atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems A couple more basic questions

Just a guess, but I don't think it has anything to do with the KSU or cards; the only question is do your CO lines support rotary and DTMF? If so, mix and match away, you'll have no issues.

Matt1964: Great, thanks. How about in regard to intercom?

The line cards don't care. You need CO Lines that will support either. The 551B only supports a manual intercom internally (no dialing). If you add an external intercom then you can add a "C" style unit, it'll handle tone & rotary.

Sam

Sam: re external intercom "C" style unit, you mean something like a Melco KC-10X? See link:

https://www.reddialtone.com/images/melco_kc_10x.jpg

That's it. Besides Melco, Teltone and a couple of other folks made them, they worked fine. I still have one working in the house and use it every day.

You could also get a 207C (9 station rotary selector Intercom), a 216 (9 station expander) and a 247 unit. Wire them together and you'd get the same result as the Melco. (The first two were wire spring relay units and the third was PCBs). I don't think I've seen one of them in 30 years.

Sam

I am now the proud owner of a Melcom KC-10X intercom unit but I cannot locate a practice or manual for it (other than what's printed on the case itself). A push in the right direction would be appreciated. For example, the intercom has an AMP connector on the side which I presume should be connected to a block. My best guess is to use a 66B type block; does that sound right? As for the power requirements:
I recently purchased an old 551A KSU and will be hooking everything up over the next month or so for a home system:


Will the KSU supply the needed power for the external intercom unit? I'm new at this; please spoon feed slowly.

Thanks, all.

Mark

Mark -

So far you're on the money. There must have been practices for the units, but I don't have one, maybe someone else does, but they're really not that important. Plug in a cable, cut it down on a block, connect the appropriate power leads and then connect each station to Tip, RIng, Lamp, Lamp Ground and the appropriate signal leads.

A 66B block is perfect. That'll give you 5 connections for Tip, Ring & Lamp. If space is at a premium, you could also use a 66M block and then loop the T,R, L, & LG connections and multiple them on the other side of the block (that would actually give you 12 connections).

Yes, the KSU power supply has enough "oomph" to power the Intercom, and yes, A Battery is the Filtered and B Battery is unfiltered.

You could have the intercom signal with any voltage you like - 10V AC (blue wire buzzers), 18V AC (white wire buzzers), 110V AC (the ringers in the phone) or even 24VDC (Flat DC buzzers).

You're doing fine so far. Hang in there and ask away.

Sam

To add: The AB/AG and BB/BG connections are available on the lower right-hand corner of the block in the KSU specifically for this purpose. You can also use the LB/LG output for your +/- 10VAC audible (buzzer) supply. Just be careful to maintain proper polarity or you'll be blowing fuses.

I never thought I'd see the day that the 551a would be so popular again!

I thought this thread belonged in the computer forum for a minute! "basic questions"