Is a phone cable live?

Ambit_miffed

Hi,

I have a phone cable that runs up a wall, I have no idea where it starts, or whe it finishes, but I want to get rid of it.

Any idea how I can test if it is "live"


I would say that there is an 80% chance that it runs to an old phone socket which it removed years ago, but before I cut it, want to make sure

Cheers

fwor

Do you have access to a meter? If so, a "live" phone line should have approx. 50 volts DC across the two wires.

If you don't, shorting the two wires together should produce a small spark when viewed in the dark.

The voltage across a phone line is too small to harm you, and shorting it out won't harm the line equipment at the exchange.

Lifeforms

I once found out that a phone line was live by trying to rewire an end plug on it, using my teeth, instead of a cable stripper. Wouldn't recommend that way though! Got a bit tingly

aerostar

fwor wrote: »

Do you have access to a meter? If so, a "live" phone line should have approx. 50 volts DC across the two wires.

If you don't, shorting the two wires together should produce a small spark when viewed in the dark.

The voltage across a phone line is too small to harm you, and shorting it out won't harm the line equipment at the exchange.

Whilst 50 volts will not necessarily hurt you, if the line is live and someone calls it, you could get a nasty shock as the ringing voltage will increase it up to 100 volts AC.

I believe that in industrial machines voltages above 24 are classed as hazardous.

Squire_Fulwood

Wear rubber gloves. You can't do any damage to the exchange.