want telephone master socket rewired

weegie_2

Hiya

We currently have a telephone wire running half way through the house, around doors etc and it's getting in the way of much needed decoration :-) It needs to be moved.

Husband says we need to get a engineer to rewire the master socket, which currently sits in the attic. Haven't a clue where to start looking or who to ask. Don't think he is allowed to do this himself and we have to get BT in to do it. Do I? And how much should I budget for something like this ...?

Any help....much much appreciated.

Steve_xx

All of the wiring upto and including the first socket is BT's and you are not allowed to do anything to it. BT will have to do it and they will charge you heftily for the pleasure.

However, if it was me I'd do it myself, but strictly speaking it is not allowed.

Here's a link to the charges from BT:

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Exch_Lines_boo/1294_d0e5.htm#1294-d0e5

cattie

You don't need bt as they will be very costly. Any telecommunications engineer should be able to do the job for you.

Do you know anybody who works in the industry? Only if they can't do it themselves, they may know somebody who can do the job.

I'm lucky as I know an ex bt engineer, now working for Virgin who sorted out the mess of wiring I faced after moving in here.

Perhaps there's even somebody here who can give your husband some guidance? MSE'rs are a helpful bunch.

weegie_2

Thanks guys - really appreciate you getting back to me!

Spoke to the other half again - I got slightly confused with my sockets:rolleyes:. The master socket sits in the hall downstairs at the front door. The wire from this then trails all the way up stairs around doorways etc, where it then goes into the junction box in the attic.

Hubbie wants an engineer to take a wire from the junction box in the attic, down the side of the house and back into the master socket which would mean it's not going 5 miles around the house.

So am I right in now thinking that because this wire runs through to the house I don't need to get BT to do it but any tel engineer would do it (hubby would attempt to do it - he's very handy but is really not sure with this one!). I'm loathe to get BT to do it as I have heard they are v.pricey!

weegie_2

Hmmm. after brief conversation with hubbie again I think the cable running from the master socket all the way through the house to the junction in the attic is the property of BT....

Steve_xx

Yes it's ok to get hubby to do it. It is not complicated and if he looks at the wire colours and then reroutes the cable and matches when he reconnects, all should be ok.

Have you considered cordless phones - thereby dispensing with the remote sockets altogether?

Here's a wiring diagram:

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

zax47

The master socket is the main socket (sometimes called the linebox) at the entry to the property and is connected to the "drop wire" from outside - the master has the surge arrestor, test resistor and ringing current capacitor inside and MUST be the first thing connected on the dropwire. The newer NTE5 linebox is easy to spot as as it should have a removable lower portion on the front, to facilitate the wiring of extensions by the householder. Anything else connected to it by way of extensions could have been installed by BT, but are the householders responsibility.

I think you are wanting to change the routing of an extension, which originates at the master. If you want to take it outside, that's fine, but DON'T just stick an extension/cable designed for indoor use, outside - it won't last long at all (it goes brittle in sunlight, cracks and lets water in). You must use the proper external grade cable like this one, which has petroleum jelly inside to prevent water ingress;

External Telephone cable

Be sure it is clipped every 6 to 8 inches at worst (so any slack doesn't rub in the wind and wear through the sheath) and, if drilling through an external wall, drill slightly down-wards from inside to out - this stops water running in down the cable. I normally use a proper wall grommet or seal with silicon anyway.

Always follow the convention and use the correct coloured wires to connect the extension, that way anyone who comes along afterward will know which wire is which!

Lots of useful info here;

UK Telephone extension wiring info

weegie_2

excellent. hubbie has now had a proper look at everything and is confident now he can do it by himself. He's had a read thro the advice given - great help :-)

see, new you mser's would know what to do.