Date: Sun, 30 Aug 92 14:13 EDT
From: rsiatl!turner@rsiatl.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: 66 and 110 Punchdown Blocks
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 669, Message 9 of 9

Gabe M Wiener writes:
 
> How does one properly punch a wire down into a 66-block so that the
> end gets trimmed?
 
I can think of three likely reasons you aren't getting good results:
 
1) Dull blade (You may be able to inprove this a little with a whetstone
   but usually blades used by non-pros get nicked from being dropped
   and such.)
 
2) Wrong wire, 22-26 AWG PIC or PVC wire works best.  Broadcasters
   will often use them for stranded wire and 20 ga wire.
 
3) You are aware that the blade has two ends, one of which cuts and 
   terminates, and the other which just terminates.
 
The inpact is supposed to be adjustable, though I've never noticed a 
difference from adjusting this control.
 
> My usual practice is to stick the end into the front of the tines and
> then just click it down with the punchdown tool, however, this never
> seems to trim the end as (I was told) it is supposed to.
 
One impact should be enough
 
> I've seen some installers click *twice* on each terminal.  Is that one
> to get it it down and one to cut?
 
Not that I know of.
 
> Also, is there a significance to the colors on the tool?  Mine is
> black on one side and yellow on the other, though a friend of mine has
> one that's blue on one s the cutting side if the cutting end of a 
> blade is used.
 
Jonathan Edwards writes:
 
> What is the difference between 110 and 66M blocks?  I am wiring my
> house for a mix of voice and possible future 10-BASET.  All the wires
> will end-run to the blocks in the basement.  Should I use 110 or 66M
> blocks?
 
If you are going to use ethernet, I would opt for the 110 if you can
borrow the tools to install them.  I am assuming you are familar with
the 66 blocks.  The 110 blocks were developed by AT&T as part of their
Premise Distribution System (PDS).  110 Blocks are composed of two
parts, a wiring block built in units of four strips, each holding 25
pair.

The wiring is positioned on the wiring block and a connector block is
punched down of top of them.  Connector blocks are available with
capacities of two, three, four, and five pair, and contain the actual
insulation displacement clips. The building wiring or cable from a PBX
or other equipiment goes under the blocks and jumpers are run on top
of the connector blocks.  Both the wiring block and the connector
block are color coded.

[Moderator's Note: Two sentences here were scrambled and unreadable. PAT]
 
110 Blocks are designed for 22-26 AWG PIC and PVC wire.  In this
respect they are not as versatile as 66 blocks.  They are however,
supposed to be better for high speed data and use much less space.
 
Northen Telecom has a similar product called BIX.
 
 
Pat Turner   KB4GRZ     turner@dixie.com

[Moderator's Note: This article arrived with several control
characters imbedded in it and various instances of letters left out of
words entirely. It has been reconstructed as I think he meant it with
the exception of a couple sentences I simply could not figure out.  PAT]