The campus has a wireless network, with communication cables running underground to many wireless routers spread across the campus. When the network was installed, the cables were added to the insulation resistance testing program. They are regularly tested along with other cables.
Despite what appears to be a sound predictive maintenance system, these cables fail unexpectedly. As a consequence, there are occasionally holes in the wireless network and new cables must be run. The facilities manager thinks that redesigning the network to use fewer, but more powerful routers is the solution.
How can you identify the problem(s) and provide a good solution?
Reducing the number of routers won’t reduce the failure risk, but it will mean a bigger hole when a cable fails. Also, you might need all those routers due to the topography and obstructions.
Insulation resistance (IR) testing of power cables is a completely different animal from IR testing of signal cables. And it’s really not the best way to evaluate the condition of those cables. Drop the network cables from the IR program. Then purchase a network analyzer and/or time domain reflectometer to conduct your network cable maintenance testing. This alone might stop the failures.
Here are a few other things to consider:
- Are the network cables directly buried? If so, are they rated for direct burial? Are they protected from mechanical damage and routed so as not to be under traffic routes?
- Are the network cables in raceway? If so, what provisions have been made for condensation?
