Telecommunications cable comes in many sizes; 1 pair, 3 conductor, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2400, 2700, 3000, 3600 and 4200 pairs.
Cables of 50 pair and larger cables are grouped in 25 pair units and each wrapped with colored tape to form binder groups. The binder groups follow the same color code as the ring wire of each pair ie 1st binder is blue/white.
In cables of 200 pair and larger binder groups are further bound into multiunits of 50, 100 or 300 pairs and bound with colored tape following the same scheme as binder groups.
Older homes are typically wired with 3 conductor and/or 2 pair JK. Newer homes and recent installations are typically done with PIC cable in 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 pair.
| Pair # | Tip - Ring (JK cable) | Tip - Ring (PIC cable) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green - Red | White/Blue band - Blue/White band |
| 2 | Black - Yellow | White/Orange band - Orange/White band |
| 3 | White/Green band - Green/White band | |
| 4 | White/Brown band - Brown/White band | |
| 5 | White/Slate band - Slate/White band | |
| 6 | Red/Blue band - Blue/Red band | |
| 7 | Red/Orange band - Orange/Red band | |
| 8 | Red/Green band - Green/Red band | |
| 9 | Red/Brown band - Brown/Red band | |
| 10 | Red/Slate band - Slate/Red band | |
| 11 | Black/Blue band - Blue/Black band | |
| 12 | Black/Orange band - Orange/Black band | |
| 13 | Black/Green band - Green/Black band | |
| 14 | Black/Brown band - Brown/Black band | |
| 15 | Black/Slate band - Slate/Black band | |
| 16 | Yellow/Blue band - Blue/Yellow band | |
| 17 | Yellow/Orange band - Orange/Yellow band | |
| 18 | Yellow/Green band - Green/Yellow band | |
| 19 | Yellow/Brown band - Brown/Yellow band | |
| 20 | Yellow/Slate band - Slate/Yellow band | |
| 21 | Violet/Blue band - Blue/Violet band | |
| 22 | Violet/Orange band - Orange/Violet band | |
| 23 | Violet/Green band - Green/Violet band | |
| 24 | Violet/Brown band - Brown/Violet band | |
| 25 | Violet/Slate band - Slate/Violet band |
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