What is this in my wall?
up vote
12
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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 Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
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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
12
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 Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
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.
11
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
Dec 8 at 23:05
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 8 at 23:16
11
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
Dec 9 at 4:20
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:55
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
favorite
up vote
12
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 Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
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 Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
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 Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
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 Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
edited Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
edited Dec 9 at 3:33
Machavity
6,40511634
6,40511634
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
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 Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
asked Dec 8 at 22:56
dbollig
613
613
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.
11
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
Dec 8 at 23:05
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 8 at 23:16
11
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
Dec 9 at 4:20
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:55
add a comment |
11
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
Dec 8 at 23:05
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 8 at 23:16
11
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
Dec 9 at 4:20
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:55
11
11
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
Dec 8 at 23:05
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
Dec 8 at 23:05
1
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 8 at 23:16
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 8 at 23:16
11
11
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
Dec 9 at 4:20
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
Dec 9 at 4:20
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:55
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:55
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
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 Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
2
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
25
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 Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
2
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
add a comment |
up vote
25
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 Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
2
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
add a comment |
up vote
25
down vote
up vote
25
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 Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
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 Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
edited Dec 9 at 3:46
answered Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
answered Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
answered Dec 8 at 23:54
manassehkatz
6,1481029
6,1481029
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
2
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
add a comment |
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
2
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
It looks like a junction block as it is not obviously a socket and there are "posts".
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:58
2
2
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
@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
Dec 9 at 23:09
2
2
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
I see it, RJ12-ish molding where the wires are going, apologies.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 23:10
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
No problem. I've been dealing with these jacks for a long time.
– manassehkatz
Dec 9 at 23:16
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.
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11
Ahhh...the olden days before “wireless”.
– Lee Sam
Dec 8 at 23:05
1
Can you measure 48V DC across any pair of those wires?
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 8 at 23:16
11
This question made me feel so old in such a short amount of time.
– Todd Wilcox
Dec 9 at 4:20
New contributor, I know. It just seems to smell of trolling. Like asking what a newspaper is. POTS. It's still out there.
– mckenzm
Dec 9 at 22:55