Old phone jack has two gray wires behind it not red and green wires
#1
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My newly purchased home was built in 1966. Behind the antiquated jack there are two gray wires, no other wiring. How do I connect my new jack’s red and green wires? To which gray wire?
#2
It shouldn't make any difference. Polarity was once an issue but almost all of today's telephone equipment is polarity insensitive.
Question is, are you sure those are telephone wires? Where are you located?
Question is, are you sure those are telephone wires? Where are you located?
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Thank you for your help with this.
I am in a brick ranch home in my home town. There are regular electric outlets, some updated phone jacks, and these older jacks that have four holes in front. Behind the face plate, if you take off the "jack", there are four screws on the back, the gray wires go each to one of them, and the other two screws are not used.
If you can confirm what I am thinking, that these are telephone wires, I will try to attach the new jack.
I am in a brick ranch home in my home town. There are regular electric outlets, some updated phone jacks, and these older jacks that have four holes in front. Behind the face plate, if you take off the "jack", there are four screws on the back, the gray wires go each to one of them, and the other two screws are not used.
If you can confirm what I am thinking, that these are telephone wires, I will try to attach the new jack.
Last edited by David Geer; 10-14-12 at 06:12 AM. Reason: Added request
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If polarity proves important, Put a DC multimeter on it in the ~60V range. Test across the pair, when it reads around -48 (note the minus) then the red probe is on Ring, and the black probe is on Tip. Ring is the red wire and Tip is the green wire, so connect accordingly.
They do sell adapters for those old four-prong jacks at Ace Hardware, BTW. You don't have to change the jack.
They do sell adapters for those old four-prong jacks at Ace Hardware, BTW. You don't have to change the jack.
#8
Those old jacks was usually marked with letter R=red G=green (The only 2 who matters)
As stated over its no great importance if you not will be using telephones from before 1980.
The absolutely correct will be as T-W-X states.
If so connect yellow and green to the same wire. and red to the other.
dsk
PS those old jacks are collectors items.
As stated over its no great importance if you not will be using telephones from before 1980.
The absolutely correct will be as T-W-X states.
If so connect yellow and green to the same wire. and red to the other.
dsk
PS those old jacks are collectors items.
