The distribution device is a common point forterminating all distribution wire runs and for originating all inside wire runs. It provides forthe connection of inside wire to distribution wire, and may also provide for the connection of control equipment in system applications. The star wiring method offers many advantages. For example, if a wire is damaged during construction, the loss is confined only to that run instead of all jacks beyond the damage. Since the damaged run can be isolated, the fault can be easily located with test equipment.
Series wiring involves running one continuous length of inside wire in the attic or crawl space.
The series wiring method has serious drawbacks. Circuit breaks are very hard to locate when a premise has been wired using this method. If a break or short occurs, the circuit is lost to all jacks beyond that point in the series. Perhaps the most important disadvantage of the series wiring method is that once wiring is installed this way, it is almost impossible to make adds, moves and changes. The existing spare pairs are useless for additions because they can only be used for the single purpose for which they were originally installed.