Home Telephone Installation from Schmeg.com

  

A plain wire junction can be used to connect wiring to modular jacks. It accommodates three wires to phones; a fourth wire connects to a wire junction or modular outlet. Junctions, as defined for telephone companies, are central connecting points for phone wiring-in short "takeoff" points.

If your home is equipped with four-hole outlets into which a plug with four prongs is inserted (similar to a European electrical plug), the system can be quickly converted to a modular system with a permanent plug-in converter, that is, from four prong to modular. The converter prongs snap into position and cannot be removed, making this a permanent conversion. However, you can buy a similar portable four-prong converter that can be removed, which permits you to use a phone with either a modular plug or a four-prong one.

If your home has been pre-wired for a modular system, buy pre-wired jacks in appropriate models. Installation is just a matter of connecting color coded wires in the jacks to the same color wires in the system. Instructions for installation are included in every package.

Running phone wire may be confusing. You do not have to bore holes in the walls of your home and fish the wire through the framing members to the point where you want the telephones. Instead, the wire can be stapled along the baseboard of rooms, up and over door casings. Some wire has a "transparent" insulation covering and it blends in with any wall or trim color so it is nearly invisible unless you are searching for it. To go from one room to another, you can bore a small hole through the baseboard to run the wire. There is no special technique involved here. Just bore the hole through the wall in a spot that won't be noticeable.

CODES AND PRECAUTIONS-
When you install a new system you must comply with local building codes , as well as the National Electrical Code (Article 800, Communications Circuits).
Follow these safety recommendations:

1) Don't put phone wires in pipe or conduit with other wiring-such as electrical power wires.
2) Never place phone wires near bare power wires or lightening rods, TV antennas, transformers, steam and hot water pipes, or heating/air conditioning pipes and duct work.
3) Do not splice phone wires.
4) Keep wire runs as short as you can. Do not connect more than five phones to one service line.
5) Don't put wire in damp locations. Never, under any circumstances, use a phone while in a bathtub or swimming pool, even though you may see this done in the movies and on television.
6) If you must drill holes in walls and house framing to run wires, make sure the drill doesn't bump into electrical wiring or water pipes.
7) Don't use phone wire to support other wires or objects, such as laundry. Although strong, phone wire won't take a lot of stress.
8) If you live in a home covered with metal siding, or if you live in a mobile home or RV, do not fasten phone wire to these metal surfaces.
9) FCC regulations require that you inform the telephone company when you connect additional equipment to the lines.
10) Never use telephone wire as electrical power wire.

<< Prev