Michael Kabala,
LTS Inc.
Problem
Transitioning communications cabling into modular furniture from a wall or column is often difficult because hole plates designed for this procedure are rare.
Solution
Create your own hole plate by using a metal stud punch to make a hole in an old wall plate.
Procedure
1) Remove all cabling and connectors from the wall plate.
2) Open the stud punch and place the wall plate in the center of the cutting area.
3) Close the stud punch, applying enough pressure to cut the wall plate. The stud punch will create a clean hole with no rough edges. The hole should be large enough to allow routing of 20 4-pair cables.
4) Install the hole plate on the wall as you would a regular wall plate.
5) When you route the cables through the hole plate to the modular workstation, harness the cables with electrical tape to protect against abrasions.
The stud punch that I use for this procedure applies even pressure when cutting, so even the brittle Class 1 electrical blank plates can be used.
Center the wall plate in the stud punch so that the hole will be in the proper position on the plate.
The hole plate will allow 20 4-pair cables to be routed from the wall to the modular workstation.
Michael Kabala is an account manager with lts Inc. (North Chelmsford, MA).