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From: esmonddp@jupiter.crd.ge.com (Daniel P. Esmond)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: telephone systems
Keywords: jack wiring telephone
Message-ID: <4370@crdgw1.crd.ge.com>
Date: 28 Dec 89 18:25:25 GMT
Sender: news@crdgw1.crd.ge.com
Lines: 32

HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!

Last night I went to change a phone jack from a four pronger to a
modular, in the house that I rent. Opening the old outlet I found 
two sets of wires feeding to the outlet (not unusual), and proceeded
to change the plate. Touching a wire I recieved a HV shock which 
didn't surprise me, but what did surprise me is that the other
phones in the house didn't ring the same time I received the shock.
Grabbing my meter I tested the line, and sure enough there is a
constant 120 volts on the green wire. Being curious I began to trace
the wires throughout the house and found that all the outlets were
wired daisy chain fashion, and there is an AC transformer in the
loop. The secondary is only 16 volts, so trying to locate the
source of the high potential I disconnected the main line from the
loop. The loop went dead, and the main line still had 120 volts
open circuit coming into the house.

Do all phone lines feed 120 volts constant?
What is the transformer for?
Why are all the phones daisy chained instead of parallel?

I don't want to smoke a brand new $200 phone and answering combo,
but I do want to get this hooked up as soon as possible (hopefully
tonight). I thought phone lines ran a low voltage trickle and rang
the line with about 75 volts. What could the constant 120 volts be
for? Will it damage my stuff?

Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!

- Dan

esmond@crd.ge.com