sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information 66 Punch Down block wires

There is a difference in the quality of blocks. What are you using? The only time I've had problems is reusing blocks and the blades weren't cleaned correctly.

I'm using a Leviton block, which I would think is an acceptable quality block. I'll try again and see what happens. I didn't have any bridging clips handy, so I made (used 1 long piece of wire, punched but didn't cut one one clip, then punched w/ cut on the next) jumper wires. Maybe they weren't punched too wel.

This doesn't seem like it should be rocket science. It Isn't, I;ve just gotta be doing something wrong.

codasco704, are you using 24AWG wire?

Yes, for everything but MOH.

Set your punch tool to "low" for 24 gauge wire. Use "high" for 22 ga.

If you look up the post "66 block blues", there is a discussion of some bad blocks from North Supply.

I can understand that if I'm using the low setting for 22 gauge, that it won't make contact. But if I uss the high setting for 24 gauge, I would think that it would work. I'd be using more "power" for a smaller wire, rahter than using too little "power" for a larger one.

Maybe it is a bad block. I'll just deal with it for know. I have harmonica adaptors on the way to use instead.

Make sure your 66 blade is cutting on the side where you pull off the excess wire, not on the side that's staying connected to the cable. Notice that your 66 blade probably has a flat side and a side with a blade.

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I am. The ends that should be terminated and making contact are very securely held by the pins.

When I lay a wire down to be punched, should I be just setting it down far enough so that it stays in place when I punch it, or should I be trying to pull it down as close to the back of the block as possible and then punching it?

Also, once punched, should the wire be ALL the way down to the back of the block, or is it OK for it to be slightly away from the back of the block?

Anybody have an illustration or a website that shows the right way to punch?

Wrap the wire around the small "hook" and hammer it home the whole way to the end.
Use a pair of pliers to squeeze the pins back together. It sounds like you probably spread them out too far with that butter knife. Just a thought?

It was actually the bix block that i used a butter knife on.....but good suggestion anyway. I'll try it.