Install of a 66 Block for phones??
Tried a search and can anyone, in plain english, explain how to install a 66 block for all my home phone lines. I am about to finish my basment and want to use one.
I have the punch tool but want to know how the four rows of wire connections work and why the middle row of wire connections need to be bridged, sometimes.
I have also seen where one/two of the rows had the whole incoming wire(s) run down one of the rows so whenever you tapped in to the block you would be getting that main phone line.
Any advice, thx.
Replies
http://www.homephonewiring.com/blocks.html is pretty good if you want to learn all the ins and outs.
The 66 Block has 4 columns with 50 rows (25 pair). The first 2 columns are connected and the last 2 columns are, and by connected I mean you'll get a continuity reading between the first two posts in a row, and the last two posts. The idea is one wire is punched in the first column and the bridge clip bridges that connection by connecting columns 2 and 3, and you punch another wire on the last column.
For residential you've probably only have 1 line coming in. Go through that website, it'll show you how to weave the 2 wires that bring in phone service to all the telephone jacks throughout the house. You put all your telephone jacks on one side and weave the incoming phones on the other side.
Edited 8/25/2008 11:54 pm ET by JoshRountree
There are actually a couple configurations but the 3 and 3 is probably the most common.
You use this to isolate separate legs for troubleshooting.
I brought in the hot pair from the Dmark and punched it down on the left side. Use the "no cut" side of the punch tool and loop the wire through several pairs of terminations Red, green, red, green. Cut the last pair. If you have 2 lines, start again with the yellow black pair.
(this will be blue/blue-white, orange/orange-white with twisted pair)
Then you home run to the right side from each station.
This way when you are trying to troubleshoot you can pull the bridging clips to isolate each home run. I also put one jack right next to the 66 block for testing if you don't have a butt set.