Tools of the TradePresentation #5

©PRGodin prgodin @ gmail.com

Updated Dec 2013

Tools of the Trade

•Cable installation and maintenance requires basic tools.

•Many tasks of a telecommunications specialist require specialized tools.

•This presentation addresses some of the most important tools.

Basic Tools

•Cable installation and termination requires basic tools available in most hardware stores. Areas where these tools may be used include:

▫Wall and drywall work (outlets and cable)

▫Cable work (pulling, preparation and terminating)

▫Other (building entrance, grounding, outdoor, etc...)

Basic Tools

•Basic tools can be found in a typical hardware store.

•Buy good quality but you don’t have to buy top-of-the-line tools. If a tools starts to wear, replace it.

•Keep your tools safe and loan them out infrequently. A missing tool is a very frustrating experience.

• Hammer (claw)• Ladders (extension, step)• Tape measure, square, steel ruler• Screwdrivers (all types), Hex (Allen) keys• Pliers (channel lock, combination, needlenose, linesman, vice grip)• Cutters large & small (side, cable)• Wrench (adjustable)• Socket set, combination wrench set• Level• Knife, electrician scissors• Saws (hack, drywall)• Wire strippers, terminal crimpers• Multimeter, voltage detector• Flashlight, Stud Finder• Drill, drill bits, screw bits, spare batteries• Stapler, reamer, other tools• Tools box, carry pouch, tool bucket• specialized tools in special circumstances, such as outdoor work (shovel,

pick axe, etc…)

Cable Pulling Tools• Equipment to pull cable

▫Pull String, fish tape, fish sticks, tape, lubrication, grip, etc

• Tools to find cable▫Toner/test set, voltage sensor, flashlight, inspection

camera

• Safety▫Gloves, hard hat, eye protection, protective boots, site-

specific PPE

More on these specialized tools in a later presentation

Cable Preparation & Termination• Stripping and Wire Preparation Tools

• Cable, wire and fiber stripping tools remove the jacket, insulator or buffer from a cable, wire or fiber.

• May be specific to the diameter of the cable, wire or fiber.

• Crimping and Termination Tools• Specialized tools are required to secure the connectors

onto the ends of a cable or fiber.• In many cases the crimp tools are specific to the

manufacturer of the connectors (especially fiber).

Cable Stripping Tools

Images: www.flickr.com/photos/stevecon CC

Coax Cable Stripping ToolClosed (left), Open (right)

Stripping Tools

UTP Jacket Stripping Tool

Wire Stripper (“T-Stripper”)

Right Image: www.flickr.com/photos/oskay cc

Left Image: Wikipedia cc

Wire Stripping Tool

Crimping Tools

Images: Wikipedia cc

Coax and modular Crimp tools

Terminal Blocks

Image: Wikipedia cc

Impact Tools• Impact tools connect wires to terminal blocks, panels

and most data jacks. Also called “punch” tools because they create an impact to push the wires into place.

• Impact tools and the blades must be matched to the terminal block. There are several types of terminal blocks available in industry, including:▫ BIX (now Belden Inc, popular in Canada)▫ 110 (Lucent, popular in the USA)▫ 66 (Siemens, popular in North America)▫ Krone (Krone, popular in Europe)

▫ More on terminal blocks throughout this course.

BIX Tool (BIX16A)

Image: www.belden.com

Universal Impact Tool

Universal Tool with Krone Blade

Image: Wikipedia cc

Krone Blade BIX Blade

Punch Tool Body

66 Blade 110 Blade

Impact Tools

Other Terminating Tools

•Fiber optic▫Fusion Splicers▫Termination Kits (all are vendor-specific)

•Copper▫Plug termination▫Termination Kits (some are vendor-specific)

Testing

•Cable testing is part of the installation process▫Telephone line testers test lines, jacks, and

circuits▫Tone generator and inductive amplifier

help locate wires emit a sound you can hear through the speaker of

the inductive amplifier when the probe tip passes over conductors connected to the tone generator.

▫Certification testers Testers designed to specifically test for adherence to

the standards. Typically provide a “PASS” or “FAIL” result.

Other Tools

•There are many tools used by cable installers.

•Most tools and equipment are common and relatively inexpensive.

•The most expensive tools typically include: ▫test equipment▫specialized termination tools (especially fiber)▫the laptop computer to manage records▫the van to carry it all

END

•There will be more detailed information, later in this course, on:▫Cable and connector installation▫Use of tools▫Use of testers and interpretation of test results

prgodin @ gmail.com