone end, they are plugged into a W.A.O. or Work Area Outlet.

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Telecom Cabling

The W.A.O. is composed of a faceplate or block fastened to the wall using screws, anchors, boxes, or low voltage rings.

The faceplate contains the jacks which serve as the interface between two cables. In our case, the patch cord and the cable (UTP, STP, COAX, etc.).

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Telecom Cabling

There are many styles, colors, and configurations for faceplates. However, there are two main sizes: Single gang and dual gang.

Single Gang Dual Gang

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Telecom Cabling

On a single gang faceplate the maximum number of outlets we use are 6. On a dual gang, the number doubles to 12.

We call the outlets jacks or “ports”. So we might order a single gang, 3 port faceplate. One single gang faceplate with 3 jacks or ports. How many ports are on the faceplate to the right?

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Telecom Cabling

Faceplates also come in a variety of colors and in some cases we use stainless steel faceplates. Colors are normally ivory, telco ivory, and white.

There are also different styles for the jacks we insert. Most are snap-in modular style.

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Telecom Cabling

In many instances telecom jacks are not mounted into a faceplate, but are instead surface-mounted. The jacks are put into a box that is then affixed to the surface of a wall or cubicle.

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Telecom Cabling

There are also several styles of jacks we can insert. Tel/data, F-style for coax, VGA, RCA, S-video, and even fiber outlets.

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Telecom Cabling

If we are connecting a faceplate to a sheetrock wall, we must cut a hole in the wall at a code specified height and install either a box or ring to hold the faceplate in place.

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Telecom Cabling

Low Voltage Rings

Single Gang Plastic Single Gang Metal (MPLS)

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Telecom Cabling

Low Voltage rings and boxes.

plastic mud ring metal mud rings

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Telecom Cabling

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Telecom Cabling

When we install a faceplate we must follow NEC code requirements. Today we install faceplates at 18” O.C., A.F.F.

That means 18” on center (the center of the faceplate), above finished floor.

We use our jab saw to cut the hole in the sheetrock.

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Telecom Cabling

The jab saw – CAREFUL it has sharp edges!

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Telecom Cabling

The process is as follows:

IMPORTANT: use a stud finder or your eyes to locate any studs. You cannot install a ring on a stud!!!

1- Use your tape measure to measure 18” A.F.F. 2-With a PENCIL, make a light mark at that point. 3-Place the low voltage ring on the wall and use your level to level it.

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Telecom Cabling

The process continued: 4-Use your PENCIL to make light marks in each of the inside corners of the low voltage ring. 5-If there is wallpaper on the wall, use your razor knife to cut away the paper. 6-Place a piece of paper on the floor

beneath where you will be cutting to catch the

dust that will come down.

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Telecom Cabling

The process continued:

7-Take your jab saw and make a HORIZONTAL CUT first (in case you hit a stud) to minimize damage. 8-Make your next horizontal cut, then your 2 vertical cuts and viola, you have a

hole. 9- Insert your ring and secure with screws.

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Telecom Cabling

Since the number one customer complaint about technicians is that they leave a mess…..never forget the next step.......

10-CLEAN-UP YOUR MESS and move on.

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Telecom Cabling

There are other faceplates as well such as decora faceplates which are slightly upscale and involve an insert for the ports.

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Telecom Cabling

Sometimes we place outlets flush to the floor in a device we call a “poke-thru”. Note that the cables come from the floor below.

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Telecom Cabling

QUESTION FOR TODAY!!!!!!!

What do we call the box we use to mount the faceplate to some type of surface?