Connesting Phone Extension

[saskos78]

Hi

Bit of a novice so please excuse a possibly stupid post. I have an NTE5 Linebox in my lounge which I want to add an extension to run into another room. I have bought an extension kit and fitted the cable but when it comes to wiring up I don't seem to be able to get it right.

When I take off the front plate of the NTE5 box I have 4 connector points only 3 of which are connected - orange, blue and White and blue. The extension cable has 4 wires in it - red, blue, green and white. I have the correct tool for pushing the wires in but I cannot get the right combination.

Can anyone help please??

Cheers
Sam

 

[Lectrician]

Leave the cables that are already connected alone.

Connect your new cables in any colour you want (the cable you have is cheapo cable not really recommended for phone extensions).

Just make sure you connect terminal 1 on the NTE to terminal 1 on your extension socket, 2-2 3-3 and 4-4. If it doesn't work, you havn't punched the cables in correctly.

Before anyone says it, terminal 4 is not really required, but it is best to put all the cores home into a terminal.

 

[saskos78]

I figured that the cable was a cheap one - lesson one learnt!!

Thanks very much. Just one more question, how do I know which colour wire is in terminal one on my extension cable cos it is goes straight into the end connector?

Also I assume that terminal one on the NTE socket is the top one?

Thanks again for your help

 

[Europlex]

This should help

http://www.wppltd.demon.co.uk/WPP/Wiring/UK_telephone/uk_telephone.html

 

[saskos78]

Thanks for the link but I must be missing something as it does not show how I know which cable is line 1 on the extension and which is line 1 on the NTE???

Sorry for being stupid on this!

 

[TonyW2]

This will sort you out, albeit not the most professional way!

Your telephone NTE5 actually has 5 (theoretical) connections, but only 2345 appear for use on your part of the plate.
(No 4 is unused, but is useful for tucking in a spare wire)
(No 3 was used for old style phones as a "bell wire" from the NTE5 to the phone but is no longer needed and can decrease broad band speeds if left in place)

Thus only No2 and No5 actually serve the extension socket and (most new) phones do not care which way round these wires are connected.

So even trial and error will not take long if you stick to two connections at a time. (depending on your extension socket "brand" the numbering in it cannot be assumed to relate to that in the master --really helpful standards! )
2 and 5 are probably identifiable as blue and white pair and 3 as orange on your NTE5 so you have a limited amount of possibilities!

PS That cable is not the best and will not help with any future broadband connection. Why not do the job properly and use twisted pair and even a adapted NTE5 ?
http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/adsl_faceplate.htm and also very useful wiring info on this site

 

[TicklyT]

IF I remember correctly (it was a long time ago) White = 2, Green = 3, Blue = 4 and Red = 5.

 

[saskos78]

Thanks guys - really appreciate the help on this one - will be trying out the various options as soon as I get home tonight!!

Cheers
Sam

 

[Lectrician]

Are you saying your cable is already connected to a socket or plug? Surely there must then be a diagram with the install kit? With non-standard cable like that you cannot guess.

 

[AlanE]

The extension cable has 4 wires in it - red, blue, green and white.

Sounds as if the OP is refering to a preassembled extension kit.

These often have smaller than normal, and flexible cores, so might not fit into IDC connectors and make a proper contact. They are designed for standard (0.5mm ??) solid connectors.

 

[saskos78]

Yes standard extension kit with the socket on one end. No instructions - it was out of the box as I got it from a friend who did not need it.

It clearly is not proper telephone cable.

So am I best to try combinations??

 

[bernardgreen]

The cable in some of those kits is not suitable for IDC ( press in ) connections that are standard in most telephone sockets.

You can find secondary sockets with screw terminals if it really necessary to use cable other than the proper telephone cable.

The big problem using the wrong wire in a IDC connection is it will work ( maybe ) for a short time after being installed and then go open circuit.

 

[TonyW2]

If you are going to play around, then try it. You won't do any harm and if the cable is not OK with IDC, then when it fails you know exactly what to look for.
But have you seen how cheap the proper gear is? It even comes with clear colour instructions.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Telephones_and_Accessories_Index/index.html

 

[saskos78]

Well tried everything and does not work - have to say i don't get why places like Homebase and Wickes sell these kits if they are not up to the job - have followed all the right steps and when I plug the phone in and try the phone no dial tone just nothing!!

I even went and bought a 'proper' kit from homebase but that does not work either!!!!

 

[TonyW2]

That's frustrating! So start from basics.

1 With the front removed from the NTE5 and the phone directly into the socket within the box, does the phone work? If so phonme and BT are OK.

2 With the front back on the NTE5 and the phone into the front of the socket plate does it work? If so, the NTE5 front is OK.

3 What kit did you buy? Is it an extension socket with a cable and plug to go into the front of the NTE5 or is the cable bare and ready to connect inside the NTE5 to the IDC connections? Does the kit have connection instructions?

Could you confirm, from your original post, that you have 3 wires already going from the lower removeable part of the NTE5 to one extension socket?