What is this in my wall?
up vote
10
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I am removing wall paneling and this is in the corner of the room and wondering if it is safe to remove
phone-wiring
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
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dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
I am removing wall paneling and this is in the corner of the room and wondering if it is safe to remove
phone-wiring
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
10
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
2 days ago
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
2 days ago
10
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
I am removing wall paneling and this is in the corner of the room and wondering if it is safe to remove
phone-wiring
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am removing wall paneling and this is in the corner of the room and wondering if it is safe to remove
phone-wiring
phone-wiring
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
edited 2 days ago
Machavity
6,30011634
6,30011634
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
asked 2 days ago
dbollig
513
513
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
dbollig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
10
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
2 days ago
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
2 days ago
10
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
yesterday
add a comment |
10
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
2 days ago
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
2 days ago
10
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
yesterday
10
10
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
2 days ago
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
2 days ago
1
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
2 days ago
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
2 days ago
10
10
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
yesterday
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
23
down vote
This is a telephone jack. If you measure 48v DC or so between wires then it is live, even if you don't currently have phone service. Ideally - live or not - you should try and find the other end of the wires and disconnect it if you aren't going to use it. That could be another jack elsewhere in the building or a patch panel or terminal block - typically on a wall in the basement or on an outside wall.
It is generally safe to remove this (i.e., cut off what you can see and cover it up) if it is not live, but that could confuse someone later on who finds the other end and is trying to install phones and can't figure out where a cable ends.
It is not safe to remove this if it is live (e.g., 48v DC) because (a) if the wires short it will affect any equipment that is connected to the same phone line and (b) even low voltage/low current could potentially be a fire hazard. That is extremely low risk if outside the wall, even if not quite connected correctly (as is the case currently) but hidden inside a wall that would not be a good thing. The risk is low - if you really want to disconnect it and you can't find the other end, taping (electrical tape) the end of the cable to protect it is advisable.
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
23
down vote
This is a telephone jack. If you measure 48v DC or so between wires then it is live, even if you don't currently have phone service. Ideally - live or not - you should try and find the other end of the wires and disconnect it if you aren't going to use it. That could be another jack elsewhere in the building or a patch panel or terminal block - typically on a wall in the basement or on an outside wall.
It is generally safe to remove this (i.e., cut off what you can see and cover it up) if it is not live, but that could confuse someone later on who finds the other end and is trying to install phones and can't figure out where a cable ends.
It is not safe to remove this if it is live (e.g., 48v DC) because (a) if the wires short it will affect any equipment that is connected to the same phone line and (b) even low voltage/low current could potentially be a fire hazard. That is extremely low risk if outside the wall, even if not quite connected correctly (as is the case currently) but hidden inside a wall that would not be a good thing. The risk is low - if you really want to disconnect it and you can't find the other end, taping (electrical tape) the end of the cable to protect it is advisable.
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
23
down vote
This is a telephone jack. If you measure 48v DC or so between wires then it is live, even if you don't currently have phone service. Ideally - live or not - you should try and find the other end of the wires and disconnect it if you aren't going to use it. That could be another jack elsewhere in the building or a patch panel or terminal block - typically on a wall in the basement or on an outside wall.
It is generally safe to remove this (i.e., cut off what you can see and cover it up) if it is not live, but that could confuse someone later on who finds the other end and is trying to install phones and can't figure out where a cable ends.
It is not safe to remove this if it is live (e.g., 48v DC) because (a) if the wires short it will affect any equipment that is connected to the same phone line and (b) even low voltage/low current could potentially be a fire hazard. That is extremely low risk if outside the wall, even if not quite connected correctly (as is the case currently) but hidden inside a wall that would not be a good thing. The risk is low - if you really want to disconnect it and you can't find the other end, taping (electrical tape) the end of the cable to protect it is advisable.
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
23
down vote
up vote
23
down vote
This is a telephone jack. If you measure 48v DC or so between wires then it is live, even if you don't currently have phone service. Ideally - live or not - you should try and find the other end of the wires and disconnect it if you aren't going to use it. That could be another jack elsewhere in the building or a patch panel or terminal block - typically on a wall in the basement or on an outside wall.
It is generally safe to remove this (i.e., cut off what you can see and cover it up) if it is not live, but that could confuse someone later on who finds the other end and is trying to install phones and can't figure out where a cable ends.
It is not safe to remove this if it is live (e.g., 48v DC) because (a) if the wires short it will affect any equipment that is connected to the same phone line and (b) even low voltage/low current could potentially be a fire hazard. That is extremely low risk if outside the wall, even if not quite connected correctly (as is the case currently) but hidden inside a wall that would not be a good thing. The risk is low - if you really want to disconnect it and you can't find the other end, taping (electrical tape) the end of the cable to protect it is advisable.
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
This is a telephone jack. If you measure 48v DC or so between wires then it is live, even if you don't currently have phone service. Ideally - live or not - you should try and find the other end of the wires and disconnect it if you aren't going to use it. That could be another jack elsewhere in the building or a patch panel or terminal block - typically on a wall in the basement or on an outside wall.
It is generally safe to remove this (i.e., cut off what you can see and cover it up) if it is not live, but that could confuse someone later on who finds the other end and is trying to install phones and can't figure out where a cable ends.
It is not safe to remove this if it is live (e.g., 48v DC) because (a) if the wires short it will affect any equipment that is connected to the same phone line and (b) even low voltage/low current could potentially be a fire hazard. That is extremely low risk if outside the wall, even if not quite connected correctly (as is the case currently) but hidden inside a wall that would not be a good thing. The risk is low - if you really want to disconnect it and you can't find the other end, taping (electrical tape) the end of the cable to protect it is advisable.
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
answered 2 days ago
manassehkatz
6,065929
6,065929
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
add a comment |
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
@mckenzm It is most definitely a jack. On the part that is NOT on the wall, to the left there are all 4 (red/green/yellow/black) wires going into the back of what is (except you can't see it from this angle) a standard phone jack. This was a very common configuration years ago. Most newer jacks (all the ones I could quickly find) have the 4 screw terminals and the actual jack as one piece with the cover (that in this one contains the actual jack) being just a piece of plastic.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
2
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
yesterday
add a comment |
dbollig is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
dbollig is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
dbollig is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
dbollig is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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10
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
2 days ago
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
2 days ago
10
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
2 days ago
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
yesterday