Idle voltage for disconnected phoneline?

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limegreen

103 posts

Master Geek

#30017 26-Jan-2009 22:38

My outgoing tenants suggested that the phonline seemed not be working. I know people here might find this unbelievable, but they haven't had any telecommunications services on in months, so I'm not entirely sure how they know this (although it may be that the phone stopped working, they didn't care, so they just stopped their account).

Anyway, there appears to be very little voltage in the lines (around 1 V instead of ~50 V). My recollection of disconnected phones is that they're usually juiced up, and they have a series of long beeps. I've traced the phone line back through a succession of successively dodgier wiring (big ups to the genius that ran the phone through matching white cables between two locations!) back to some really ancient looking red and black wires (still with feeble voltage).

Is this likely to be a problem beyond the house? And I should call telecom?

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cokemaster

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#192189 26-Jan-2009 22:52

It could be - but I don't think they'll take any action, unless the line has an active account...

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limegreen

103 posts

Master Geek

#192191 26-Jan-2009 23:04

Thanks for your reply.

I assume the next tenants will want the phone connected, so maybe I should just tidy it all up, and wait until then!

richms

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#192631 29-Jan-2009 00:07

Last I checked, phone wiring is not something that a landlord has to provide in rented accomodation, just like tv antenna is not required.

So I would just leave it, if the new tenents want a phone its between them and telecom.

Richard rich.ms

teletek

45 posts

Geek

#192955 30-Jan-2009 16:27

If there is no tone on the line it is most likely because it is no longer connected to the line card in the exchange.

If a line has been on disconnect tone for a certain period the EN can be allocated to another customer and this will leave the line without tone and voltage.

The line will most likely still be intact to the cabinet or the exchange frame so it may just require the jumpering and activation once the customer makes an application for service.

Telecom will not do anything to the line unless there is an order for service on that line.

Best just to leave it to the new tennant and Telecom to sort out.

limegreen

103 posts

Master Geek

#192959 30-Jan-2009 16:54

Thanks teletek. That is the answer I'm after. So it has in fact being fully disconnected. Unfortunately, because of the genius who used two white wires, I don't know which way round to reassemble the lines. the old lines into the house are red & black though, so I'll assume that they're the sensible way round!

teletek

45 posts

Geek

#193086 31-Jan-2009 14:43

limegreen: Thanks teletek. That is the answer I'm after. So it has in fact being fully disconnected. Unfortunately, because of the genius who used two white wires, I don't know which way round to reassemble the lines. the old lines into the house are red & black though, so I'll assume that they're the sensible way round!

You're welcome.

With regards to the red and black going to two white wires, I wouldn't worry about it. There are few if any devices i.e. phones, faxes, modems that require correct polarity on the A and B or Tip and Ring legs. As long as there are two conductors with good insulation you'll get dial tone.

If the customer has any problem with the activation of the intact it will be passed on to a tech as a failed intact. He'll sort it out pretty quickly if there are two good wires to the Red Black which is the older style lead in cable. Good solid conductors in that old twin. Not much goes wrong with those even after 30 years exposed to the elements.

Cheers