How to consolidate my phone line runs into 2 seperate phone lines?

[s10blazed]

Hi all,

I ran a bunch of cables for phone and data recently. I ran 2 CAT5e cables per wall outlet. 1 for data and 1 for 2 different phone lines. All of the cables are homerun shots to a closet I have setup. I didn't splice the phone lines in the walls anywhere. But what I do have is about 15 wires dangling waiting to be hooked up. The data wires I took care of already with a patch panel.

But what do you guys recommend I do with the phone lines? I have a few 66 style punch blocks i salvaged from an office building but have no idea how to wire them up. I think I would be better off with a junction style box or something. There is a small 66 style block from the phone company already on the wall that I planned on tapping into and splitting off for each line.

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks.

-John

[kenl]

If your 66 block is a split block then you would have to put bridging clips in the middle lay down your tip/ring on the left side then punch down two more drops then daisy chain to the next run. If it is not split then you would not need the bridging clips. they do make a 110 type block that you can tie down all 4 pair and it is bussed down for multiple runs. They are also color coded to make it easier to install. They sell them at any home improvement store and probably at radio shack. If I was going to do this I think that would be the neatest way to wire it up and make any future troubleshooting easier. But there are probably multiple ways to do it and I am sure better ways also. Good luck.

[s10blazed]

Thanks for the tips. What is the difference between a 66 and 110 style? Maybe I have a 110 style and don't know it. I have a stash of older equipment I've scavenged from along the way. I'll run over a few of them with a multimeter and see how they are bussed.

[kenl]

it is just the type of punch down tool used. I can't really explain the difference except the 110 actually pushes the wire into the slot and the 66 forces the wire into the slot by pushing both sides of the wire. ( Not very clear I know). Either way it doesn't matter as long as you have the correct punch on tool.

[giddonah]

Old thread, I know, but just for the record:

A 110 block is rated for Cat5 installations, while a 66 isn't. That means you can use a 110 for ethernet. Personally, I'd never use a 110 block. The connections aren't that secure, and they're a pain. For phones, I always use 66 blocks.

A 66 block has 4 columns if you will. 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 are connected. If you don't put in the bridging clips (making 1&2&3&4 all connected) you can have 50 individual wires punched down and separated. I use the first column and the last column for room wires. I'll punch down all 4 pairs if I have enough room, but you most likely will only use the first two pairs (blue and orange). Punch down the white/blue in column 1, row 1, blue in column 1, row 2, white/orange in column 1, row 3, orange in column 1, row 4. Do the same for the green and brown pairs if you want. Now, you have the two middle columns (2&3) available to make the rooms live. I'll usually make the first position (top left, column 1, rows 1,2,3 and 4) the demark "room". Then, you take some cross-connect wire (basically cat5 wire without the jacket). You take a piece of white/blue wire and punch one end of it down in column 2, row 1. Then, loop it down to the next room, column 2, row 5 (where the white/blue of the next room is located) and punch it down with the cutting blade reversed so you don't actually cut the wire, then loop it down to all the white/blue locations on that block.

At this point, you have all your white/blue wires connected. You could accomplish the same thing with a wire nut, but this is the right way to do it. Then, do the same thing for the blue, white/orange, and orange. Now, you have all your rooms connected with line 1 on the white/blue-blue pair, and line 2 on the white/orange-orange pair. If you expect 4 lines, then just punch down all 4 pairs.

I've been meaning for months to actually take a picture of this and post it, but I hope words have done it. If not, let me know and I'll post a picture.