Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!ems
From: ems@Apple.COM (Mike Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: power from phone line
Keywords: phone, power, remote
Message-ID: <5651@internal.Apple.COM>
Date: 7 Dec 89 04:47:43 GMT
References: <14230@jumbo.dec.com> <3542@kitty.UUCP> <6300@lindy.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 22

In article <6300@lindy.Stanford.EDU> sorka@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Alan Waterman) writes:
>
>One thing you forgot to mention is that you get a lot more power out
>of the line when it is ringing. I got the worst shock of my life when
>I held the red and green wires(one in each hand) while the line sent
>a ring signal. It almost knocked me out. It mush have been high voltage
>and low amps because it went through me real easy.

Vague memory from too many decades ago... I think the ring signal is 
pulsed DC at about 50 V and the current is 'all the inductor can carry'...

Most lethal is a LOW current modest voltage signal that ocilates at
a particularly sensitive frequency to the heart muscle.  I've forgotten
the frequency and if it was AC or pulsed DC. 
-- 

E. Michael Smith  ems@apple.COM

'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has
 genius, power and magic in it.'  -  Goethe

I am not responsible nor is anyone else.  Everything is disclaimed.