How to Install an Extra Phone Jack

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Find where you want the phone jack.

   Clear it out and make sure you have room. , The best choice is a "home run" straight to the phone company's box, because any wire problems will only affect the one jack.
   
   However, if this will be difficult, you can run wire from the closest/easiest phone jack. , You can run the wire along the walls or baseboard, but this can be messy.
   
   You can fish the wire through the walls, but this can range from time-consuming to nearly impossible.
   
   Or you can run the wire through an exterior wall and out along the roof.
   
   This is a decision for you to make.
   
   When you've figured it out, measure how much wire you need. , The easiest is simply a surface-mount type, no drilling required.
   
   Most allow you to use screws, or even just stick it there with an included piece of double-sided tape.
   
   If you want something a little more professional looking, you can open up the wall a bit and install an electrical box to have a jack flush to the wall.
   
   This allows you to get a jack with posts for a wall-phone to hang from. , You need wire and a jack.
   
   Also get a pair of small-gauge wire strippers, and a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver if you don't already have them.
   
   Be sure to get extra wire! You do not want to end up short.
   
   By the time this is all done, you want to end up with at least 10 extra feet of wire.
   
   But you need more spare wire the longer the distance, since small deviations from your estimate will magnify with distance.
   
   For a 50' run, get 65'
   
   and for a 100' run get 125'
   
   and so on.
   
   If you're surface-mounting the wire (running it along the baseboard, for example) be sure to get fasteners.
   
   For rougher work, they sell nails with clips that you can push a wire into.
   
   For finish work, like in a bedroom for example, they sell small finish staples.
   
   Whatever you get, make sure it's not likely to cut into the wire. , Start at your starting point (the demarcation or terminal point, or the nearest phone jack), run the wire through or along the wall to the location of your new jack.
   
   Leave 5 extra feet at the start, and there should be plenty of cable at the other end.
   
   Affix the cable as necessary. , Start at the new jack.
   
   Cut the wire to length (measure twice) and strip off the last 2 or 3 inches (5.1 or
   7.6 cm), taking care not to nick the wires.
   
   You probably have two pairs of wire.
   
   Separate out the blue/white stripe and white/blue stripe wires (or, if you don't have them, the red and green wires) from the rest and strip off the last inch or so of insulation.
   
   Be careful! Then wrap these two wires around the screw terminals corresponding to the first line (refer to the jack's documentation) and tighten the screws.
   
   Don't close up the box or affix it to the wall yet! , If you're feeding off an existing jack, open it up, unscrew the two wires, twist them around the new wires, and re-tighten back to the terminals (and confirm the jack still works). , If it is, attach the new jack securely with screws or adhesive, and close it up. , Use the documentation to make sure you've attached your two wires to the right terminals.
   
   You may be able to unscrew the wires and hold them against different terminals with the phone off-hook to see if you hear a dial tone.
2. 2

   Step 2: Decide your endpoint.

   You're looking for voltage between the two wires you've been using, which should be about 48 volts DC. ,,
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   Step 3: Decide on wire placement.

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   Step 4: Decide what type of box you want.

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   Step 5: Get your parts.

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   Step 6: Now that you have your parts

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   Step 7: go ahead and install the wire.

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   Step 8: Start the Wiring.

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   Step 9: Repeat at the other end of the wire

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    Step 10: connecting to the appropriate two terminals on the inside terminal or demarcation point.

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    Step 11: Test your new jack

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    Step 12: which should now be working.

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    Step 13: If your other phones are still working (all of them for a home run

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    Step 14: or the one at the jack you tapped from)

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    Step 15: check your new jack's wiring.

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    Step 16: Get a multimeter and test the wire.

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    Step 17: If all else fails

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    Step 18: check the wire itself - you want to check for continuity between at least the pair of wires you're using

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    Step 19: and the same colors on the opposite end.

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    Step 20: If you give up

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    Step 21: call your phone company or an electrician.

Detailed Guide

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