Questions about British Telecom modular plugs

[ledtester]

The Vernier Labquest devices use British Telecom (BT) modular plugs for connecting sensors to their data acquisition devices:

https://www.vernier.com/til/5457

and they refer to them as "BT Analog (Right Hand)" and "BT Digital (Left Hand)".

They sell pre-made cable assemblies:

https://www.vernier.com/til/818

but I'd like to make my own.

My questions are:

- Does anyone know of a source for these modular plugs?

- Can I use a BT Analog plug in a BT Digital socket if I snip off the retaining clip? (Of course I'll have to find another way to hold the plug in.)

- How would I go about creating a custom cable assembly once I have these plugs? Is it just like with RJ11 plugs -- i.e. there are grooves for the individual conductors and then you crimp? Is there a special crimping tool I need? I have cheap RJ11 crimping tool.

- I found this US ebay listing for "BT 631A BABT/BRITISH TELECOM 631A CONNECTOR":

https://www.ebay.com/itm/142653287218

Are these what Vernier calls the "BT Analog (Right Handed)" plugs? I'd like to find a source for both the left-handed and right-handed plugs.

Thanks!

[nfmax]

The 'analogue' connector is the one currently used in the UK analogue phone system, the 6-pin variant of which, I gather from Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_telephone_socket  is called the BT631A. The 'digital' variant is much less commonly used, and is called the 630A. The 4 pin variants of theses connectors are exactly the same size & shape, but have only 4 contacts populated: they are types BT431A & BT430A. You will need a special crimping tool, or a die set for a suitable universal tool, to fit them to your own cable. It may be simpler to but ready-made phone leads and 'adapt' them. I found a selection of BT631A leads at Farnell (part of Newark) https://uk.farnell.com/w/c/cable-wire-cable-assemblies/cable-assemblies/telephone-cables?connector-to-connector=bt631a-plug-to-bt631a-plug|bt631a-plug-to-bt631a-receptacle|bt631a-plug-to-rj12-plug. I also found suppliers for both types of connector, searching using the connector type number, mostly UK-based as you would expect.

[ledtester]

Thanks! I ordered some cable assemblies from Newark and it seems they will ship them from their UK warehouse at no extra cost. Not only that, but the Newark price is even cheaper than than the Farnell price!

Moreover, my order contained items split between the US and UK and I was just notified that my US items have already shipped. That's quite a bit of service for only $10 in shipping!

[Gyro]

I wish it worked that well in the other direction!