Telephone Wiring Problems and Solutions

How to Wire a Telephone: Checking Home Telephone Wiring Connections, Why a Telephone has No Dial Tone.

Telephone Wiring Connections
Electrical Question: I have a telephone problem where there is no dial tone.

• I just bought a home. I had been waiting for my telephone to be connected but whenever I call the number they gave me the line is busy and I have no dial tone.
• AT&T came out and determined that the problem was not on the outside but in my existing wiring.
• I have took the cover off of both jacks and everything is connected correctly.
• I do have some sort of something above my washer and dryer and close to my fuse panel I’m not sure what it is called or how the telephone wiring should look but I suspect the problem is there it just doesn’t look right.
• It is about 4×3 with 2 screws attaching it to the wall and four screws that telephone wiring is wrapped around the bottom two.

Thanks for any help you can give.
This question about telephone wiring came from: Andria, a Homeowner from California.

Dave’s Reply
Thanks for your telephone wiring question Andria.

How to Connect Telephone Wires

Application: Telephone Wiring.
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate – Best repaired by a Qualified Telephone Technician or Electrician.
Tools Required: Basic Straight Slot and Philips Screw Drivers, wire strippers for 20 to 24 gauge wire.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience and ability to work with tools and small phone wires.
Precaution: If installing or relocating additional telephone wiring the main phone cable or the Test Jack should be disconnected before working with the wiring.
Notice: Installing additional telephone cable and wiring should be done using approved phone cable and phone jacks that are approved and compatible with the local telephone system specifications.

Checking Home Telephone Wiring Connections

• Andria, The box that you are describing may be a main telephone junction box for the inside telephone lines.
• If you do not have dial tone then the main wires must be identified and traced to the connection boxes and the terminations for the telephone wiring must be checked.
• For older homes the red wire and green wire pair  most is most commonly used.
• For newer homes the blue/white wire and white/blue wire pair is commonly used.
• If you have dial tone but hear clicks when you press a keypad button instead of a tone then the two wires at the phone jack or main telephone junction box may need to be swapped or reversed.

More about Telephone Wiring

• For more information about Telephone Wiring with telephone wiring diagrams:
  Telephone Wiring
  
  Telephone Wiring
  This telephone wiring diagram with photos and instructions will show you the direct steps to correctly wiring a telephone jack.

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Home Electrical Wiring and Electrical Repairs Please Note: Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects: Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor. Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter. Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area. Precaution: Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring. Important: Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.

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