Voltage in a "Tel Co" box

[MustISO]

Just checking to make sure it's all low voltage in there. I need to move our telco box and I have to disconnect the line from the phone co.

 

[KK]

It's low so are the amps.

 

[BigJ]

Yes all of that stuff is low voltage. Amperage is low also, like KK said.

 

[BooGiMaN]

if you are talking about the voltage coming from your home telephone line...where you plug your phone in....that is definitely not low voltage.

i wouldnt suggest holding the leads when a ring comes in, as a throw back to the days when the line voltage powered the bell ringer in the phone the voltage is about 100VAC when it rings i forget the amperage but its like sticking you finger into a 110 VAC light socket socket

at idle when there is no ring it is low voltage, thats why is you work on the phone line you leave a telephone off the hook so a ring signal cannot come in.

 

[z42]

It depends.

Most phone wires are at extremely low Amperage, so the 51V won't do anything to you. At most you might get a little tingle (think static discharge) when the phone rings.

Some phone circuits are provided over digital amplification equipment that can pack a little bit of a jolt though.

There is also always the potential if you have power lines and phone lines sharing the same pole that the electricity is somehow getting into the phone ground wire and going to ground through your phone drop wire. If your line was installed properly, the fuse should blow and alert you, but I have seen improper installations many times back when I worked for SBC/AT&T. Best thing to do is bridge each wire to the ground with a screwdriver just to make sure there's no juice going through there that isn't supposed to be there.

I learned to be a little overcautious when I almost got zapped off a pole one time.

 

[MustISO]

Mainly what I'm worried about is where the phone company's line come from the ground into the box. There's like copper plate that it's bolted too. Makes is look kind of ominous.

 

[z42]

how far do you have to move the box? some of the copper shielding on the drop wire is bolted to the ground inside the telco box as a safety feature, and should be kept on there but isn't dangerous at all.

When I worked at SBC we would move our boxes for customers and the rates weren't too high. There are ways to get it done free as well, but it depends on how far you are trying to move it.

 

[cavemanmoron]

48v avg.

just don't stand in water, and don't touch the wires together.