Use a D-ring as a spool holder

Joseph Orrio

Business Telecom Inc.

Problem

When running jumper wire in a telecommunications closet (TC), I have found that it saves a lot of time and bending if you have a handy place to put your roll of jumper wire.

Solution

You can make a holder for your spool of jumper wire by cutting a D-ring. Actually, a single D-ring will make two jumper-wire holders if you cut it correctly. You can then mount these holders to the wall in the TC.

Procedure

1) Using a hacksaw, cut most of the center section out of a large metal D-ring. Leave approximately a 1/2-inch lip on each end of the center section.

2) The two remaining pieces of the D-ring can each be used as jumper-wire holders. I position the holder below and to the right of the jumper-distribution board because I am right-handed. A left-handed person may want to position it to the lower left of the jumper-distribution board.

3) Fasten the holder to the wall so that the 1/2-inch lip remaining faces up.

4) You can now take the spool of jumper wire with you when you leave and have a convenient place to hang it when you return.

Please note that this holder will only support a small spool of 1-pair wire. However, that is typically what we use in 66-block applications.

Using a hacksaw, remove the center section of a large metal D-ring, leaving approximately a half-inch on each end.

By correctly fastening the modified D-ring to the wall near a row of 66 blocks, you have given yourself a holder on which to put your spool of jumper wire.

Joseph Orrio is a cabling installer with Business Telecom Inc. (Medford, OR).