How to Rewire a Phone System
- 1). Locate the unused telephone wall plate -- typically this will be in an unobtrusive and out-of-the-way corner in a room. Remove any screws that are on the wall plate with a Phillips screwdriver -- if there are no screws, ignore this part of the step.
- 2). To loosen the telephone wall plate from the wall, first insert the edge of a metal putty knife into the seam between the left side of the plate and the wall. Run the edge of the putty knife up and down the side of the plate. Repeat this procedure on the other side of the telephone wall plate.
- 3). Insert the edge of the metal putty knife into the seam between the top of the telephone wall plate and the wall. Run the putty knife back and forth across the length of the plate. Repeat this procedure on the bottom seam of the plate.
- 4). Pry the telephone wall plate off with your fingers now that the putty knife has loosened it from the wall. Wipe the inside edges of the compartment that is now visible with a paper towel.
- 5). Loosen the two top screws on the telephone connector block that is inside the compartment. Spray each screw with a one-second burst of electrical cleaning spray.
- 6). Wrap the exposed end of the pre-stripped red wire attached to the modular phone jack around the top left screw. Wrap the exposed end of the pre-stripped green wire attached to the modular phone jack around the top right screw. Tighten both screws.
- 7). Insert the modular phone jack, socket end first, into the hole in the back of the modular wall plate. Twist the phone jack back and forth in the hole until it clicks into position.
- 8). Place the modular wall plate on the wall, over the compartment. Attach the plate to the wall using the screws taken from the telephone wall plate (if any), otherwise apply bonding glue to the edges of the compartment before placing the plate over the compartment and holding it there for two minutes so that the glue can adhere. A modular plug from a corded phone can now be plugged into the socket on the wall plate.
