atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information beanies

Today I worked on a job (66 block in a house went bad and I needed to reterminate everything to a new block, for a friend of mine, I also just finished cabling an addition for him) and had to extend all the cables using beanies. When I connected the cables to the block and cross-connected to the phone line, I got no dialtone on any jacks. I then removed everything from the block, and spliced right into the phone line coming in, using cross-connect and beanies. Still nothing. I then cut the beanies off each station cable and spliced small pieces of cross-connect from the stations to another piece of cross-connect, just stripped and twisted the wires together. I then got dialtone on all the jacks I hooked up (only connected 3 out of a total of 8 in the house) Does anyone know of any potential problems with using beanies? I have used them many times before without a problem.
Thanks,
Jeff

I've never had problems with them, I have my guys strip the very end of the pairs they are beaning together to make sure they always get a good clean connection.

Check your cripping tool, there is a test slot to see if your getting the correct crimp. I still use them with no trouble, I prefer them over scotchlocks. If your not using a B wire presser that could be your problem. Also you may have a bad batch of beans, cut one open and see it the teeth are good.
Bill

I think that might have caused the problem, I didn't strip the wires first before crimping them, and I used Linesman pliers to crimp them. However, when I got home, I tried out some wiring in the same way I did at the job. I used beanies without stripping the wires first and got dialtone fine on the jack. Also, I have heard that Dolphin beanies, which I use, are not the best. Anyone else hear that?
Thanks for the replies,
Jeff

using scotchlocks vs. beanies when splicing wires is preferred. Not only does it not require any stripping, it will give you a sealed connection to keep out moisture.

Z-Man..using beans vs scotchlocks has been an ongoing debate I use both but prefer beans. I use beans in dry locations and if moisture is an issue I either use filled beans or scotchlocks. I don't strip the wire prior to crimping, unless it's heavy gauge or a mismatch of gauges. I've found more high joints in scotchlocks than beans, I think it's a matter of preference, I do agree you need a filled connector if moisture is a problem. I have seen bad connections with beans when pliers or dike handles are used to crimp, just as I've seen bad connections with scotchlock when the proper crimper wasn't used.
Bill

I have only used scotchloks a couple times, and they worked well. I guess I prefer beanies, but that's probably because I have used them more.

B-connectors are IDC as well. I've spliced 600 pair cables before with them... and didn't have a single bad splice (and that was using a 25 pair tester).

Just crimp firmly.

I'm suprised anybody still uses beanies on telephone wire! I've never had a bad 3M scotchlok, And i use regular pliers. you have to make sure the scotchlok is flat on top after you crimp it and not crooked. I thought only alarm guys use those crappy beanies. Also you mentioned the 66 block went bad. Sounds like you have this block mounted somewhere moisture is a problem. I've seen this on blocks mounted in wet basements, it starts to turn green and corrodes the pins giving you problems static & NDT. Don't forget about pins that might be spread out, easily fixed with a pair of needle noses.Remember one wire per pin too , I see bellsouth techs make this mistake numerous times! But as far as a 66 block going bad ,How did you come up with that conclusion?By the way i salvage old 66 blocks pick the wires out and sand the posts to give them a newer look or take off writing!
[This message has been edited by clgjr (edited February 07, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by clgjr (edited February 07, 2004).]

B connectors or scotchlocks? To be 100% sure you have a good splice with B's you strip like dtmf said then twist and crunch. I quit using B's years ago and went scotchlock. Easier and faster!