Installing hidden network and fixing wires cut by contractor!

We recently ran about 15 CAT5 runs for a newly renovated supermarket. Unfortunately the guys installing the sheetrock cut every single wire!! It was too far into the construction phase to replace these wires, since the wires going down the wall had the sheetrock laminated over them, and most of the rest of the walls had already been finished. The only solution was to splice every single wire. It took about 4 hours, and it is not recommended at all, but I was able to splice all of the wires together in the ceiling, after cutting open a huge opening in the ceiling to get better access to my wiring. 

Fixing the contractors damage to EVERY SINGLE wire we installed!

I advised my boss, as well as the customer that this is not the right way to go about this, and that I could no longer guarantee the effectiveness of any of these wires, but we were left with little choice. Luckily when all was said and done only a SINGLE PAIR of wires failed. Unfortunately the device connected to this wire that had the failed pair was a PoE device, but with a little trickery  we were able to get that device powered up and working with just 3 out of the 4 pairs in the CAT5. 

Hiding the patch panel under a shelf by the register.

The original plan called for a lockbox to be placed on the bottom shelf by the register to house the patch panel and switch, however upon our return to punch down all of the wiring the register cabinet had been changed, and lacked the depth required to mount the hardware. Fourtunately there was plenty of space under the shelf unit to place everything hidden out of plain sight. 

Installing shelf back over hidden patch panel. 

This placement of the network is probably even a better option then the original plan with the lockbox.

It provides better airflow around the entire 24 port PoE switch that has been installed (since photos have been taken) and keeps it hidden out of sight, so someone attempting to disrupt the network will have difficulty locating it.

Shelf in place, no one will ever know the network is hidden below!