Ah, sorry. We're speaking under different assumptions. :<
*I'm* talking about someone trying to reproduce my system and facing the same sorts of challenges: a variable number of "connections"; servicing a variety of *different* purposes; with an *individual's* budget; etc.E.g., patch panels make sense fabricated the way they are when they are being used to connect a bunch of "computers" together. You probably already *have* several equipment racks for your network switches, UPS, servers, patch panels, etc. This is where the patch panel "belongs".
And, "1" means just as much as "37" as far as identifiers are concerned. And, having a cheat sheet that expounds on those identifiers is almost a requirement as you typically are describing a sh*tload of drops in a variety of different offices throughout a building. "Workstation 3 in Electronics Lab", "Supervisor's Office", "Cubicle 3B77A2 South", etc. So, the 0.625" of horizontal space available for a "label" can suffice to carry
*just* a number.OTOH, when you (me) are using the panel to interconnect a bunch of different *systems* (HVAC, Irrigation, Surveillance Camera 3, Hot Water Heater, Garage Door Opener, Weather Station, etc.) then its more helpful if you can indicate what each connector services *on* the panel (since people misplace cheat sheets; businesses tend to have *staff* responsible for tracking what's where on their patch panels!).
You probably *don't* have an equipment rack anywhere in your home. And, probably don't want to see a mess of cables and equipment. Or *hear* them (fans, etc.). Instead, you want to tuck it all into some corner where it is just barely accessible. "Make it fit".
E.g., here, I have the various processors, switches, UPS, etc. hiding in the bottom of a "closet" off the kitchen. Space that isn't easily used for anything that we would want to get at often (because it's too low to the ground).
I can imagine others wanting to put it all in a big box and hide it in a bedroom closet. (I'm not sure I would recommend locating it in "non-living" space -- reliability! :< ) My goal is to shrink things to about 10U -- I'm about double that, currently (because I have lots of COTS components in the current implementation)
I'd like to come up with a "solution" that lets folks figure out how best to package/deploy their own version instead of imposing a solution. You want to use an equipment rack? Fine! *You* figure out where to put it... (I have a friend with one of these
5,000sq ft palaces that *likes* making his toys visible. He'd probably set it in a 42U rack with glass doors sitting in a corner of his living room! "Conversation Piece" :-/ Sheesh!)The idea of "custom panels" IN GENERAL makes perfect sense (e.g., the examples you cite). I just don't think many would pursue it for *this* project (which would already be hard to get past your S.O. -- regardless of how many shoes she has!! :> )
Yeah. Wanna know what the neighbors had for breakfast this morning?
[Actually, I haven't deployed the cameras outside the house, yet, as that's going to usher in a bunch of "tricky" conversations. Esp from folks who will think *I* should now monitor activities outside *their* houses and be willing to sit through hours of footage trying to identify someone who drove through the neighborhood squealing their tires, etc.]Little paper strips fall out and get lots. Writing *on* the unit ensures it stays *with* the unit. But, then you're screwed when you want to change a label (recall, you only have 0.625" to make your annotation!).
Given that the wiring isn't likely to change often (unless a connector fails or a cable "in the wall" breaks), simply replacing the entire overlay seems a good approach.
Of course, folks with larger/wider panels will be stuck having to get their overlays printed "elsewhere" (unless you have a B size printer). But, even that isn't a real hassle since it is so infrequent.
Not sure what you mean.
The panel consists of a sheet of aluminum, a set of PCBs (onto which are mounted the connectors and punch-down blocks), and a set of studs/standoffs that "float" the PCBs behind the aluminum sheet.
Opening ===== ========== S CCCCC S S CCCCC S S CCCCC S --------------- B B B B
Viewed sighting *down* the edge so the connectors are stacked normal to the page
Where: == aluminum sheet
-- PCB CC connector body (soldered to PCB) S standoff/stud (fastened to panel and PCB) B punch-down block (soldered to PCB)
So, the locations of the studs as they meet the panel are significant. Drill the hole in the wrong place (assuming you are machining a piece of metal -- or, having someone else do it for you) and you can't line up the PCBs/connectors with the slots ("opening") in the aluminum plate.
Since these studs don't appear on (or through!) the graphic overlay, that's one less (actually, 24 holes) thing to worry about screwing up!
[Remember, I'm thinking about *other* people trying to make such things!]
Laminated they will last damn near forever. Remember, you aren't poking at this every hour/day/week. You plug stuff in and forget it. Until something stops working or you want to add some capability.
How often do you have to replace the labels on your fuse box outside (?) your home? And, I suspect you spend far more time in there (resetting breakers, etc.) than you ever would, here!
(E.g., how often do you reconfigure the cables going to your network switch(es)?)
Ah. Perhaps that's why I thought you lived further out (east)! [I've had an image of a spot near Lake Tahoe in my mind -- even though I know you don't live in Tahoe!]
I can walk to a Kinkos in less than 15 minutes. E.g., I am planning on taking my first pass of this "panel overlay" there, tomorrow, to get it laminated. I used heavy card stock to print it on one of the Phasers (gives it a high sheen, "magazine page" finish) to increase it's "rigidity" and I'm hoping the plastic lamination will make it even stiffer. If it works out, then I'll spend a bit more time to pretty-up the thing (actually, have to make the second one as well -- different legend) and call it "done"! :>
Agreed. As I tried to clarify above: I'm concerned with folks who are trying to do this "for themselves". A commercial offering would be far less "custom": "This is the Model X. And here is the Model Y. Which one do you want?"
And, commercial offerings tend to be *less* concerned with cost than someone who's trying to bankroll a gizmo like this for themselves...
E.g., we've dropped about a kilobuck into *just* the irrigation system -- with none of that spent on "labor" or "profit". We could never have justified what it would have cost to *contract* that job out! If I'd *tried* to contract *this* project out, neither of us would *ever* retire (to enjoy it!) :>
--don