Bt Master Socket Mess

[roys]

Advice please.

Sorting up a wee property for myself.  Wondered why the telephone socket was a flying lead coming out of the wall, so eventually got round to stripping off the plasterboard at the BT socket and see photo for what I found.  Basically it looks the BT cable has been terminated by someone chewing the end of the cable to take out and terminate one pair.

This telephone line is in use.

So how do I tidy this up and hopefully fit a new socket.  There is about 3 or 4 inches slack on the cable.  What can I do about it officially or unofficially :innocent

Cheers roys

 

[Marvo]

Can you try attaching the photos again, I think the attachments worked the first time.

 

[kerching]

Officially?....ring BT and get your backside tanned

UNOFFICIALLY.......post a pic and all will become apparent

 

[roys]

Struggling to attach image,  mmmmm let me try a couple of other things, getting an error message from forum.

roys

 

[roys]

Ahhha after getting help from wife image now uploaded   hopefully

Cheers roys

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

If there's  no slack on that cable there's not much you can do except crimp (using the correct telecoms gel filled crimps) or solder. If you do extend do it to all the cores.

 

[roys]

There is 3 or 4 inches slack on the cable, the Master Socket looks messy anyway, so I would like to replace it.  How would / should it be terminated as I don't imagine a 20mm SWA gland gets terminated into a BT backbox, as the BT cable appears to be SWA.

With my electrical head on I just don't like it and want to sort it.

Cheers for replies so far.

roys

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Looks like an old lead sheath to me circa 1935

I wouldn't worry how you re-terminate it into the box, just a grommet against any metal edge. Looks like mice have been nibbling the bottom of the socket.

 

[roys]

Nae its grey PVC outer think it is about 15 years old.

Cheers

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Yep, should have realised that by the colours   :Blushing

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Where does the cable run from prior to the master socket?

Is it possible to trace it back a bit further fit some other suitable junction box...

then extend a nice bit of new cable to a new master socket secured in a better position?

 

[roys]

The cable runs under the floor then about 20 yards underground into a manhole where it is terminated for my neighbour and myself.  No other terminations between manhole and Master Socket.

Thanks so far for suggestions.

roys

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Is the underfloor accessible or solid floor?

If it is accessible I would box the cable and extend it.

 

[roys]

It is a wooden floor with about 18 inches under it so yes it could be potentially terminated under there.

So that would lead my next questions, how?

Do I just just dress the armour back on the cable and stuffing gland it into a JB then solder a bit 2 cores of a bit of 5 core onto it and then terminate into the Master Socket.  Where do I get a new Master Socket from?

Sorry for coming across a bit thick here just not had much dealings with the Master Socket side of things.

Cheers roys

 

[kerching]

If its the only socket in the house then I would pull it back a few feet and determinate the box a bit further back on the cable.

pno gland needed, strip it back, ape the end up to stop the Armouring rubbing and carry on

on if there are other phones in the house reroute these. Back to the new master skt location it is actually illegal to furtle with the master socket....Just saying

 

[Blue Duck]

If you were feeling brave just chock block it ortherwise you can get a telephone jb and run a new cable.

You probably can get master from a wholesaler, or even a shiney (POS) metal one from screwfix.

If you wanted a bt one then just ask one of their guys ;

Edit: AFAIK you not allowed to touch the master socket but its a bit like the seal fairy if it need moved they are never gonna tell. Besides I find them in all manner of silly places it seems rude not to move them.

I run extensions for telecare as requested by various hospitals as a part of my job.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Sockets are readily available from numerous wholesalers.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Telephones_and_Accessories_Index/NTE5/index.html

as are boxes.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Telephones_and_Accessories_Index/Telephone_JB/index.html

as is cable.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Telephones_and_Accessories_Index/Telephone/index.html

Are you sure the cable is armored, not just PVC external?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Cable_Index/Telephone_Cable_External/index.html

If you do it and mess it up, so you have to call BT / OpenReach you will land a hefty bill to put it right. But it is not to difficult a task for a competent electrician to undertake. And it could end up neater and more professional than some of BT's own work!

Doc H.

 

[batty]

I am sure BT would charge to put it right as others have said its not to difficult to put right with gel crimps under the floor in an enclosure. I always use the NTE5 master sockets especially if you have extensions. BT have a minimum charge not sure what it is at the moment but you will get charged it if the fault is on your side so the NTE5 makes it easy to test the line.

 

[roys]

Fairly certain it is armoured I will double check on Monday when I am back down there.  Don't have any worries about connecting it myself just wasn't sure about the best way to to it.

So I will buy a new Master Socket no probs thanks for the links, so just to confirm, do I just terminated into a 3x3 JB if it is armoured as I can't see how the JB in Docs links will work, use with a couple of stuffing glands after tidying up the cable end.  Where do I get the gel crimps?

Thank You everyone so far for the advice and links.

 

[Blue Duck]

Have found the jb's from tlc to be a bit poop, they seem to have changed over to a different type recently.

£150 is what bt charge to move a socket.

17070 is the number to test the line.

also one of these might be handy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Network-Ethernet-Cable-Punch-Down-Tool-IDC-Faceplate-Krone-Push-RJ45-CAT5E-CAT6E-/221251205786?pt=UK_Computing_NetworkingTools_Accessories_SM&hash=item3383997a9a