Extending merlin legend phones using 66-block

[PhoneK]

Can someone tell me which pairs (in order) to punch down on 66-block feeder cable? I know it is 2 pair wiring, but not sure on the order from top to bottom. Using 568B wiring standard. Is it white/blue, blue/white (t&r), then white/green, green/white (power/data)? What about when using an end from an RJ45 cable - when you have green/red black/yellow?

 

[merlinman]

First off, they were designed for 4 Pair use. But MLX Phones that won't be using a DSS Field, an Multi Function Module or a PASSAGEWAY Unit can get by with only 2 pair.

That said, I always use a full 4 pair for the 1st & 5th PORTS on any given MLX MODULE. (The ones that may become ATTENDANTS and thus could use a DSS.)

Yes, I know you can use external power, but wire is cheaper.

The two "MUST HAVE" pairs are the center 2 on the RJ-45 Jack from the MLX PORT. They come out as the BLUE & GREEN Pairs with the 568-B configuration.

That should get you going.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[PhoneK]

thanks for confirming that the blue green pairs are must haves, however, can you tell me in what order they are punched down on the 66-block from top to bottom? Is it white/blue, blue, white green, green?

 

[merlinman]

I think I may need a clearer picture of what you are trying to do here.

Are you asking how to terminate the HOUSE WIRE that goes to the PHONE JACKS?

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[Dexman]

I think that's the question.

When you punch down 4 pair cabling to a 66 block, the most common order is as follows:

Base/Stripe

White/Blue
Blue/White
White/Orange
Orange/White
White/Green
Green/White
White/Brown
Brown/White


If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[dagwoodsystems]

I think us helpers are guessing a bit as to your specific needs, but I'll throw in some tidbits here that might help.

For 568B wiring, the color/pin association on an 8-position 8-conductor head is:

1 - White/Orange
2 - Orange
3 - White/Green
4 - Blue
5 - White/Blue
6 - Green
7 - White/Brown
8 - Brown

Pin #1 is the leftmost one, provided that head is oriented with the "clip" down and is pointed toward the wall (as if you're about to plug it in). An MLX set only needs to use the two inside pairs...the blues and greens.

So to "translate"--if you will--to the other color scheme you're asking about, simply substitute:

White/Blue with Green
Blue/White with Red
White/Green with Black
Green/White with Yellow

Though this seems simple enough, there can be another layer of complexity. For example, some USOC jacks use the EIA colors (such as Leviton), rather than GRBY. In those cases, the two inside pairs are blues and oranges...not the blues and greens. And yes, you can use a 4-position 4-conductor voice jack (with two pair silver satin patch cord) and support an MLX set just fine.

Before my post gets any longer, I think I'll wait for your response. If you cough up enough detail, I guarantee that one of us will be able to exactly answer your question.


Tim Alberstein

http://www.dagwoodsystems.com

 

[PhoneK]

Thank you for your replies. Here is the situation: We have existing Merlin phones working using 2pair wiring that are cross-connected on feeder cables using 66-blocks on both ends spanning about 600 feet between closets. An electrician wired 2 new station jacks (using 568B) and terminated those cables on a 66-block. After cross-connecting 2 former working ports to the new cabling, electrician could not get phones to work. He asked me for the wiring configuration to make sure he had it right. Since the phone system is in one location and the 2 new jacks are in another - there are about 4 different cross-connect points between eachother. We thought it might be a distance issue with the 2 new jacks so after determining the ports on the phone system were giving out dialtone, he then wired an RJ-45 cat.5 cable directly to the first 66-block connection point and still could not get dialtone on the phone (the cable he used had the color configuration of green/red black/yellow). I have to now fly out to this location to find out what is going on and wanted to make sure I had the correct order of punch-down pairs on the feeder cables so that I can determine at what point I am not able to get dialtone on the phones.
I hope this is more clear on what I am asking. We know the ports work and we know the phones work so it has to be something with the cross-connect wiring and terminations in between.

 

[merlinman]

Where is the location, may I ask?

With that many cross connects, you don't need a SPARKY trying to do this, you need a phone person. (Notice, I didn't say phone man)

All you need is the 2 pair, as stated above, and the blue pair (Red Green) should be on the center two pins and the green pair (out of the MLX Module) should be on the pins left and right of the center two.


Good luck! Keep us posted.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman