66 Block - Telephone Wiring Block & Accessories

A 66 block (or M1-50) is a type of punchdown block used to connect sets of wires in a telephone system. 66 blocks are designed to terminate 22 through 26 AWG solid copper wire. Discount-Low-Voltage.com carries a complete line of 66 blocks, prewired 66 blocks, and 66 block accessories. In today's video, we take a look at the 66 block and a few of the 66 block accessories we have available. Enjoy









Here is a picture a customer sent us of a recent job he did.

Notice how clean everything looks due to the use of backboards and spools. In my opinion, every 66 block install should be done this way. Take a look at How NOT to install 66 blocks and some crazy data center wiring pictures. Have some pictures of a job you recently did? Or a job site you went to that looked like a mess? Send them to k.atkins@discount-low-voltage.com and we'll feature them in our next blog or add them to the website.

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Vertical Power Strip for Data Racks and Cabinets

16 Outlet Vertical Power Strip

16 outlet vertical power strips from Damac are perfect for your data racks and cabinets. They come in 3 different sizes (6 outlet, 8 outlet [pictured] and 16 outlet) and offer 3 different plug sizes (15AMP, 20AMP and 30AMP). The brushed aluminum finish is standard, with a black powder-coat optional. Let's take a look at what the 16 outlet power strip looks like. Enjoy



Features:
- UL and CUL Listed
- Receptacles: 125V, NEMA 5-15R & 5-20R
- Receptacles are evenly transformer spaced
- Power Cord: 125V, NEMA 5-15P, L5-15P, 5-20P, L5-20P & L5-30P
- Re-setable circuit braker with optional surge protection
- LED indicator light
- Durable, extruded aluminum housing
- Hardwire and dual-circuit models available
- Optional on/off switch
- Patented 4-way universal mounting - rotate the powerstrip to accommodate any receptacle orientation: front, rear, right, left
- Brushed aluminum finish, standard. Optional black powder-coat is available

To order, visit Discount-Low-Voltage.com/ Power-Strips
Don't see the size you need listed on our website? Call us at (888) 797-3697 and one of our professional sales staff can assist you.

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Popular:
How To: Punch Down Cat5e/Cat6 Keystone Jacks
How To: Make an Ethernet Cat5e/Cat6 Cable
How To: Pulling Fiber Optic Cable

What's the Difference Between Loose Tube Fiber and Tight Buffer Fiber

Loose-Tube
 

VS
 

Tight Buffer Fiber

Overview

Tight-buffered cables often are used for intra-building, risers, general building and plenum applications. Tight buffer fiber contains a thick coating of a plastic-type material which is applied directly to the outside of each individual fiber. Loose-Tube fiber optic cables are typically used for outside-plant installation in aerial, duct and direct-buried applications. Loose-tube fiber contains multiple strands of fiber in a single jacket. Since the fibers are "loose" inside the jacket, outside forces are less likely to reach the fibers. This makes it the more durable option of the two.

Loose-Tube Cable

Loose-tube fiber generally consists of 12 strands of fiber, but can range anywhere as low as 6, all the way up to 244 strands. Loose tube cables can be either dielectric or optionally armored. The modular buffer-tube design permits easy drop-off of groups of fibers at intermediate points, without interfering with other protected buffer tubes being routed to other locations. The loose-tube design also helps in the identification and administration of fibers in the system.

In a loose-tube cable design, color-coded plastic buffer tubes house and protect optical fibers. An optional gel filling compound impedes water penetration. Excess fiber length (relative to buffer tube length) insulates fibers from stresses of installation and environmental loading. Buffer tubes are stranded around a dielectric or steel central member, which serves as an anti-buckling element.
The cable core, typically uses aramid yarn, as the primary tensile strength member. The outer polyethylene jacket is extruded over the core. If armoring is required, a corrugated steel tape is formed around a single jacketed cable with an additional jacket extruded over the armor.

Here's a video example of a loose tube fiber from our YouTube Channel 

Tight-Buffered Cable

Single-fiber tight-buffered cables are used as pigtails, patch cords and jumpers to terminate loose-tube cables directly into opto-electronic transmitters, receivers and other active and passive components.Multi-fiber tight-buffered cables also are available and are used primarily for alternative routing and handling flexibility and ease within buildings.With tight-buffered cable designs, the buffering material is in direct contact with the fiber. This design is suited for "jumper cables" which connect outside plant cables to terminal equipment, and also for linking various devices in a premises network.

The tight-buffered design provides a rugged cable structure to protect individual fibers during handling, routing and connectorization. Yarn strength members keep the tensile load away from the fiber.

As with loose-tube cables, optical specifications for tight-buffered cables also should include the maximum performance of all fibers over the operating temperature range and life of the cable. Averages should not be acceptable.

Here's an example of a tight buffered cable from our channel.


Hope we've given you some good information on what you might need. For other pointers on termination, installation, search our blog and YouTube channel or you can contact Mercy Salinas about fiber optics at 888-797-3697 extension 232. You could also comment below, thanks!

"By Mercy Salinas"

1" HDPE Corrugated Innerduct - Orange

HDPE corrugated innerduct is for outdoor use and comes in different sizes and colors. In this video, Mercy shows you what the orange 1" innerduct looks like. Enjoy:



Want to know more? For full product details, visit our innerduct product section .

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"By Mercy Salinas"

25 pair color code chart

25 pair color code list:

1 white/blue
2 blue/white
3 white/orange
4 orange/white
5 white/green
6 green/white
7 white/brown
8 brown/white
9 white/slate
10 slate/white
11 red/blue
12 blue/red
13 red/orange
14 orange/red
15 red/green
16 green/red
17 red/brown
18 brown/red
19 red/slate
20 slate/red
21 black/blue
22 blue/black
23 black/orange
24 orange/black
25 black/green
26 green/black
27 black/brown
28 brown/black
29 black/slate
30 slate/black
31 yellow/blue
32 blue/yellow
33 yellow/orange
34 orange/yellow
35 yellow/green
36 green/yellow
37 yellow/brown
38 brown/yellow
39 yellow/slate
40 slate/yellow
41 violet/blue
42 blue/violet
43 violet/orange
44 orange/violet
45 violet/green
46 green/violet
47 violet/brown
48 brown/violet
49 violet/slate
50 slate/violet

Free Kwik Tool - Deal of the Week

This weeks Deal of the Week features the Dynacom Kwik Tool. Now until Friday the 12th, 2010, were giving you a FREE Kwik Tool with any order of 50 or more Kwik Jacks. Simply use coupon code FREEWITH50 when placing your order, and we'll cover the cost of the Kwik Tool. That's a savings of $29.96. Plus, you'll save up to 30% on installation time when using the Kwik Tool. This offer is only good until the end of the week, so place your order now. Visit Discount-Low-Voltage.com/The-Kwik-Jack-System to order online, or call us at (888) 797-3697.

Here's a video we did with instructions on how to terminate a Cat5e keystone jack (110 type) and a Cat5e Kwik Jack using the Kwik Tool. Enjoy


Features:
* The Kwik-Tool and Kwik-Jack are priced competitively with regular jacks
* Much faster than 110 tool
* The Kwik-Jack will save you up to 30% of your termination time when used with the Kwik-Tool. You can also use a regular 110 tool if no Kwik-Tool is available
* Uses SureLock Retention Technology for a perfect termination
* Cat3, Cat5e and Cat6 in stock. All use the same tool
* Using the Kwik-Jack Termination System ensures high-quality installations and high performance test results

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We always appreciate customer feedback. Have you ever used the Kwik Tool? We'd like to hear about it. Leave a comment below and tell us about your experience.

FAST Fiber Connector FAQ

AFL Telecommunications FAST Fiber Connectors FAQ

Q: What is the index of refraction over temperature?
A: The refractive index is 1.469 at 25degC, with a thermo-optic coefficient of less than 4.0×10-4/degC.

Q: How do you prevent the gel from drying out inside of the connector?
A: The gel has a low evaporation rate. There is data inside the document that shows the % weight reduction of the gel over time.

Q: What prevents the gel from migrating away from the fiber?
A: The upper body of the mechanical splice part is designed such that the surface area clamping onto bare fiber is minimized, thereby preventing the gel from migrating away from the splice point.

FuseConnect
 Q: What fusion splicer will you need to use the FuseConnect connector?
A: It will work with FSM-11-S, 11-R, 17-R, 17-S-FH, 50-R, 18-R, 18-S, 60-S, and 60-R.

Q: Why does the external tube heater take longer to heat the protective sleeve?
A: The heater takes longer because the FuseConnect protective sleeve is larger than a standard splice sleeve and has an inner sleeve and outer sleeve. The inner sleeve protects the splice. The outer sleeve protects the inner sleeve and captures the cable or fiber and connector body to obtain the pull strength.

Q: What is the loss at the splicing point and connector?
A: The typical loss at the splice point is 0.01 dB and 0.20 dB at the connector.

Q: What type of FuseConnect connectors are available?
A: Currently we only offer single-mode and multimode (50µm, 50µm 10GIG, and 62.5µm) SC/UPC, SC/APC, SC/PC, LC/UPC, and LC/PC in 3mm, 2mm, and 900µm boot.

Q: Do you need to clean the fiber stub at the end of the FuseConnect connector?
A: No, you do not need to clean the fiber because it is clean from the factory.

Q: Why does the protective sleeve not shrink onto the 900µm fiber?
A: Check the mode on the FuseConnect heater and make sure it is set on MODE 2.

Q: How many splices can be executed using the battery-operated FSM-18 or FSM-60 series with the FuseConnect heater power cord attached?
A: Up to 50+ splices per fully charged battery for the FSM-18 or FSM-60 series.

Q: What are the 2mm or 3mm cable clamps use for?
A: The 2mm or 3mm clamps are use to clamp onto the 900µm fiber inside the cable jacket. The clamps prevent the 900µm fiber from pistoning out of the jacket.

Q: Can you terminate the FuseConnect connector onto a Fanout or Breakout kit?
A: Yes, we recommend using our Fanout kit. It will not melt the 900µm furcation tube in our external heater.

Q: Why would the FuseConnect connector melt back to a round end face during the termination process?
A: There are 2 possibilities, one is that the arc power (cleaning or splicing) is too strong; and the other is the insufficient compression force of fibers (the holder may be caught somewhere such that it cannot move smoothly forward).

For installation instructions, visit Discount-Low-Voltage.com

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FireStop Sleeve Kit Makes Wall Penetration Protection Easy

FireStop Ready Sleeve from Specified Technologies Inc.

Today's featured product is the FireStop Ready Sleeve from Specified Technologies Inc. This product is designed for installation in walls or floors up to 10” (250mm) thick. When installed, the sleeve should be positioned at the approximate midpoint of the barrier and extend an equal distance from both sides. The Ready Sleeve is very easy to install, requiring only a phillips head screwdriver and something to make the hole. It's also available in a split design, for use on existing cable runs. The Ready Sleeve is available in 3 different more ...

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