How to Modify a Phone Jack
- 1). With a screwdriver, remove the pair of long screws fastening the telephone jack to the wall. Gently pull the telephone jack away from the wall without disconnecting the wiring.
- 2). Study the back of the telephone jack. The telephone only uses the telephone line connected to the two innermost pins of the telephone jack. The positive lead (tip) connects to the left innermost pin and the negative lead (ring) connects to the right innermost pin.
- 3). Trace the wires connected to the two innermost pins and identify the terminals they connect to. Terminal A is the terminal for the tip lead and terminal B is the ring lead. Record the locations of terminals A and B.
- 4). Modify the telephone line that your telephone currently connects to by noting the colors of the telephone wires connected to terminals A and B. Assuming your house is wired according to the traditional color code, a green wire on terminal A and a red wire on terminal B means that your telephone is connected to line one. A black wire on terminal A and a yellow wire on terminal B means that the telephone is connected to line two. An orange wire on terminal A and a blue wire on terminal B means the telephone is connected to line three.
- 5). Loosen the screws on terminals A and B, and remove the wires from the terminals. Select the wires for the telephone line you wish to connect to and strip a 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends. Wrap the tip wire around terminal A and wrap the ring wire around terminal B. Tighten the terminal screws and fasten the telephone jack to the wall with the long screws you removed in Step 1.
