Replacing telephone cable

[Alison556]

I'm wondering if somebody would be able to tell me if it would be OK to replace a section of telephone cable (cos the one that's there has been painted over several times and looks really scabby - plus it's about 3 feet long when it only needs to be about 18 inches!)

I've attached a couple of pictures to show the bit I mean. It comes into the living room from outside, goes into a little sort of lozenge shaped box, then another cable comes out and it goes to another box. There are only two wires going into and coming out of the first box.

View media item 20815

View media item 20816
(Please excuse the mess! Decorating!!)

 

[caretech]

Yes it can be shortened. In the "lozenge" box take note what colour wires are used then disconect the wires coming in from the left, shorten the cable and reconect.

 

[Paul_C]

The "lozenge" box is an older style of junction box, and when you remove the cover you'll find it just has screw terminals, like this:

http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/52a_potel.jpg

The white box is newer, and might have IDC punch-down terminals, like this:

http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/77A.jpg

Or it might be a different type of screw terminal, like this:

http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/BT77B.jpg

Either way, just be sure to note down the existing connections, then run your nice shiny new length of cable between them by matching up.

 

[Alison556]

Thank you both. The old box is so old, it's got GPO on it!! It's the same as the first one in your image Paul.

The other box is like a hybrid of the two - it's got the push in terminals but also got four screws! And an awful lot of wires!

The wires that aren't used in the old box are just all bunched up - when replacing it, can I just cut them back to the insulation sheath?

 

[caretech]

Yes you can cut them back as long as they are free at both ends (not used). With it being a short run , if the cable was damaged then just run a new bit.