sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems Are Norstar copper and fiber modules interchangeable.

Can the following copper expansion cartridge and copper station module be installed instead of using the fiber equivalents in a Norstar MICS OX32. Does the system need to be powered down when these are installed?


NT5B27GA-93 6-Port Copper Expansion Cartridge
NTBB06GA-93 Modular ICS Fiber 6-Port Expansion Cartridge


NT5B50FA-93 Copper Station Module
NTBB41FB-93 Fiber Station Module

To answer your first question, No. Fiber and copper station and trunk modules use completely different cables and connectors to hook up. To answer you second question, Yes, it's advisable. I've heard some people say that these cards are hot swappable but I wouldn't risk it.

Absolutely power down when instaling circuit cards of any kind.

TRONIC1 SAYS:"I've heard some people say that these cards are hot swappable but I wouldn't risk it. "

I think this is what he's thinking of:

The advantage to fiber is that the cables are fiber optic, and therefore, ***AFTER the expansion card is installed*** you can unplug the fiber cable from the 12x0, 0x16, or whatever it is plugged into for servicing without having to shut down the system because you are simply interupting a flow of light as opposed to breaking a hot electrical circuit, then plugging it back into a live system.

DON'T DO THAT

I have the cables and the connector on the copper expansion module is the same as the connector on the fiber expansion module. My concern is if the copper expansion module is compatible with the MICS OX32?

Here is what I have found in the Norstar Handbook 5.0: "MICS Copper Expansion Cartridges are twice the width of Fiber Expansion Cartridges. They fit in slot 1 (a half-width slot) but also cover slot 2 of the ICS". "The use of Copper Expansion Cartridges and Copper Trunk and Station Modules precludes the use of T1, ISDN-BRI and Companion, and limits the growth of the Modular ICS to 6 expansion modules". So in answer to you question, yes you can use them but be aware of your limitations.