atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Shielded crossconnects?

Hal, I have made the mistake of trying to punch down stranded wire on 66 blocks more than a few times. It really does not work well. We did talk about it on this board at one time.

We commonly have MOH providers give us a stranded audio cable for MOH input, we'll either solder a small section of single-pair cross-cut or b-connect the cross-cut and then punch it down. Over time the stranded wires loose connection in the 66 clips, one wire at a time.

You CAN do it, but it doesn't mean it's correct. It's the same old "wrong tool, for the application".

we'll either solder a small section of single-pair cross-cut or b-connect the cross-cut and then punch it down.

That's the only reason we keep some beanies on the truck, to splice stranded to solid so it can be cut down on a block.

-Hal

I agree with beanies for stranded to solid connections... and being that we do a lot of Valcom bullhorns, they are the perfect product for the application (also for the MOH outputs).

Not to derail the thread too far, but do they make beanies that take inputs from both sides (like a butt-splice)? I've never even thought about looking for them, until we did these Valcom V-1422 .

I have some of the T&B 709 SC connectors. They take a full pair on both sides. You just close them with a pair of pliers.
https://www.newtechindustries.com/newtech/thomasandbetts/images/thomas1.jpg

Tony -

We used to use these tiny brass tubes for inline splices. No teeth inside and no insulation outside. We used to slide them on one side of a broken wire, twist on the other side, crimp them and tape them. They were designed for repairing breaks in the old, old residential wiring where replacing a run would be a nightmare.

When those were not available we would gently squeeze a beanie and pop open the closed end. Then insert the wires from opposite ends and crimp.

Both of these were emergency methods only as far as I was concerned, but I knew people who just left them in forever - or until they went bad again.

Sam

Sam, are these different than the copper caps used for ground wires? we used these to re-wire a bunch of stage lights that are high temperature. We used the caps as an inline splice and used heat shrink over it.

I have those and like them, but they aren't that good for stranded... they are better suited for in-line solid splices. Thanks though!


----

Sam, I have popped the end off a beanie to do what I'm referring to, but would rather have a product designed for it... instead of modifying something existing to work around it. It worked quite well as it turned out, I did a test piece first and stressed both ends, to see how easily it loosened... and it didn't.

Do you have a reference link for the "brass tubes" you refer to? They sound interesting, almost like a crimp on butt splice that I've used for car audio (although they came with the insulation on them).

Thanks!
----

If I could invent it, I would make a 110 punch, with a dust cover for the solid wire side and a set-screw terminal (or spade terminal and crimp-on spade connector), for the stranded side. All with heat shrink to fit.

If you do create it, credit me for the design!

Tony, PM sent...

Thanks for the varied info. As I suspected, xconnecting STP is too complicated for something as simple as this. Anyway, we haven't yet heard from the customer, so maybe they're getting cold feet.

ps Sam, yup, not many people realize that the impetus for the internet materialized when the Russkies (to use the terminology of the time) sent Sputnik up there, thereby proving that they possesed ICBM technology (and that the CIA got caught with its pants down yet again). Put the fear of God into these gummint types. Btw, I appreciate the offer, one of these days we'll probably arrange something.