how many sockets on a normal home bt line?

[davidd]

I currently have two BT lines coming into my house. 1 live and one not.

Both have 3 extensions on them (inc the master).

Can I join them up and get all 6 sockets live on the line that works? I have had a quick google which seems to say ~I can only have REN equiv of 4 which is fine as there will only ever be a couple of phones and a modem connected.

TIA

D

[sparkyjohn]

Sockets do not have a REN themselves. Providing you have a maximum REN of 4 between the phones on the line you'll be fine

[malman]

Not sure if you can join the masters but the extensions should be fine. Meaning you could move the 3 extensions of one master onto the other.

[GreenV8S]

Make sure you only have one master connected.

[miniman]

GreenV8S said:

Make sure you only have one master connected.

What is the difference between the master and the others? Always wondered this...

[sparkyjohn]

miniman said:

GreenV8S said: Make sure you only have one master connected. What is the difference between the master and the others? Always wondered this...

The master (NTE5) contains the junction box that connects your BT line to your home's wiring. If the master has a split faceplate when is removed this disconnects the BT line from your home line, allowing BT to check their line isolated from any problem your home wiring may be causing.
I misread your original post. You can disconnect the two (?) extension sockets from the 'dead' master and connect them to the live master, you cannot wire the extension sockets and the 'dead' master to the existing 'live' master as this will ground your phone system and make it behave oddly, if at all. It is illegal to disconnect an NTE5 from the BT line so the 'dead' master is best left on the wall once you have disconnected the extensions from it. People tend to ignore the strictures relating to the master box, but this can bite you if you ever need BT to check your residential wiring (since they'll charge you for a new box installation @ £175 IIRC)

Edited to add: Some has produced this excellent summary (which would have saved me writing the above )

>> Edited by sparkyjohn on Thursday 6th November 21:28

[davidd]

Ah yes, that all makes sense. I intended to leave the old master alone and just use the two other socket extensions.

I spent a couple of hours last night moving one on the existing line to a more appropriate position, we have ADSL coming in next week so once that is working properly then I'll disconnect the old circuit from its master and wire it all together.

Thanks

David

[zumbruk]

sparkyjohn said:

Edited to add: Some has produced this excellent summary (which would have saved me writing the above )21:28

Peter Parry isn't a . See here as to why www.diyfaq.org.uk/humour.html