removing excess phone sockets - who can do that?

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  • Cornucopia
    Cornucopia Posts: 16,154 Forumite
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    The UK ring voltage is 50V DC. Apparently, it can rise to 60V for a modern exchange, close by, but the idea is that it is a non-fatal voltage.

    Confirmed here: http://www.britishtelephones.com/howtele.htm
  • Mister_G
    Mister_G Posts: 1,925 Forumite
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    I'm assuming that the cable coming into the back of the master socket is the line in.

    Therefore you should be able to disconnect the cable coming into the side of this socket.

    I suggest that you remove it completely from inside the socket, rather than just cutting it, as this could short out the incoming line.

    Be careful not to disturb the incoming cable where it connects to the IDC connector block.

    You may want to consider getting one of these

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KRONE-STYLE-IDC-INSERTION-PUNCH-DOWN-TOOL-RJ45-NETWORK-PATCH-PANEL-AND-MODULES-/192182358527?hash=item2cbef611ff:g:lwMAAOSw5cRZEbxd
  • Mister_G
    Mister_G Posts: 1,925 Forumite
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    Cornucopia wrote: »
    The UK ring voltage is 50V DC. Apparently, it can rise to 60V for a modern exchange, close by, but the idea is that it is a non-fatal voltage.

    Confirmed here: http://www.britishtelephones.com/howtele.htm

    This appears to be incorrect.

    The steady state DC voltage is 50v, but the ring voltage is 90v AC.
  • Cornucopia
    Cornucopia Posts: 16,154 Forumite
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    Mister_G wrote: »
    This appears to be incorrect.

    The steady state DC voltage is 50v, but the ring voltage is 90v AC.

    Another source here confirming the 50v steady voltage, but a 75v RMS AC signal at 25Hz providing the ring signal. (This would originally have driven the electro-mechanical bell).
  • wallofbeans
    wallofbeans Posts: 1,392 Forumite
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    Here is the entire layout of sockets and boxes in the house, covers on and off of all (except for the master - which I can't get one of the screws to come out and will have to break it to get inside).

    I'm still a little confused about how some of these things connect and where a couple of wires go to....

    https://imgur.com/a/MEX9S

    I am so grateful to everyone for advising me on this! I am learning a lot and starting to make sense of how this works, how it's connected, and what I can do to sort it all out. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
  • wallofbeans
    wallofbeans Posts: 1,392 Forumite
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    Mister_G wrote: »
    I'm assuming that the cable coming into the back of the master socket is the line in.

    Therefore you should be able to disconnect the cable coming into the side of this socket.

    I suggest that you remove it completely from inside the socket, rather than just cutting it, as this could short out the incoming line.

    Be careful not to disturb the incoming cable where it connects to the IDC connector block.

    You may want to consider getting one of these

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KRONE-STYLE-IDC-INSERTION-PUNCH-DOWN-TOOL-RJ45-NETWORK-PATCH-PANEL-AND-MODULES-/192182358527?hash=item2cbef611ff:g:lwMAAOSw5cRZEbxd

    Great idea. Thank you! I think I will replace the master socket box entirely so can remove it then. The one there now is cheap and flimsy and can only be glued to the wall. I want to replace it with something more solid.

    Tool looks helpful - thanks for the link!
  • Mister_G
    Mister_G Posts: 1,925 Forumite
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    You can use a small screwdriver, but you stand a chance of splaying the terminal too much, so that you get a poor connection. The tool is the correct size for the terminal.

    Why a plastic one is dearer I do not know!

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solwise-Plastic-IDC-insertion-tool-/112108500083?hash=item1a1a2ff473:g:QpwAAOSw0TxZZk0e
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 5,186 Forumite
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    There's a useful looking website here: http://www.rob-r.co.uk/other/UKphonecatwiring.htm although I don't know how involved you want to get.

    If you just want to sort out the master socket (the one hanging off the wall) I would seriously consider phoning BT and tell them that you've got a very old master socket that's damaged and hanging off the wall. If they can do it for free (or a fixed low price) you can get them to fix it in a suitable place, they'll disconnect all of the extensions when fitting it.

    The small boxes by the way are purely junction boxes.
  • wallofbeans
    wallofbeans Posts: 1,392 Forumite
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    edited 10 September 2017 at 1:12PM
    Colin_Maybe wrote: »
    There's a useful looking website here: http://www.rob-r.co.uk/other/UKphonecatwiring.htm although I don't know how involved you want to get.

    If you just want to sort out the master socket (the one hanging off the wall) I would seriously consider phoning BT and tell them that you've got a very old master socket that's damaged and hanging off the wall. If they can do it for free (or a fixed low price) you can get them to fix it in a suitable place, they'll disconnect all of the extensions when fitting it.

    The small boxes by the way are purely junction boxes.

    Originally, I just wanted to be able to remove the socket in the back bedroom. But now I've found the master socket (and the state it's in) I'd like to replace it. And then remove all the other sockets as well as the one I originally wanted to get rid of.

    Can I call BT and ask? I don't want to get stung with the call out charge. And I don't want to flag up to them that there's an issue with the master socket and then not let them fix it and do it myself... do I?

    FYI - keeping the master socket exactly where it is, is absolutely fine with me. I just want it to be safe and secure and work. I don't even mind the bulky boxes, anything is better than the current situation.

    And getting rid of all the junction boxes and random phone sockets would be wonderful, but `I can take them out and repair, replaster, repaint behind them. There's a lot of DIY to be done so it'll just go on the list...
  • wallofbeans
    wallofbeans Posts: 1,392 Forumite
    First Post Name Dropper First Anniversary
    Can I just remove the second junction box from above the front door then? I assume I just need to remove the wires connecting it from the first box and then I can take out the second box and all the wiring leading up to the box in the back bedroom.

    And then could I do the same with the junction box next to the under stairs cupboard? I don't know where the wire going out of the top of it goes so I could I leave that in the junction box but remove the lower wire at least?

    And then figure out where the top wire goes when I take up the stairs carpets and can track it?

    I assume it's not a good idea to leave bare wires around, and leaving them hidden in the junction box, even if not connected to anything, is a better idea?
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