Does a telephone line have an electrical current?

On Friday I have a couple of 20ft shipping containers being delivered to my house block and the 100 meter telephone line that comes from the telephone pole down to the house hangs 8 feet from the ground and since I don't have a landline telephone or the landline internet I'd like to disconnect the cable from the house and am wondering if the telephone line have an electrical current running through it.

I think I read once where it doesn't but I'd like to make absolute sure first.

I'd like to cut the cable where it comes into the house and roll it up and wire it to the pole for use latter should someone want landline but since its 1960's cabling it would need replacing.

While I'm asking how about these 2 IT thingy on the roof, any electrical current.

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Originally Posted by Specialized29er

...and am wondering if the telephone line have an electrical current running through it.

I think I read once where it doesn't but I'd like to make absolute sure first...

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Yes the old copper lines have a current. I believe it's 3 volts so I don't think you need to worry about receiving a fatal shock.

If your line is out of use chances are it's disconnected anyway.

None-the-less, it's probably illegal to cut it - so do it while no one is looking :q.

Cheers, Vann.

Yes a very low current, an old boss of mine used to stick the wires on his tongue to check if they were live if we accidentally ripped up cable whilst digging with the backhoe. So not much chance of getting a shock.

Cheers Andrew

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Originally Posted by Vann

Yes the old copper lines have a current. I believe it's 3 volts so I don't think you need to worry about receiving a fatal shock.

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Sticky speaking they have a voltage.

The off hook V is between 3 and about 9V, on hook V is around 50V, ring V can be up around 120V.

Current only flows when something is connected, like your tongue or a speaker, but it's all low current, <100mA.

I thought it was 48 volts. Used to be common communications equipment battery volts.
Low current so as others have said, cut it when no one is looking.

Not sure if same applies is switched over to NBN service.

Contact "Dial before you dig."

IF there is no working service connected then there will be no voltage on the line. The service (cable) from house to "network boundary" (typically the pit outside the property) is connected to the exchange through a series of "joints," "pillars" and "cabinets." It is not often that a service is directly connected to the "mainframe (MDF)." For the copper pair to carry a current it must be "jumpered" at the MDF and at any enroute "pillars" and "cabinets." It will/should be "open circuit" both ends.

However strange things happen in rural areas like DIY (illegal) modifications to the copper network including "working service" "disconnects" which are not properly isolated.

With NBN now controlling most of the network its best to contact them or "Dial before you dig" even though it is an "aerial service." The Telecommunications Act regulates who can operate, install, modify etc a "service" with regulations and standards of competence for "telco workers."

Its about 48volts. Don't play with it because its illegal and you can damage downstream services.

As said above if you disconnect it and cause damage or interference down the the line you will be liable for any associated costs, it will likely now be the property of Telstra or of the NBN, contact hem and they will most likely disconnect for no cost.

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Originally Posted by China

As said above if you disconnect it and cause damage or interference down the the line you will be liable for any associated costs, it will likely now be the property of Telstra or of the NBN, contact hem and they will most likely disconnect for no cost.

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"Ownership" of cabling within the boundaries of a property depends upon the location of the "network boundary". However "ownership" does not remove the obligation to maintain "cabling standards" or to have "work" performed by an appropriately qualified person who holds an ACMA Cabling Registration.

Communications Alliance - 3.14 Telecommunications Network Boundary (commsalliance.com.au)

Work as a registered cabler | ACMA

We have a private pole which we paid for and everything between the house and that pole is on us. We replaced the original underground cable with an aerial cable and our internet speed went from 18 to 52 instantly.

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Originally Posted by Chris Parks

We have a private pole which we paid for and everything between the house and that pole is on us. We replaced the original underground cable with an aerial cable and our internet speed went from 18 to 52 instantly.

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I think you will find that regardless who paid for it and who continues to pay for it’s upkeep you still can’t tamper with the wiring unless you have the appropriate Comms accreditation in the same manor as with gas services.

Having said that I would not have an issue removing the old service but my recollection of the event if questioned would be a tree took it out during a storm :B

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Originally Posted by Pearo

Its about 48volts. Don't play with it because its illegal and you can damage downstream services.

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The 48v or similar is very low current & designed to drop to a very low voltage when phone is off hook I.e phone puts a low resistance across the line. That is how the telephone exchange detects you lift up the hand piece off the phone.
The old rotary dial phones actually shorted the line (from memory) for every pulse.

anyway, shorting the 48v will not break the exchange.

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Originally Posted by Pete57

anyway, shorting the 48v will not break the exchange.

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Beside the point, its illegal to do any work on the line unless you are licenced. IF you have to ask questions about it, then you should not be touching it.

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Originally Posted by Beardy

I think you will find that regardless who paid for it and who continues to pay for it’s upkeep you still can’t tamper with the wiring unless you have the appropriate Comms accreditation in the same manor as with gas services.

Having said that I would not have an issue removing the old service but my recollection of the event if questioned would be a tree took it out during a storm :B

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That's not what we were told but not all advice is always correct especially in the confusion of the change over to the NBN.

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Originally Posted by Chris Parks

That's not what we were told but not all advice is always correct especially in the confusion of the change over to the NBN.

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They didn’t say an unqualified person could tamper with it did they? Yes it is yours as is the power, water, sewer and gas supply into your property but it still technically requires a professional to interfere with it

Thanks for the help guys and while out riding this morning I see others on the same line has done exactly the same.

Disconnect, roll up the cable and wire it to the pole beside the road.

This is one of my bikes I was out riding this morning and 3 weeks ago I fitted a pair of the higher profile Continental TKC70 all terrain tyres and a complete pea shooter exhaust and header pipe.

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Originally Posted by Beardy

They didn’t say an unqualified person could tamper with it did they? Yes it is yours as is the power, water, sewer and gas supply into your property but it still technically requires a professional to interfere with it

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No specification was put on it. The question of working between the private pole and the street connection was definitely a no no and that and that was made very clear.

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Originally Posted by Beardy

Yes it is yours as is the power, water, sewer and gas supply into your property but it still technically requires a professional to interfere with it

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I've done DIY work on all of those services at my property. I'd be very surprised if anyone on this forum hasn't worked on at least one of them. Let he who has not sinned......

Yep guilty as charged.
In 1978 when we first moved into our place there were 3 obvious DIY old school phone sockets connections including one with mains electrical cabling, twisted connections and gaffer. I stripped it all out back to the connect box outside and rewired it with proper plugs/sockets.
House Electrical wiring was similar and included many circuit branches of (damaged) cloth covered wires on ceramic insulators. I went up into ceiling cavity multiple times with a multimeter and trailing an earth line and removed/replaced many meters of this wiring. Finally In 1994 we decided to get house completely required. In 2005 I moved/rerouted about a dozen cables to install an attic. Have since added a number of power and lighting points. Shed has 2 connects both done by sparki s but Ive rewired/added stuff multiple times.
The house plumbing was a mix of rusty galv and Cu when we bought it. I replaced all the galv with Cu but during various house 1990s Reno’s it was all professionally redone. Have since replace most taps, added several garden tap and plumbed the shed in (water and sewage)
In 2013 I extended the house gas line to the shed. I connected into an exposed pipe at the side of the house and added a gas tap. This has not been used for some time and tap at house take off point is wired closed.
Also wired multiple Ethernet points in house in 2002.

I bought the house back in April 2021 and this evening I took a look at the real-estate sales advertisement and I must have forgotten all about the house not having a landline service, having one foot in the grave cancer will do that to you and its probably why I have a mobile Telstra WiFi service.

There's a few houses down my road and they all have a WiFi thingy on the roof so I'd say the line has been decommissioned and my line is now rolled up and wired to the pole beside the road.
As you can see the telephone wires aren't even copper and looks more like 2 strands of thin fencing wire.

Job done and now to move onto removing the galvanised bung from brass fitting on the Council town water line in the front of my yard.

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I think we all have sinned although if a member asks some thing that may be unlawful, contrary to insurance etc you can't advise them to do it.

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Originally Posted by Specialized29er

As you can see the telephone wires aren't even copper and looks more like 2 strands of thin fencing wire.

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Not all of the "copper network" more correctly called the "CAN - Customer Access Network" is copper! Aluminium conductors have been in use for decades in some applications.

As for performing DIY "customer cabling" tasks - its a case of beware, it can come back to bite you! As pointed out a number of times by others, DIY modifications to gas, electrical, and telco networks are regulated for very good reason.

I'm now retired from Telstra after a 40 year career, and have been for a number of years, but in my working life as a "technical specialist / subject matter expert" (Surveyor / GIS / Designer) I was involved in numerous customer investigations over the years where the customer alleged or had made claims that the design of the CAN had caused damage to their property.

One case in VIC alleged that the pit and pipe design permitted water to enter through the cable entry conduit into the house causing considerable damage to a tongue and groove floor. The plaintiff supplied numerous photographs to support their claim. After I sourced a series of aerial photographs that showed extensive civil and landscaping works post installation of the original service the plaintiff withdrew their claim. Their own photographs supported Telstra's contention that the pit and pipe was not installed by Telstra. Further investigations on site further supported that with the non-contract schedule pits and pipe "found" in the cable entry. The claimant had to pick up the tab for all remedial works to the floor and the CAN pit and pipe. Telstra was gracious in not seeking "costs" for the investigative costs investigating the claim, which would have run into the many thousands of dollars given "call out" fees, and the billable time for me & others involved.

Yes in other instances the customer did have a justifiable case in that they had not caused the "fault." Many "faults" in service standard, or a "non-working" service can be traced back to "backhoe fade" however it is usually pretty easy to identify the culprit.

Telco (NBN & and Telcos) customers should be aware that repairs on the customer side of the "network boundary" are at their costs as the customer is deemed to be the owner of that plant.

One word of caution I would offer to rural property owners is that IF you have any redundant "aerial network" (telco, power etc) on your property discuss "risk mitigation" with Telstra (or the energy supplier who may own the plant) to have the redundant plant removed. Especially if you have had the power network companies perform aerial inspections with helicopters!! DAHIKT - please!

Proof that you have contacted "Dial Before You Dig" is essential to protect yourself should you perform any civil works on your property, or in this instance a task that may damage the aerial network.

So the message is - risk mitigate! Don't perform DIY modifications.

Avoidable Accidents No. 2 Wirestrikes involving known wires: A manageable aerial agriculture hazard (atsb.gov.au)

Must admit I've got rusty. I happened upon this whilst searching on the 'net for another matter - the AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS/ACIF S009:2006 "Installation requirements for customer cabling (Wiring rules)" - Page 141 Figure J4 explains the network boundary in the typical detached house scenario.

NOTE - you must be a registered cabler or working under the supervision of a registered cabler to perform work, modify, disconnect any part of the "telecommunications network."

Microsoft Word - S009_2006r V2.doc (commsalliance.com.au)

Note the warning re potentially hazardous voltages on Page v -

WARNING
This Standard includes requirements
intended to ensure the safety of
customers, cabling providers, carrier staff,
and the general public. However, cabling
providers are reminded that metallic
telecommunications conductors, earth
connections, metallic parts, etc. may, at
any given time, be at a voltage that
exceeds the Telecommunications
Network Voltage (TNV) rating of
AS/NZS 60950.1. Examples of an
overvoltage condition may include:


• contact with AC mains power through
customer equipment failure or cabling
faults;
• power feeding;
• surge currents and induced voltages
through power system faults.

Accordingly, cabling providers working
on customer cabling are warned to treat
the metallic parts of a
telecommunications installation as
potentially harmful.

Note: A carrier may disconnect customer equipment or customer cabling
that is, or is likely to be, a threat to the health or safety of any person
or the integrity of a telecommunications network or a facility.