FreeLists / homeclinic / [homeclinic] Re: Inside Wiring for Telephone Jacks

["Gerald H. Shelnutt" <gshelnut@xxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 18 Mar 2001, Kenneth J. Kovler wrote:

> 
> Once upon a time on Sun, 18 Mar 2001,at 2:46pm Michele wrote about:...
> 
> >
> > Hi there. I recently purchased my first home -- a 3 year old townhouse,
> > which has telephone jacks and cable outlets in every room. After I moved
> > in, I realized that only one telephone jack in the entire house works --
> > and that looks like something the prior owner probably installed
> > himself. None of the professional/permanent looking ones work.
> >
> > What can I do to test these and fix them so they work, without having to
> > pay for the local telephone company to come out and at $75/hour plus
> > time and materials figure things out for me?
> >
> > I have called the local company a few times, and they are unable to
> > confirm for me whether or not the house is wired for multiple phone
> > lines (I thought maybe there are 2 lines, the second line only has the
> > one jack, and the rest of the jacks are set for another number)... the
> > company doesn't know, has no record of multiple phone lines, and can
> > make no committments to me regarding whether or not they can make these
> > jacks work.
> >
> > Someone at work mentioned that it's possible (although in my mind
> > unlikely, since I am the 3rd owner of the house) that the inside wiring
> > was simply not connected properly at the time the house was built. Is
> > there some way for me to check this myself?
> >
> > Humble and tired of porting a phone attached to a 100' cord with me all
> > over the house,
> > Michele
> >
> > ********************************************************************
> > To unsubscribe send 'unsubscribe homeclinic'in subject line to    
> > listar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > View the Archives at http://freelists.org/archives/homeclinic
> > ********************************************************************
> >
> 
> In most homes your going to find just two wires that are used. I believe
> they are red and green, but I would use a voltmeter(get a cheap one from
> radio shack if you don't have one) and find out which two wires have
> voltage on them. You should measure about 48 volts DC. Then it is just a
> matter of connecting these two wires to a phone. There are jacks and cable
> you can buy to do this. If your going to install multiple phones just run
> another phone cable from one jack to another and connect red to red and
> green to green at both ends. BTW there is very little current on these
> wires, so if you should touch them you won't get shocked!
> 

I have a little plug in gadget which tells if the line is hot or not and
also checks polarity. I got it at Home Depot for less then five dollars.


Jerry

>  Check out popular mechanics on line for a much better explanation.
> 
> http://popularmechanics.com/popmech/homei/9709HIHIM.html
> 
> Good luck with it and let us know how you made out!
> 
>   ken
> 
> 
>     Kenneth J. Kovler         http://www.bcpl.net/~kkovler
>          o                       freelists.org/lists/homeclinic.html
>       /\o/                 O          ^Join my new list HomeClinic^
>      0  \\         |     0-#     groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/carfix_online
>         //         |      / \         ^Join My Carfix mailing list^
>   ==================================
>     Always on the Net, just like in tennis!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ********************************************************************
> To unsubscribe send 'unsubscribe homeclinic'in subject line to    
> listar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> View the Archives at http://freelists.org/archives/homeclinic
> ********************************************************************
> 

                        If guns cause crime then,
                                matches must cause arson.


********************************************************************
To unsubscribe send 'unsubscribe homeclinic'in subject line to    
listar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
View the Archives at http://freelists.org/archives/homeclinic
********************************************************************