BICSI Installer 2 Copper flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Conduit fill limit

For three or more telecommunications cables, fill must not exceed 40 percent of the conduit's internal cross-sectional area; one cable is limited to 53 percent and two to 31 percent.

J-hook spacing

Support horizontal cables with J-hooks spaced about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) apart, attached to building structure rather than to ceiling grid or support wires.

Power separation minimum

NEC 800.133 requires at least 2 inches (50 millimeters) of separation between telecommunications cable and electric light, power, or Class 1 circuits, unless a listed barrier separates them.

Firestop penetration requirement

Every cable penetration through a fire-rated wall or floor must be sealed with a listed firestop system tested for that construction, cable type, and penetration size.

Maximum copper pull tension

Four-pair copper cable should not be pulled with more than 25 pounds-force (110 newtons) of tension, because excess tension stretches conductors and increases attenuation.

Horizontal link length

The horizontal permanent link may not exceed 90 meters (295 feet); the full channel, including patch cords at both ends, is limited to 100 meters (328 feet).

Work area slack

Leave at least 12 inches (300 millimeters) of cable slack at each work area outlet and a service loop in the telecommunications room for retermination and cable management.

Cable bend radius rule

For four-pair unshielded twisted-pair cable, do not bend tighter than four times the cable outside diameter after installation; always follow the manufacturer's published minimum bend radius.

T568B pin assignment

T568B places orange pair on pins 1 and 2, green pair on pins 3 and 6, blue pair on pins 4 and 5, and brown pair on pins 7 and 8.

T568A versus T568B

T568A and T568B use the same pin positions but swap the orange and green pairs, so using one scheme on one end and the other creates a crossover cable.

Untwist limit at termination

For Category 5e and Category 6 terminations, keep the conductor twists intact to within about 0.5 inch (13 millimeters) of the connection point to control crosstalk.

110 punch-down tool use

A 110-style punch-down tool seats and trims conductors on data jacks and 110 blocks; the blade's cut side must face the outside end of the terminal.

Wire map test

A wire map test verifies pin-to-pin continuity and identifies opens, shorts, reversed pairs, crossed pairs, and split pairs in a copper link.

Permanent link versus channel

A permanent link test covers the installed horizontal cable and its termination hardware but excludes patch cords; a channel test includes the patch cords and end equipment cords.

TIA-606 labeling rule

TIA-606 requires each cable, termination point, and pathway to carry a unique identifier, with labels placed at both ends and recorded in administration documentation.

Certifier calibration

A copper certification tester must be calibrated or verified according to the manufacturer's schedule, commonly annually, and test results must record the tester used and date.

Split pair symptom

A split pair occurs when one wire of a pair is terminated on the wrong pin; simple continuity may pass, but crosstalk and NEXT test results fail.

High NEXT causes

High near-end crosstalk usually results from over-untwisted conductors at termination, a kinked cable, or a connector that is not fully seated.

TDR fault location

A time-domain reflectometer sends a pulse down the cable and measures the reflection to report total length and the distance to an open or short.

Horizontal cross-connect

The horizontal cross-connect is the patch panel or block in the telecommunications room where horizontal cabling terminates and connects to active equipment or backbone cabling.

PoE 802.3bt power

IEEE 802.3bt Power over Ethernet provides up to 60 watts at the source for Type 3 and up to 90 watts for Type 4, using all four pairs.

Consolidation point

A consolidation point is a permanent interconnection point within horizontal cabling, typically in an open office ceiling, that allows reconfiguration without pulling new cable from the telecommunications room.

Tone generator use

A tone generator injects an audible signal on a cable and an inductive probe detects it at the far end, allowing installers to identify unlabeled cables without damaging insulation.

J-hook support tool

J-hooks are cable support hardware attached to structure at 4 to 5 foot intervals; they carry cable weight and maintain bend radius better than ceiling grid wire.

Cable lubricant caution

Use only cable lubricant approved for the specific jacket compound, because some lubricants can soften or degrade PVC and other cable jacket materials.

Ladder 4-to-1 rule

For every 4 feet (1.2 meters) of working height, place the ladder base 1 foot (0.3 meter) away from the wall, and maintain three points of contact while climbing.

GFCI temporary power

Temporary power tools used on a job site should be connected to ground-fault circuit interrupter protection to reduce shock risk in wet or damp locations.

Voltage verification rule

Before working near conductors, verify they are de-energized with a voltage tester; treat unmarked or unidentified cables as energized until proven otherwise.

Plenum cable rating

CMP cable is listed for air-handling spaces and has low smoke and flame spread; CMR cable is rated for vertical riser shafts but not for plenum spaces.

TIA-607 bonding

TIA-607 requires telecommunications bonding to the building grounding electrode system through a telecommunications main grounding busbar and telecommunications grounding busbars.

Horizontal cable splicing

Horizontal cabling must be installed as continuous runs without splices; any needed connection must use a permanent cross-connect or consolidation point, not a splice.

Cable flame ratings

Cable jacket flame ratings include CM (general), CMR (riser), CMP (plenum), and limited-use CMX; the rating must match the installed environment and local code.