Does anyone know what this is? Old door bell?

[dazzler9000]

Hi all,

I have this bolted to the inside of my porch. I'm assuming it's an old doorbell but can't be sure?

Does anyone know?

 

[Lectrician]

It’s a very old phone joint box, but has had modern Jelly joints used within it, rather than replacing it. It would of had blades in there. Not sure if they used to be fused.

The odd thing is the colours used. They’ve split the line over two twisted pairs.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It is telephone, but I have never seen anything similar before. It is in very good condition for its age, but the links are missing unless the links are mage by fitting the lid?

 

[Sureitsoff?]

indeed it is and could have been used with or without protectors
https://telephonesuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/protector_03.jpg

https://telephonesuk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/protector_04.jpg

 

[bernardgreen]

Fuse in each leg and overvolt spike suppressers to Earth

 

[dazzler9000]

Thanks everyone. Feel a bit silly now wondering if it was a door bell.

Is or was there power going to it? Can I cut and remove?

 

[bernardgreen]

Is or was there power going to it? Can I cut and remove?

Very likely to be your telephone line, so not a good idea to cut and remove until you investigate where the two cables go to.

 

[dazzler9000]

Ah, I'll be knocking down that porch at some point.

Also, my current phone line (not that I've ever plugged in a phone to it) is supplied by Virgin media so guessing I don't need it.

Who would I ring to investigate, any ideas?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Has Virgin Media installed fibre?

Have you a line coming across from a pole, to that little box?

 

[dazzler9000]

We've only been here for 18 months but yes, we had Vigin installed although I don't think they use fibre, as far as I know it's coax from the roadside to their router. I've never plugged in the phone as I got fed up with cold calls.

When you say a line from the pole, are you asking if I have a internal BT phone socket going to that box?

If so, I do have an internal phone socket not too far away but it presumably crosses under a tiled floor and goes to towards that junction box. I'm guessing that's the white cable going in to box.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

When you say a line from the pole, are you asking if I have a internal BT phone socket going to that box?

No, the line which goes from that box, to the telephone exchange - it will either be underground, or in the air and going to a telephone pole.

 

[dazzler9000]

Haha, I see what you mean now, when you said pole, I thought that was a techy name for the BT socket . There aren't any telephone poles so it must go underground.

So bearing in mind that I don't need it currently, is there any reason why I shouldn't cut it? Do any of the cables supply power?

Should I call BT and get them to visit first?

 

[AndyPRK]

Disconnect it.

Try and leave it so you could make use of it in future.

VM price rises will drive you round the bend

 

[dazzler9000]

Disconnect it.

Try and leave it so you could make use of it in future.

VM price rises will drive you round the bend

Sounds good advice, will do. So is there any power fed down this cable?

I know all about the VM price increases.... Have to do battle with them every 18 months!!

 

[AndyPRK]

About 50v if it’s connected.

Battle every 11 months it seams !