Need to cut and rejoin BT copper pair...

KingL

Hi all - would appreciate any help with this..

The phone line currently goes through a window frame which is being replaced, so I've drilled a hole through the wall and was going to just undo the the screws in the little junction-box, feed the wire through the wall and connect it all back up again. But:

1) two of the pairs are joined using these little translucent joints that look like they ain't designed to be reconnected once they have been disconnected (see picture).

2) someone told me that if you cut/disconnect the line and then re-join it, you lose the dial tone until BT do something (?at the local exchange) to restore it.

Does anyone know about helpful ways around these hurdles?




It's all on their side of the NTP, so I guess is technically verboten, but MSE and all that...


more geeky details
- actually there were previously two telephone lines over these wires.
- right now I don't have BT service on these wires at all.
- At least one line still has a dial-tone on it.
- I don't really want to have to shell out for reconnection at some point if I want to sign-up for service again (I know it's free at the moment).

DVardysShadow

It is 'illegal' and a criminal offence, although in my view there is no crime to it, it is just a civil wrong.

1] you would need fresh joints. Unless there is another way of rewiring it. It looks form your picture as though there could be scope, but not enough info.

2] not true. If you have an NTE5 [modern master socket], it is designed so you can take the front off, which effectively disconnects the line. If you short terminals together on a short line you may blow a fuse in the exchange, I believe.

C_Mababejive

Just carefully disconnect and tape the two bare ends to ensure they dont short then buy a new mastersocket and reconnect.

Usual disclaimers apply.

If you wait for BT or whoever to do it,you will wait a long time and pay a fortune.

DVardysShadow

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Just carefully disconnect and tape the two bare ends to ensure they dont short then buy a new mastersocket and reconnect.

Usual disclaimers apply.

If you wait for BT or whoever to do it,you will wait a long time and pay a fortune.

I am assuming there is not enough slack to rejoin to an NTE5 or similar.

dentedporsche

If it's the translucent connectors with a circular centre, squeeze the sides of them with a pair of pliers, the centre piece will then pop up.
You can then remove the centre piece, take the wires out, feed them through and then replace them in the connector.
Just squeeze the centre piece in with pliers.

HTH. Brian

Savvy_Spender_South

If you iscolate the ends and re-join with a seperator like good tape, it may not look pretty but it will work.

Try it with a modem cable, told it could not be done but a fiddly couple of hours gave me the moral victory!

Jonee

OMG...thats a really old socket....Ithink your best bet would be to phone BT and ask them to replace it with a new one and new wiring....not sure I`d want anyone to mess around with it in case it all goes wrong and then you`d be left with a hefty bill anyway....good luck...

Buzby

DVardysShadow wrote: »

It is 'illegal' and a criminal offence, although in my view there is no crime to it, it is just a civil wrong..

It is not to be recommended, but it is most certainly NOT a 'criminal offence; of any description. It is an unautrhorised modification, nothing more. The worse sanction is that if it causes problems and BT is called out to fix it, you pay.

No fine, no foul, and most of all no criminal record.

molerat

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-Telephone-cable-connector-crimps-3-wire-gel-filled-/250614157356?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkingTools_Accessories_SM
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BT-52A-CONNECTOR-BLOCK-WHITE-700-Type-/190436438178?pt=UK_Collectables_RadioTelevision_Telephony_SM
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BT-52A-CONNECTOR-BLOCK-E-GREY-700-Type-/190434318921?pt=UK_Collectables_RadioTelevision_Telephony_SM

Looking at the picture the crimps have only been used because the junction box is damaged, one of the terminals is missing. All you need is a new junction box and sorted.

BTman

just make a note of what colours connect to each other and disconnect them (cut off crimps). then rejoin in a suitable screw terminal junction box.

There are not fuses in the exchange that will blow if you short out the wires. You will not lose your dialtone, BT will never know. (unless you mess it up and have to call them).

Good luck.