Flush-mounted boxes for double network sockets

Hello.

As a LAN cable and network enthusiast, I naturally want to install many LAN outlets in my future solid house, preferably also in duplex design, so always a double socket supplied with a duplex cable.

Usually, at work, I install this in trunking channels or drywall, where the cable stock can always be stored very well.

In a deep flush-mounted box, however, it's a bit tricky, as space is quite tight, bending radii definitely cannot be maintained, and you have to cut very close and then somehow stuff everything in.

At work, we only have commercial buildings with trunking channels, hardly anything flush-mounted.

Do you have any experience whether it is absolutely necessary to plaster in the large electronic boxes, or if the module boxes work better?

Thanks a lot for your tips!

Regards, Ralf

Well, you already mentioned the bending radii. With the normal (of course deep) standard boxes, it’s already tricky to get everything in, and above all, you only have a limited number of attempts – cutting too long doesn’t help, and every failed attempt costs. You only realize how well you’ve worked afterwards, when the switch complains :)

I placed the large boxes in a few critical spots, where you can also slide in an SBC, and then the display flat on the wall. Otherwise, normal (deep) flush-mounted boxes. The first 10 boxes were stressful, the remaining 60 went reasonably fast.

Hi, if the supply is done in a slightly oversized protective conduit, you can usually push in/out the crucial 2cm there. There are flush-mounted boxes whose lower part can be inserted into the box, the cables can be laid using LSA, and then the top part is mounted. With these, you don’t need much play in the cable. I think cable entry is possible every 45° and the boxes were from? (I don’t remember anymore, maybe Telegärtner?)

In my new house, I used modular flush-mounted boxes from Metz Connect. But it’s still a nasty job even in deep boxes, I made it a bit easier for myself with the network boxes by cutting off the entire rear part of the orange flush-mounted box inserts. It worked well. I have a Fluke DSP available and measured everything ;-) If it goes badly, the switch won’t complain, but the port might only run at 10 or 100 Mbit/s ;-)

If it goes badly, the switch won't complain, but it might only run at 10 or 100 MBit/s on that port ;-)

Exactly what I meant by "complain" :)

For the punch-down tool, I have the Krone; first I connected all patch panels for practice, then the outlets. I had duplex inserts with flexible introduction (a lifesaver!) from Rutenbeck. Back then, I went specifically to the specialist store and looked at the different inserts, and the rotatable introduction saves you from many kinks because when pushing in (into the outlet), you simply rotate the access a bit. Hard to describe, but I never want inserts without rotatable introduction again.

And you can never leave enough cable in the outlet. At one outlet, I left so little cable in the box that I had to place the lower part into the box first, then very carefully strip it, and then (of course without cutting anything when inserting) just barely got the very tip into the terminal. Phew.

The large electronics boxes have the advantage that you can just shove 30–40 cm of cable in during installation, pull it out after plastering, and then comfortably crimp a connector on. As soon as it’s seated, the SBC is plugged in and everything goes back into the electronics box. That’s why I installed them at all potential intercom or info panel locations, for example next to doors, next to intercoms/door openers, etc.

Sometimes I just threw the cables into the wall, set a flush-mounted box flush with the brick (yes, way too deep), cut off the tabs from the plaster cover, and wrote down exactly where the part is located. Then just plastered over it. If I ever need an outlet there, I’ll knock off the plaster, set a spacer ring, and mount insert & cover.