is it dangerous to dissconnect at bt phone socket?

tina92

Hi there,

I am getting new doors in and 2 of the leads go thoguh the old architrave from the bt phone socket inside house (replacing with new architrave) I am thinking of screwing the 2 screws off socket disconnecting the 2 wires and then pulling through the old architrave. I wonder if its dangerous to tinker with the bt phone socket as I understand that the power supply to house is independant of it, so power to phone socket is always on.

thanks for any replies

tina

Andybez38

OMG there's a million volts running through that little socket. Touch at your own peril. I think on a serious note you will be ok to fondle with the socket.

totalsolutions

.....Enjoy

Conor_3

If it's the wire that goes from the BT side of the master socket (i.e from the socket to the pole on the street), if you do something which causes a fault, you are liable for the full cost of the repairs which can end up being £1000's if it knackers up kit in the exchange.

As there's 50V AC running through the wires all the time, if you touch them together you can potentially cause a fault.

If it's the consumer side, i.e the wires are attached to the bit you can unscrew and pull out of the wallbox, then you're OK.

fwor

Conor: As there's 50V AC running through the wires all the time, if you touch them together you can potentially cause a fault.

All BT lines should have 50V DC across them, and it is extremely unlikely that you will cause any permanent damage at the exchange if you accidentally touch the two wires together.

And in the unlikely event that you did cause any damage at the exchange end by shorting across the line, it would be virtually impossible for BT to prove that you caused it.

tina92

Hi again,

thank you for all replies. Its actually both wires the master bt wire and the phone extension to upstairs that run through the old archatrive and frame of door (both will need to be replaced) that I need to pull out. I cant see an easy way to do it unless its possible for joiners to cut around where wires are in wood and release tham that way.

I have looked inside the socket and it does seem a very fiddly job to do with lots of different coloured little wires to disconnect. Has anyone here done it?

Do you think bt would be sympathetic atall to my case since their master wire does run through the architrive (done by previous owner) and they might not charge me for a call out.

thanks
tina

totalsolutions

Lots of wires, sure but only two are used the rest are spare.
Cut it out and re run it properly under floor boards if you can.
http://www.wppltd.demon.co.uk/WPP/Wiring/UK_telephone/uk_telephone.html

tina92

Hi again,

Thanks for all the quick and helpful replies. Well I have had a look inside and the consumer side of wiring seems straight forward enough. On the bt master side I can see only 2 wires connected the blue going to A and the white going to B. There is also an E with nothing attached as well as a lot of other wires not attached.

Would this be correct as its hard to see clearly with the jumble of wires at the bt master?
If I do decode to unscrew the wires will I get any shock atall or just feel nothing?

sorry for asking I'm such a cowared...:)

thanks again, you all have been very helpful.

tina

Conor_3

Yeah..only the two wires. The white one will be a white with blue dots on.

You won't get an electric shock.

moonrakerz

Conor wrote: »

As there's 50V AC running through the wires

Just to be pedantic, Volts don't "run" anywhere, Amps do.

espresso

Conor wrote: »

You won't get an electric shock.

Unless someone happens to ring you while you are touching the wires, as 75V AC ringing will give you quite a tingle!

:eek: