Linking 2 bt mains sockets

diygilly · 26-11-2010, 10:08

I'm new to this forum so hope I'm in the right place.

I've just moved house, and previous owners had 2 bt lines one for business and one for residential. The business line was the one with all the extension sockets around the house and the residential line only as the main socket in the office. Both sockets are next to each other.

BT standard practice wouldn't let me take over a business line, so I had to take over the residential line which leave me with one usable socket and the original business line and all its extension sockets are dead.

Can I link up these 2 main BT sockets so that the extension will work?
Thanks for your help
Gill

**Rob** · 26-11-2010, 10:13

You are not allowed to do anything to the street side cable into the master socket. There should be two of those, one for residential, one for business.

Most of the master sockets should have a removable cover plate. That removable plate should plug into the master connection behind only remove the front plate. You should see the extension wiring secured into the back of that front plate. That can simply be moved over.

diygilly · 26-11-2010, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

You are not allowed to do anything to the street side cable into the master socket. There should be two of those, one for residential, one for business.

Most of the master sockets should have a removable cover plate. That removable plate should plug into the master connection behind only remove the front plate. You should see the extension wiring secured into the back of that front plate. That can simply be moved over.

Thanks for reply. I'll have a go!
Gill

diygilly · 02-12-2010, 12:13

I opened up the dead socket and there were 3 connected wires Red to 5, Blue to 2 and Brown to 3. I opened up the accessible panel of the working socket and connected to exactly the same numbers. It works, but none of the phones go "ring ring, but go "riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing" constantly.

Any suggestions?
Thanks
Gill

jb66 · 02-12-2010, 12:42

Open up the disabled master socket and then open up the inner part and remove the a and b leg wires, not sure why your having an issue but might have something to do with having two master sockets on two lines joined together

diygilly · 02-12-2010, 20:46

What's the a and b leg wires? The disabled socket, which worked until bt disconnected it from the exchange end, had 3 wires connected to 2, 3 and 5 which I just swapped them all over to the other socket. I presume at least one of them isn't required which would be be the dead one(s) going to the exchange and the remainder will be for the extensions, but how do I know which ones originally went to the exchange?

jb66 · 02-12-2010, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by diygilly

What's the a and b leg wires? The disabled socket, which worked until bt disconnected it from the exchange end, had 3 wires connected to 2, 3 and 5 which I just swapped them all over to the other socket. I presume at least one of them isn't required which would be be the dead one(s) going to the exchange and the remainder will be for the extensions, but how do I know which ones originally went to the exchange?

There should be another two wires behind the master socket, behind the part
Where 235 is

2 is your b leg 3 is the ringer and 5 is the a
Leg

diygilly · 04-12-2010, 11:50

Thanks for your help. I removed a and b from 2 and 5 and the ringers all rang properly but the extensions had no dial toneand were dead. I then tried with just 'a' removed and then just 'b' removed and the same thing. Then I swapped them over to see if that made a difference. But the only way the extensions will work is with all 3 wires connected to 2 3 5 but when it does ring it rings constantly. Perhaps I'll have to put up with it for a bit until I can get someone in to sort it, unless you have any other suggestions. Thanks very much