what type of punchdown tool?

[MonKENy]

Would I need to punch down wires to this

 

[cmetz]

66. POTS *only*.

 

[chimaxi83]

Yep, just a punchdown tool with the blade for a 66 block.

 

[MonKENy]

http://www.amazon.com/Network-Teleco...punchdown+tool

is prob the best then? Is there a cheaper alt? Like a screw driver lol

 

[chimaxi83]

That's the proper tool, but yes technically it can be done with something like a screwdriver. The hard part would be trimming the end off, I guess.

To do it with a screwdriver, I'd push the wire down in between the blades on the 66 block, as far as you can, then push the wire down the rest of the way with a flat blade. Push down on the wire itself, don't try to jam the screwdriver in between the blades.

 

[Demo24]

http://www.amazon.com/Network-Teleco...punchdown+tool

is prob the best then? Is there a cheaper alt? Like a screw driver lol

You could, but its much harder to insure that you got the contact right and that its properly grabbed the wire. I'm pretty sure there are cheaper 66 tools without the spring load, which in general should work fine for those blocks.

The 66 bit makes this job soooo much easier, I've been there and done that. Also if you push it down in the middle, in between the two metal pieces, good chance you'll bend them and it won't hold then wire or it won't strip through the covering.

 

[ScottMac]

A screwdriver will mess up the cutting edge of the connector.
As "last resort" you can place the wire, then use needle-nose pliers, one jaw per side, and push the wire into the slot. Still risking a flaky connection though.

 

[drebo]

Definitely worth it to buy one of these: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10509&cs_id=1050903&p_id=7043&seq=1&format=2

 

[Cabletek]

http://www.amazon.com/Network-Teleco...punchdown+tool

is prob the best then? Is there a cheaper alt? Like a screw driver lol

I have used everything imaginable to punch down wires, but the truth is you SHOULD use the correct tool.

Or in country boy speak: You can hammer a nail with a screwdriver by holding it backward and hitting the handle against the nail head. However, if you have a hammer in your bag, doing that, just makes you an idiot and not creative.

If you're going to buy a tool, then buy the right tool. If you find yourself stuck without the right tool with a dead line to meet, then try the creative solutions.

 

[kornphlake]

Don't buy a tool with a 110/66 bit, or else you won't be able to punch down the cross connect wires. You need a bit like this:

the end on the left will punch down the wire and trim the excess, the end on the right punches down the wire without cutting it.

 

[drebo]

Don't buy a tool with a 110/66 bit, or else you won't be able to punch down the cross connect wires. You need a bit like this:

the end on the left will punch down the wire and trim the excess, the end on the right punches down the wire without cutting it.

Meh. I've never actually seen a need to not use a cutting tool.

It mostly is a laziness thing, I think.

 

[ScottMac]

The non-cut is to install a vertical bridge line (one row of lugs to another row of lugs on the same side).

 

[drebo]

The non-cut is to install a vertical bridge line (one row of lugs to another row of lugs on the same side).

I know. I've just never had a need to actually do that.

 

[skyking]

I do it all the time in telecom. Heat up several ports in a building for the fax line, for example.

 

[ScottMac]

Would I need to punch down wires to this

You're going to need some bridge clips too (the little metal thingys that connect the right- side posts to the left-side posts) ... assuming you want to do it "right."

 

[MonKENy]

You're going to need some bridge clips too (the little metal thingys that connect the right- side posts to the left-side posts) ... assuming you want to do it "right."

its just 1 line in and 1 line out can I punch down the outbound wires onto the inbound wires?

 

[skyking]

No, don't ever stack wires.
If it is a split 50 panel, which is most common, you can connect a pair. If it is not split, you can connect up to 4 wires. Wiggle the clips and you can tell if it is a split 50 or not.

 

[ScottMac]

its just 1 line in and 1 line out can I punch down the outbound wires onto the inbound wires?

Sure. The bridge clips just make it easy to disconnect one side from the other (pull the clip instead of ripping the wire and/or re-punching).

It's usually not a good idea though.

As SkyKing mentioned, stacking (wire in, wire out, and bridge line) can result / often results in flaky connections. There are only two columns per side (wire in, plus optional tie point) that are usually connected with bridge clips (clips to the two inner points) to the two columns on the other side (wire out, optional tie point).

 

[MonKENy]

ok. thanks for the advice guys!