Installing Phone Jacks

In today’s world of phenomenal and unparalleled electronic advancements, the introduction of electrical appliances like personal computers, fax machines and telephones has revolutionized human existence. What was once a luxury has become a necessity today? These equipments have, in fact, become a part of our daily lives and existing without them is unimaginable to us. With such technologies entering our house at a fast pace, we are now faced with a major problem, that of coming up with a solution of ‘how to plug it all in’. Installing phone jacks is an easy and simple solution to this query. You don’t even need to hire any professional help to do this. In fact, you can do it easily on your own, with a little help and guidance. We have also provided some uncomplicated and simple tips to aid you in the process.

How To Install A Phone Jack

Some of the basic equipments that you will require while installing these jacks are jack faceplate, wall box, phone cables, wire cutter, utility knives, wire stripper, fish tape (particularly a non-electricity-conducting nylon type), cable staples, measuring tape, electrical or duct tape, drywall saw and drill. You may also need a partner to help you in the initial few steps.
Prior to starting off with the process, decide where the jack has to be installed. Carefully read the instructions written over the wall box and make a hole in your plaster or dry wall. However, do not fix the box yet, as you will need some extra space to work on the other details.
The next step is a little complicated, as it involves getting the phone wires where they need to go, usually to a spot on the wall. This may be quite difficult to achieve, particularly when the installations have to be made on a second or third floor. It will be much easier if you have a basement or crawlspace just underneath your house. It is almost impossible to run these wires through insulated walls. During this step, you will need to use a measuring tape to find out the exact spot or distance that the phone lines will have to cover, to reach the hole made in the wall.
Once the exact spot is found, make a hole into the wall space from the basement of your house and guide the fish tape up through this hole. You may also need a partner to guide you with this step. Attach one end of the phone line with the end of the fish tape, retract the fish tape and draw the wire into the basement.
As soon as you get the end of the phone wire, detach it from the piece of fish tape and connect it to the junction box. Always leave a small portion of the wire extra and ensure that you do not pull the other end of the wire accidentally down into the wall space. To attach and secure the wire properly to the ceiling joists, you can use cable staples.
To prevent any kind of slack or loose wire dangling, you can further pull the wire up at the jack home. However, make sure that the wire is not too tight. Cut the cable some inches from the wall to get some working space and thread it through the sides or back of the wall box. You can finally install the box in accordance with the directions on the package.
Cut about 3 inches from the outer sheath of the line with a utility knife, to expose the four inner wires. Using the same knife, remove around one-half of the insulating sheaths of each wire and attach them to the terminals, matching color to color. This will involve wrapping the wires around a screw and tightening it.
Next, screw the jack into the wall box using the screws.
Always remember to disconnect your phone at the NID, prior to starting off with the process. Bring the end of the cable close to the junction box and attach them strip-by-strip to the box.
This being done, you can finally plug in the phone lines at the NID. All you have to do now is test the installations by hooking up a phone.

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