atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring A new one.

I never heard of breakdown test sets being outlawed around here, although newer test equipment makes them much less of a necessity. These sets date back to the days when telcos hired and trained people on safety and proper equipment use. I guess that they no longer consider this to be an issue, so they elected to stop using them to avoid the risk of liability issues. Remember that proper installations included mandatory factory-installed fusible links in building entrance terminals to prevent "maintained-contact" high voltage fire problems.

I guess that they have even started cutting corners from that aspect, so I can see where the use of breakdown sets would be avoided. It's true that a simple mistake could cause catastrophic results.

Jeff, back to the UCC connectors, it had nothing to do with letting anyone know anything about the pairs. It was just a manner in which the telco can have a circuit run for miles and be safely terminated to avoid shorts or crosses at the end of the run. These make a pair available anywhere along the miles-long run to be usable without fear of what a potential fault at the end will cause. UCC's are just a sealed cap that is used as a terminus for a pair.

Jeff...see breakdown thread.....