CHAPTER 3 PATCH AND TEST FACILITY OPERATIONS

TM11-5895-932-14&P

CHAPTER 3

PATCH AND TEST FACILITY OPERATIONS

Section 1. OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AND METHODS

3-1. General

a. Plant-in-Place Records. Plant-in-place records

are those engineering drawings, cable run lists,

The purpose of this chapter is to identify and

planning documents, etc., which show the site

establish

maintenance

responsibilities and

electronic equipment installation. These records also

procedures which will contribute to successful PTF

show planning for future changes and are essential

operation. While there are many aspects to

to site operation.

successful PTF operation, there are none more

(1) Plant-in-place records (sometimes called

important than those described in this chapter.

When PTF personnel become familiar with

"as-builts") are prepared by the engineering/in-

stallation agency. The plant-in-place records are

procedures in this chapter and with the circuits

of the PTF and its equipment, they will be con-

first developed as part of the engineering plan done

prior to the construction update of a com-

t r i b u t i n g t o t h e successful PTF operation.

munication station. After the work on the com-

Information contained herein will aid operating

munication station is completed, the plant-in-place

personnel and bring out the importance of

maintaining accurate maintenance data. It also

records must be updated to document the in-

stallation and become the basis of any new ad-

points out many items which could be overlooked

by maintenance personnel. This information should

ditions or future station planning.

(2) Plant-in-place records are also used by

especially be read and studied by new personnel to

operation and maintenance (0 and M) personnel as

familiarize themselves with proper station

maintenance data. This is because plant-in-place

operating procedures.

records show all circuit and wiring connections

3-2. Duties of PTF Personnel

made in the telecommunications station. Corrected

The basic duties of PTF personnel is to maintain

copies of the original drawings must be retained at

communication. Maintaining communications can

the telecommunication site and used as a guide in

be further broken down to restoration of failure

troubleshooting and fault location.

and maintaining circuit quality. Both of these

(3) Prior to site construction, errors can

functions require a knowledge of the circuit status

appear in the plant-in-place records as they are

at all times. The basic requirements can be further

being produced. These errors should become ob-

divided into individual duties below:

vious during the installation process as equipment

a. Perform quality control checks and tests on

is installed and connected. Usually the mistakes

circuits and equipment in the PTF.

can be corrected during the electrical testing of the

b. Provide assistance to the ASCs and remote

site. Corrections to the plant-in-place records are

terminals in the checking of circuits.

made on prints (by installation personnel) and sent

c. Substitute e q u i p m e n t o r c h a n n e l s f o r

to the engineer/installation agency for correction of

maintenance purposes or to isolate circuit and

the originals. Corrected prints are returned to the

equipment faults.

telecommunication site for use in troubleshooting,

d. Answering fault alarms and restore com-

circuit and wiring tracing, etc. While the

munications.

corrections are made by the installation personnel,

e. Perform the required administration and

site O and M personnel have the responsibility to

recordkeeping.

insure that all corrections are indeed completely

f. Troubleshooting and repair of station

accurate and portray the equipment as installed.

equipment.

(4) The importance of accurate and complete

g. Maintenance of records (para 3 -3).

plant-in-place records cannot be overemphasized.

3-3. Maintenance of Records

They are needed by the communication engineering

agency to document the site equipment and cir-

Maintenance of records, as defined here, is to

cuits and to provide information for updating,

insure that all the PTF technical data (technical

modernizing or expanding the site at some future

manuals, plant-in-place records, circuit drawings,

date. Plant-in-place records are also used daily by

circuit and switch markings) is up to date and

the site personnel for circuit tracing and

complete. PTF records are divided into the

troubleshooting. If this circuit tracing or

following categories.

3-1