GHL PAB patch panel

BeanAnimal

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I have grown tired of ripping apart the my entire GHL setup to update firmware.

Excluding the 3X Mitras, I have:

(1) Profilux 4
(3) 4 Head Doser
(2) 1 Head Doser
(5) Powerbar 6E
(1) KH Director
(1) Versia Controller

GHL EXT devices can only be firmware updated through the P4 via a PAB connection.
Devices are daisy chained, one to the next.

Updating firmware on any PAB device means literally yanking PAB cables out and running a cable from the device being upgraded to the P4. No other devices can be connected. It is a colossal pain in the butt.

@Lasse uses passthrough RJ45 connectors situated for easy access so that he does not have to reach behind each device. That is basically what I chose to do, but with patch panels instead of connectors hanging on cords.

The setup is simple. Each PAB device has port 1 wired to a panel labeled "IN" and the other port to a panel labeled "OUT"
6" patch cables path the ins and outs together in a daisy chain.
There are two pairs of these patch panels, one on the left of the room near the P4, powerbars, versia controller and dosing pump, and the other pair on the far side of the room where there is another powerbar, and KH director, and three dosers.

This setup allows me to disconnect either the right or left and cross connect to the P4 to a single isolated PAB device for firmware upgrade. The one line diagram is something like this:

1771818862131.png



Blue wires are the 6" shielded RJ45 jumpers (Cat 6E). The rest are Rj45 terminated shielded twisted par (Cat 6E)

The photo below shows one pair if "In and out" panels. No labels yet, but you get the idea.


IMG_7654.jpeg



Nothing special or innovative. Just a solution to an annoying problem. Maybe it will help one of you facing a similar issue.

BTW, those are passthrough jacks on those panels. I had absolutely no patience to terminate custom lengths of shielded twisted pair. I purchased 0.5'. 3', 5', 14' lengths. All routed through the wire duct to the various devices.
IMG_7655.jpeg
 
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Rocks reef

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Wow! Very impressive! Way to think outside the box!
 

HuneyBear

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I just have a 25’ cat5 cable I made that I store in a drawer. Just go from p4 and to each device individually. Then it goes back into its home lol.
 
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BeanAnimal

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That is fine if you have easy access or a small number of devices, I don’t.

I can’t get to the backs of the devices easily, the process is a nightmare.
 

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