How to wire a TV / FM / Satellite Triplexer

[bobzy20]

I have just moved into a new build property (7 years old) and there is a Triplexer face plate on the wall. It’s actually this one:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-tv-fm-...tracking url&gclid=CP3Sju37l7YCFYbHtAodKR0Akw

I tried plugging in the TV but there wasn’t any reception and everything was loose inside. I decided to take the Triplexer plate off the wall only to find out that nothing was connected inside!

I have 3 black cables + 2x white telephone cables sitting inside the back box which I guess are for the TV, FM, Satellite & the slave telephone socket. I can wire the telephone ok but there is only one hole for one of those black cables.

See photo below:

I guess I only need the TV port to work but when I tried to push the TV wire into that hole it wouldn’t go in at all.

Are these easy to fit or do you need a special tool!?

Any help would be great.

 

[ChrisFrost]

It doesn't work the way you think. You wouldn't normally need three wires for a triplexer.

The idea with this type of plate is that just one aerial cable carries TV+FM/DAB+Satellite. Some other box - usually in the loft - is responsible for combining the signals from the aerials & dish. This is called multiplexing. Then a single wire carries all three. The wall plate filters them back out to separate signals again.

If you have three wires then either the socket point has been wired for one signal down (from the loft box) + one spare (a backup) + a return feed going to the loft for sending up the signal from a Sky box to other rooms in the house. Either that, or the house owner just flooded the place with coax with no real plan about what they were doing

Where you should start is at the loft or wherever all the aerial cables come in the house. Check that there's something there such as a distribution amp to deal with the signals first.

Then you need to find out which of the three cables is connected to that box.

Once you know that you're dealing with then wiring the socket is easy. What you want is a little needle of the copper core poking out from the white inner insulation. Then the copper braiding folded back over the outer jacket.

This image is from Satcure's website. It's a good technical resource. The little screw clamps the copper core.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Wiring instructions here MK Website

3 wires would probably be 2 for Sky Plus and a Return.

 

[bobzy20]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

I’ve been in the loft already and those 3 black cables and just lying on the loft insulation without connectors. One of those cables was labelled TV so I know which cable I need now at both ends. No loft box or anything in the loft apart from an aerial. I have added a connector to the TV cable in the loft and connected it to the aerial.

Now I just need to connect the TV cable to the triplexer. My triplexer doesn’t seem to have a small screw that clamps the copper core, it seems you just push it in the small hole and then clamp it down using the cable clamp.

I will try to push the TV copper core cable into that hole again, maybe it needs a little flathead screw driver to open the hole.

 

[Sam Gangee]

DON'T push a screwdriver in. You could spring the contacts permanently apart! Simply cut the solid centre core copper wire at a 45° angle to form a point. Lubricate with silicone grease and push it in.

However, since you want only UHF, I see no point in using a Triplexer plate at all. Why not use a single TV socket plate?

http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/wall_plates.htm#decombiner
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/wall_plates.htm#plates