How to Install a Phone Jack on an Existing Phone Line
Installing a phone jack is a fairly simple procedure. It’s even easier when the phone line is already in position. Residential phones need only two conductors out of the phone cable to carry a signal. Attach these properly to your new phone jack and you’ll quickly be in business.
Instructions
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1
Remove three to four inches of the phone cable’s outer protective jacket using a wire stripper. Separate the inner conductors.
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2
Remove a half-inch of insulation from the end of the red and green conductors.
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3
Loosen the red and green terminal posts on the back of the new phone jack. Wrap the exposed ends of the red and green conducting wires, clockwise, around the matching terminal posts on the jack.
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4
Tighten the jack’s terminal posts with a screwdriver. Pull gently on the individual conducting wires after tightening. If either one comes loose, redo the connection. Solid contact is important for a good phone signal.
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5
Mount the jack to the wall using the screws provided with your new jack and plug your phone in.
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Tips & Warnings
The black and yellow conductors in your phone cable are used for the second line on a two-line residential system. You can connect these to their respective terminal posts if you plan to add another line in your house. Leaving these disconnected will have no affect on a single-line residential service.
Phone service in many newer houses is wired with eight-conductor data cable. In this case, you will need to inspect the wiring at the network interface to see which conductors to use. Your phone’s network interface will be located on an outside wall of your home near your utility meter. This is the point where your home’s telephone wiring connects with the phone company’s service. The wires connected to the red and green terminals inside the box are the ones you will need to use when connecting your new phone jack.
References
- Photo Credit telephone image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
