Telephone directly connected to incoming cable

[bernardgreen]

An active line will have 50 volts on the pair all the time. Drops to about 9 volts when the phone is picked up.

Was the line working before the building work started ?

If the line was shorted for a long time during the building work then the exchange may have "parked" the line. This is removing the 50 volt from the line in order to reduce current consumption at the exchange. Sometimes the line will automatically un-park, or you may have to ask BT to restore the line.

Or the line has been disconnected by OpenReach ( BT ) for some reason.

 

[bernardgreen]

One further thought.

The junction box may be two part. One set of terminals to which the incoming BT lines are connected and a second set of terminals to which the internal wiring is connected. Jumpers ( each a pair of wires ) are then used to connect the terminals on the BT side to the terminals on the internal wiring side. The jumpers may have been removed.

Also some BT distribution panels have disconnect functions,

A photo of the BT junction box would help.

 

[henry13]

An active line will have 50 volts on the pair all the time. Drops to about 9 volts when the phone is picked up.

Was the line working before the building work started ?

If the line was shorted for a long time during the building work then the exchange may have "parked" the line. This is removing the 50 volt from the line in order to reduce current consumption at the exchange. Sometimes the line will automatically un-park, or you may have to ask BT to restore the line.

Or the line has been disconnected by OpenReach ( BT ) for some reason.

That's a fantastic reply, thanks.

All I needed to know and more.

I found it odd that although the disconnection has been for around a month, that the lines seem (now confirmed) to be dead, and you have explained why this could be. It is certainly possible that the line was shorted or perhaps just simply not in use and it has been parked.

Once again thanks, it's over to BT one way or the other!

 

[henry13]

One further thought.

The junction box may be two part. One set of terminals to which the incoming BT lines are connected and a second set of terminals to which the internal wiring is connected. Jumpers ( each a pair of wires ) are then used to connect the terminals on the BT side to the terminals on the internal wiring side. The jumpers may have been removed.

Also some BT distribution panels have disconnect functions,

A photo of the BT junction box would help.

There is a working line and it seems very straightforward at the JB so I think your first theory is probably fact.

But thanks again for mentioning all the possibilities!

 

[Lectrician]

In your stripping out, you haven't severed the cable TO the DP have you?

 

[henry13]

In your stripping out, you haven't severed the cable TO the DP have you?

While not sure what a DP is (Dist. Panel?) no, no cables were severed, that's for sure.

 

[kbdiy]

Depending on where you are in London, I could pop in (for a fee) and see if it can be sorted internally or if it is a line problem.