atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring rewiring in old homes

Guys-looking for some opinions here.
I've done quite a few cleanup jobs in older homes here. Normally when they have a NID installed, the telco keeps the old drop wire in place and feeds the protector inside. The protector is of course always a mess of wires twisted with tape, wirenuts, or just bare. I normally take the old protector out and install a small 66 block. I splice the drop wire to a piece of jumper wire so I punch it down. Do you guys do the same or would you run a new piece of Cat 3 out to the NID?
Is there any benefit to leaving the old protector in? They look pretty cool in my display of old phone stuff
Just been thinking about it-
Jeff

Jeff whenever possible I run a new piece of cat 3 to the nid

Agreed. It's always a better job to run a new piece of cable. The only reason they did it the way they did was because they weren't touching the inside. Now you are cleaning it up so clean it all up.

As to any benefit to leaving the old protector- none, and if the carbons are still in place it can cause problems.

-Hal

Agreed and agreed.

Run new + the protector is a service call waiting to happen.

Also, a good bit of the older cable in homes will have cracks in the sheath, maybe down to the copper... and over time, the more it's moved around (ie- you splicing and re-terminating) the more likely it is to break.

For every splice, connection and device you have gives one more opportunity for something to fail.

K.I.S.S.

sounds like my moms house, 2 protectors, there is one in the ceiling of the basement that i know is there, my dad sheetroced over it when i was 4, when bell came to add a couple of jacks the tapped the cable and added a second protector.

Another agree here, and I would add this: If the new piece of CAT3 is going to be subjected to any kind of heavy weather, this is a great place to use a piece of real "quad-4" station wire instead. Genuine Western Electric quad wire had no air space under the outer jacket - the individual insulated conductors were molded inside a solid plastic extrusion.

I don't know if any of the cable makers today still make such a thing, but that stuff was great as far as longevity and moisture protection. It doesn't meet CAT3 specs, but for five feet of cable at the end of two miles of CAT zero OSP cable, it makes no difference.


Jim
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I'll give up my 2500 set when they pry it from cold dead ear.

Well, being the outcast most of the time, I respectfully disagree, yet to some degree agree.

I disagree with Tony as far as changing out the drop wire unless it is VERY old and already showing signs of deterioration. That stuff was and still is tough. OR if there's a possibility of adding lines in the near future.

I agree with Jim that if I had to change it out, I would prefer quad as well as it's usually a higher gauge & less likely to break.

That being said, I don't even know if you CAN punch down an aerial drop wire to an antique 66 block.

i agree with you dave, this should be seen as the perfect occaision to upgrade to bix

That being said, I don't even know if you CAN punch down an aerial drop wire to an antique 66 block.

Can't on a new one either.

If the drop wire is the old 18ga copperweld about all you can do is splice a tail onto it then punch that down.

-Hal