Forum Topic

Independent BT engineer to replace incoming BT socket

Our landline is not working which I put down to the ‘plug in’ box being damaged.  It is near floor level and frequently knocked by vacuum cleaner, etcDoes anyone know of a BT (ex or otherwise) engineer who can replace this box as we can no longer insert the telephone Jack into it.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1518d15 Comments

As a temporary fix, if you remove the half-cover (held in by two screws) you may be able to plug directly into the hidden socket inside the box.

Richard Greenhough ● 1518d

Richard is correctAs long as its not ancient most have a test socket to the right hand side behind the face plate. That is where your phone line directly connects too at first point of entry.If that does not work then i would expect it to be another issue as knocking the box with a hoover is unlikely to effect that connection in most circumstances

Julian Pavey ● 1518d

Julian, it sounds as though the hoover has damaged the socket in the face plate. If the hidden socket inside is still working then replacing the face plate is a simple exercise, assuming Elizabeth can source one.

Richard Greenhough ● 1518d

Elizabeth, as an ex BT engineer myself, it can be a pretty simple task depending on which socket you have (believe me, they are not all equal). Can you add a pic here perhaps? I don't imagine you'll get much change out of £50 for an 'expert' to replace it, if indeed the socket is the problem.

Gordon McDonald ● 1518d

Thank you all.  The incoming cable from the front of the house to the kitchen was repositioned many years ago to travel under the floor and pops up at skirting level at the entrance to the kitchen.There is a square white box with a small ‘window’ shutter in which the ‘Jack’ is slotted. It is not the very old round Jack.I have taken off the front cover which now exposes all the wires.  Sadly the plastic is now so brittle that it easily chips and breaks.  Ideally I would like to resite this box some 10cms up the wall but it appears there is insufficient slack to enable me to do this hence the need for someone with expertise in these matters.In essence I would like to remove the landline but it is not practicable with the people who still use it (older generation) and that we have a phone on each floor which anyone in the house can use/answer.The kitchen phone has an answer phone and is the principal socket.As to cost, I regard it as swings and roundabout.  Last weekend the shed lock jammed and with the help of YouTube and a bent nail I successfully picked the lock.  Too easy but saved £££££.  Waiting for new lock to arrive so I can fit it.  Old rim lock beyond repair.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1517d

Elizabeth, it very much sounds like the socket that is giving you grief is an extension so will not have the master-socket internal connector which others have described. However it should be a very simple job to extend the wire and then replace the damaged socket. It will require a junction box and a new extension socket. As long as the colour-coded wiring is connected correctly all should be well and I would say a competent handy-man will have it sorted in less than half-an-hour. There is no need to find a specialist telecoms engineer for a simple job like this.

Bruce Hammal ● 1517d

Hi everyone, I revisited YouTube.  I once again took the front cover off and there were many more wires connected at 8 points with screw down screws - must be old as YouTube shows you to take 4 wires, connect with a ‘punch down’ tool - don’t have one and it is obvious the the connection sockets has broken off the frame.Anyway I have managed to put the Jack into the right place but don’t have a dial tone. The phone is also connected to the electrics and apart from the dial tone it appears to be working.So now where.  I think I need a new box and a punch down tool.  Do BT Outrage sell such things?I do enjoy DIY but am finding it difficult to sort this one out.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1517d

Bruce - it sounds to me like Elizabeth is describing a fairly old box that pre-dates the type I was describing, but is nevertheless the main incoming socket. Changing that used to be a job for a BT engineer. Elizabeth - you could try calling BT on 0800 800 150 (or 0330 123 4150 from a mobile) and see what they say.

Richard Greenhough ● 1517d

As you are only using it for one job then you can buy a cheap 'limited life' IDC punch down tool from Toolstation (Part No. 83108) for £1.74.  They also sell suitable cable, juction boxes and sockets.

N V Brooks ● 1517d

Richard, thanks for the numbers.  I pay Talk Talk for the line so have to contact them.Independent has quoted £120 plus material to replace the socket.I will try TalkTalk but failing that will go back to the Independent.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1517d

Elizabeth, let me have a look in my box of bits. I used to have loads of this stuff but had a big clear-out when we moved. I'll report back,

Bruce Hammal ● 1517d

Yes, sorry Richard I had misread one of Elizabeth's posts. She referred to the kitchen socket as being the "principal" one. I thought the damaged socket was a different one. A photo would certainly help, but to do that requires using the "new" W4 site.....

Bruce Hammal ● 1517d

Elizabeth. Well I have extension sockets and all sorts of bits and bobs but unfortunately no master socket. Just a thought, you said you have extensions around the house - are they working? If you're still considering doing the job yourself this is quite a good explanatory video from Youtube. https://youtu.be/5UxkSUaMVM8

Bruce Hammal ● 1517d

But surely if the socket just outside the kitchen truly is the master socket, and there are extensions fitted throughout the house then, there would be more than just the two cables — one in and one out connected to the box in question ? I fiitted extensions myself years ago but have forgotten all the details so have been loth to contribute anythiung up to now for that reason
It seems the OP has four pair cable fitted, which has eight connecters. (While its not strictly necessary, to avoid complications iis probably best to stick with four pair) This is not old fashioned or anything telephone cable can come in two three of four twisted pairs. So what the OP needs are A four pair connector box. (sometimes known as a *choc box*. This is simply a box with one or two holes at the back to screw it to the wall — a hole at each side for the cables — and inside eight connectors at each side for the cable
.In the past it was necessary to strip the end of each of the eight inners and fix it in position with a screw as the OP has discovered. As with plugs. Howver nowadays each strand is simply pushed over a cutter which cuts through the insulation. Apparently using a special tool/ A length of four pair cable cut to size A four pair extension socket containing eight connectors. Screwing things to walls is fairly straightforward if a bit frustrating at times. However
Connecting sixteen inners — eight each side to a connection box less than a metre from the ground can possibly be a bit awkward — the position being limted by the amount of cable coming up through the floor. So maybe it might be better to fit the inners first, screw up the box and then glue it to wall with a modern wonder glue. (Using glue rather than screws for anything runs contrary to everything I believe in — but needs must, as they say) Then fit the new socket further up the wall , maybe in this case screwing it to the wall first and then comnnect up the eight inners. The only real complicated bit in all this is connecting the correct coloured inners to the correct terminals  There is plenty of information on the Net on this — static pages with diagrams rather than YouTube videos
michael adams












 

Michael Adams ● 1516d

Even better than mucking about with screws if the surface to which you are attaching the sockets/junction boxes is stable  is Power Grip tape (of the type now used by OpenReach). Amazing stuff. I now have shed hooks, flooring and architrave held in place by this and I think that the walls will give way before the tape does.

N V Brooks ● 1516d