atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems 1A2 Project

I agree with Bill; you simply cannot have a mess like that if using backboards. There's not a single member of this forum who cannot buy them. They are sold through all major suppliers, just like the blocks themselves.

Ed, first of all we are talking a different era. I was trained to lay out a frame properly on plywood or to use a commercial frame manufactured by Homaco. The 501 style Homaco frames are either 19 or 23 inches wide and are 66 block frames. Since I haven't used a B block in probably 15 years and 80% of my house cable is on 110 blocks, those colored backboards that I never used or never appeared in my "GSP's" don't apply.

Sure I can buy them. But why?

Carl

My question is this. For example on the install I did this summer, the whole wall was covered in plywood. Do you install those backboards on the plywood? That brings everything forward more and basically gives you two backboards...

Yes, Jeff, the backboards are (or at least can be) mounted upon existing plywood walls. These aren't intended to be a sole source for mounting blocks, but they can be used for that purpose if there's no existing plywood.

They are designed to provide a universal and uniformly-organized installation method. You can go to a site anywhere and immediately recognize that what's on the green backboard identifies incoming CO lines; blue indicates cables heading toward stations, and so on.

They also ensure that mushrooms are properly situated to prevent the likelihood that jumpers will wrap the post more than 180 degrees. This, instead of the "slapshot" method you usually see mushrooms placed where jumpers can't be pulled out without unwrapping them from the posts. There is MUCH more to the design of these backboard systems than just organization; it's also to demonstrate pride in quality, workmanship and labor savings.

Aw, that's not a problem. Mr. Haney will be glad to defend me!

So this evening I actually got around to hooking up some phones! And I've run in to a strange problem. I have four lines appearing at each set, all the same. What I don't have is a steady light to indicate that a line is in use. I have incoming call blinking and on-hold winking, but no steady in use light. This is true for all the sets and all the lines. That leads me to believe that I missed a power connection to the KSU or perhaps a blown fuse, but initial investigation didn't find it. Anyone run in to this before? Thoughts?

Problem solved. I'm not going to say what it was just yet. There seems to be a fine tradition of quiz giving on this board and I wouldn't want to miss out on tradition.

Easy fix: I believe that you said you're using a 584C panel.

Check fuses 7,8,9, and 10

There are many fuses on the back of the panel. Lamp steady, lamp flash, and lamp wink are provided, via the interrupter, through fuses that are further split up into 4 groups of 3 or 4 line cards at a time.

If the blown fuse(s) are not immediately evident from a visual inspection (sometimes the fuse wire breaks right at the point where it is welded to the body of the fuse), you need to test for an open fuse.

In rare cases it might be a bad interrupter. I just called my old partner to verify that between us, in a combined 70 years of service, we changed maybe three interrupters each during our careers.

It was of course fuse #10 which provides steady lamp to cards 1, 2 and 3 in program A mode according to the ITT documentation, but since I am using a Stromberg Carlson model which is slightly different, I believe #10 feeds cards 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Added a BLF to the mix today and realized that I either need a lot more 1A1 KTUs like the 227B that I can use the relays from, or a good supply of 24V bulbs.

Tim:

Didn't you get my e-mail about the 185A1 yellow backboard arriving for your intercom circuits? Are you still interested? If so, I have one for you, brand-new. Let me know.

I also have the 24V bulbs in stock for the BLF.

Ed -

PM sent.

-Tim