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Patch cable
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A patch cable, patch cord or patch lead is an electrical or fiber-optic cable used to connect ("patch in") one electronic or optical device to another for signal routing. Devices of different types (e.g., a switch connected to a computer, or a switch to a router) are connected with patch cords.
Patch cords are usually produced in many different colors so as to be easily distinguishable from each other. Types of patch cords include microphone cables, fiber optic spectroscopy cables, headphone extension cables, XLR connector, Tiny Telephone (TT) connector, RCA connector and ¼" TRS phone connector cables (as well as modular Ethernet cables), and thicker, hose-like cords (snake cable) used to carry video or amplified signals. However, patch cords typically refer only to short cords used with patch panels.
The term "patch" came from early use in telephony and radio studios, where extra equipment kept on standby could be temporarily substituted for failed devices.[citation needed] This reconnection was done via patch cords and patch panels, like the jack fields of cord-type telephone switchboards. Furthermore, patching could also create temporary atypical connections between devices for unusual needs. Analog music synthesizers typically use patch cables to interconnect functional sections, such as oscillators, filters, etc.
Construction
[edit]A patch cord cable differs from a standard structured cabling in that a patch cable is stranded for flexibility, whereas a standard cable is solid copper. Because the patch cord is stranded copper construction the attenuation (signal loss) is higher on patch cords than solid cable so short lengths should be adhered to.[1]
They can be as short as 3 inches (76 mm), to connect stacked components or route signals through a patch panel, or between 6 and 50 metres (20 and 164 ft) for snake cables. As length increases, the cables are thicker or more shielded, or both, to prevent signal loss (attenuation) and the introduction of unwanted radio frequencies and hum (electromagnetic interference).
Patch cords are often made of coaxial cables, with the signal carried through a shielded core, and the electrical ground or earthed return connection carried through a wire mesh surrounding the core. Each end of the cable is attached to a connector so that the cord may be plugged in. Connector types may vary widely, particularly with adapting cables.
Patch cords may be:
- single-conductor wires using, for example, banana connectors (or pin plugs)
- coaxial cables using, for example, BNC connectors
- shielded or unshielded Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6A cables using 8P8C (RJ-45) modular connectors with straight-through T568A or T568B wiring (modular cables wired to T568A at one end and T568B on the other are more commonly referred to as crossover cables)
- qualified optical fiber cables for use with modular fiber optic spectroscopy equipment
A patch cord is always fitted with connectors at both ends. A pigtail is similar to a patch cord and is the informal name given to a cable fitted with a connector at one end and bare wires (or bare fibre) at the other. In the context of copper cabling, these cables are sometimes referred to as blunt patch cords and the non-connectorized end ("the pigtail") is intended to be permanently attached to a component or terminal. Optical fiber pigtails, in contrast to copper pigtails, can be more accurately described as a connector than a cable or cord. A fiber pigtail is a single, short, usually tight-buffered, optical fiber that has an optical connector pre-installed on one end and a length of exposed fiber at the other end. The end of the fiber pigtail is stripped and fusion spliced to a single fiber of a multi-fiber trunk. Splicing of pigtails to each fiber in the trunk "breaks out" the multi-fiber cable into its component fibers for connection to the end equipment.[2]
Music and sound recording
[edit]A variety of cables are used to carry electrical signals in sound recording studios and with electronic or electrical musical instruments. Microphones are typically connected to mixing boards or PA systems with XLR microphone cables which use three-pin XLR connectors. A huge range of electric or electronic instruments use 1/4 inch mono patch cords to connect the instrument to the amplifier, such as the electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer, electric piano, or electronic drum machine. Musicians playing electric or electronic instruments often use longer cables (from 10 to 20 feet) between their instrument and their amplifier, and then use shorter patch cords (from a few inches to one or two feet long) to connect chains of effects devices, "stomp box" pedals, or other signal processors.
DJs using record players connect their turntables to mixers or PA systems with stereo RCA connectors. DJs sometimes have to use equipment with multiple cable types, which can create connection difficulties; for example, the DJ's record players and DJ mixers all use RCA connectors, but if they use a drum machine or a bass synthesizer, it may have a 1/4 inch mono connector. To resolve this problem, DJs can either use adapters or special cables (e.g., RCA to 1/4 inch mono). Heavier-gauge cables are used for carrying amplified signals from amplifiers to speakers (both in a PA system and with instrument amplifiers). ¼" TRS phone connector cables can carry stereo signals, so they are used for stereo headphones and for some patching purposes (e.g., inserting an effect into an insert connection in a mixer).
Music venues, concert halls, and recording studios also use a thicker, hose-like cord called a snake cable (or a "snake"), which consists of a bundle of many individual cables with patch panels at either end so that audio gear can be connected. The patch panel is a flat panel of audio connectors where XLR cables (often both "male" and "female") and 1/4 inch jacks can be plugged in. The "snake" cable makes setup more convenient, because if a sound engineer did not have a "snake", she or he would have to run 20 or 30 individual microphone and instrument cables from the stage to the mixing booth. The cables could get tangled or mixed up, and it would be hard to know, when faced with 20 connectors at the end of the cable run, which cable was associated with which microphone or instrument. The patch panel is numbered, so that the engineer can note which microphone or instrument is plugged into each numbered connection.
Patch cables can also be used on video synthesizers.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Data Cabling FAQs". Cabling Solutions. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
- ^ "Pigtail". www.atis.org. ATIS Telecom Glossary. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
External links
[edit]Patch cable
View on GrokipediaIntroduction and History
Definition
A patch cable, also known as a patch cord, is a short electrical or optical cable equipped with pre-terminated connectors at both ends, designed to establish temporary or semi-permanent connections between nearby devices or ports for signal routing.[1] Typically measuring 1 to 5 meters in length, these cables prioritize flexibility to facilitate easy handling in confined spaces such as equipment racks or panels.[2] Key characteristics of patch cables include their use of standardized connectors, such as RJ45 for networking or TRS plugs for audio, which ensure compatibility and quick installation without the need for on-site termination. They are constructed with stranded conductors to withstand frequent plugging and unplugging, minimizing signal degradation over repeated use cycles.[5] Unlike bulk cables, which are unterminated spools of solid-core wire intended for custom-length permanent installations in structured cabling systems up to 100 meters, patch cables arrive ready-to-use and are optimized for short-range, flexible patching applications.[2] They also differ from crossover cables, which employ reversed wiring to directly link similar devices like two computers, whereas standard patch cables use straight-through wiring for connecting dissimilar devices such as a computer to a switch.[5] Patch cables serve basic purposes across various fields, including temporary linking of network components like switches and routers in local area networks, routing audio signals between mixers and amplifiers in production setups, and interconnecting telecom equipment such as optical switches or terminal boxes.[1]Historical Development
Patch cables originated in the late 19th century as manual patch cords used in telephone switchboards to connect calls. Operators would insert these cords into jacks to route connections between callers, a system first implemented in Boston in 1877 and rapidly expanding across the United States by the early 1880s.[6][7] In the 1920s and 1930s, patch cords transitioned into broadcasting and recording studios, where they adapted telephone wiring practices for audio signal routing. This adoption enabled flexible interconnections in early radio stations and sound recording setups, using balanced connections via plugs like the 1/4-inch tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) for professional audio environments.[8][9] The 1970s marked a pivotal advancement with the introduction of modular connectors, such as the RJ45, developed by Bell Laboratories in 1973 for telecommunications and data applications. This facilitated the rise of structured cabling systems. By the 1980s, Ethernet patch cables gained standardization through IEEE 802.3 in 1983 (initially over coaxial cable), enabling reliable local area networking and supporting the commercial deployment of Ethernet since 1980, with twisted-pair wiring added in 1990 via IEEE 802.3i.[10][11] The 1990s saw a shift toward fiber optic patch cables to accommodate higher data speeds amid the computing and internet boom, transitioning from analog audio patching to digital networking infrastructures. Standards like 10BASE-F, introduced in 1993 under IEEE 802.3, promoted fiber variants for inter-repeater links and backbone connections, enhancing bandwidth capabilities.[12]Types and Variants
Networking Patch Cables
Networking patch cables are short, flexible cables designed for interconnecting devices within local area networks (LANs), facilitating high-speed data transmission in environments like offices, data centers, and homes. These cables primarily use twisted-pair copper or fiber optic constructions to support Ethernet protocols, with lengths typically ranging from 0.3 to 5 meters to minimize signal attenuation while allowing easy rerouting in patch panels or switch ports. Unlike longer runs of structured cabling, patch cables prioritize convenience and quick deployment for temporary or semi-permanent connections. The primary connectors for twisted-pair Ethernet patch cables are RJ45 modular plugs, which feature eight positions for four twisted pairs and adhere to pin assignments defined in the ANSI/TIA-568 standard for consistent wiring schemes such as T568A or T568B.[13] For fiber optic variants, SC (Subscriber Connector) and LC (Lucent Connector) are widely used, with SC employing a 2.5 mm ferrule for push-pull latching and LC using a smaller 1.25 mm ferrule for high-density applications; these are standardized under IEC 61754-4 and IEC 61754-20, respectively, ensuring low insertion loss and reliable optical coupling in multimode or single-mode setups. Twisted-pair networking patch cables are classified into categories based on bandwidth, maximum data rates, and distance capabilities, as specified by ANSI/TIA-568 for Categories 5e through 8 and ISO/IEC 11801 for higher classes. These categories determine suitability for Ethernet speeds from Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) to 40 Gbps, with higher categories offering improved crosstalk rejection and noise immunity. The following table summarizes key specifications:| Category | Bandwidth (MHz) | Maximum Speed and Distance | Primary Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat5e | 100 | 1 Gbps up to 100 m | ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 |
| Cat6 | 250 | 10 Gbps up to 55 m | ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 |
| Cat6a | 500 | 10 Gbps up to 100 m | ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 |
| Cat7 | 600 | 10 Gbps up to 100 m | ISO/IEC 11801 Class F |
| Cat8 | 2000 | 40 Gbps up to 30 m | ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1 / ISO/IEC 11801 Class I |