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  1. #1
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    Question Using phone line electricity

    So, I recently acquired a new property and plugged in to one of the phone sockets was an adapter that powered an air freshener with a through port for the telephone to plug in to.

    This got me thinking as to what else could be powered by use of phone line electricity, there's a few ideas on the web as well as some debate as to whether it's legal or not.

    So, is it legal to use this electricity source and what could it be usefully used for? I expect if it's something too energy intensive it'll use up all the REN's and bugger up the phone and possibly interwebs.

    To be honest I've always been quite annoyed that in order to get a net connection you have to pay a large portion for a phone line that you may not even use so I want to take the most out if it I can.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    It's only 50 volts and the total current draw is tiny.. however when I worked for BT a local vicar of all people was discovered to be tapping the Line voltage and he was taken to court for it..

    It was way back and I don't remember what he got

    supe
    http://www.speedtest.net/result/2920820230.png

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    Dear Lord, please grant me the ability to punch people in the face over Standard TCP/IP

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    Quote Originally Posted by supraman54 View Post
    a local vicar of all people
    Ha! You expect better from the nonce society?

  5. #5
    DF VIP Member doughboy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    I remember investigating this when I was a mere boy.. Wasn't it a swing of 80volts or so between an open and closed line??

  6. #6
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    I remember about 15 years ago I followed some instructions to charge literally everything from a telephone line. I can't quite remember what I got but I bought a load of crap from Tandy(i think) which was the version of Maplin back then and cobbled a device together to charge all mobiles phones, house cordless phone, kids rechargeable toys.

    Moved house and it got crushed in the move and never bothered again. I remember it was back in the days of having to solder DVD players to play all regions lol
    I managed to run a discman off it but could never get anything else to work. and if i remember correctly everything charged at a lower rate prolly due to poor AMPs

  7. #7
    DF VIP Member doughboy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    This makes me think of this thread

    http://digital-forums.com/showthread...ype-ebooks-etc

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    Quote Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
    Not really, I did ask if it was legal or not, yet to find evidence that it's not.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    50 Volts DC for voice and 75 to 80 volts AC for the ringing

    supe
    http://www.speedtest.net/result/2920820230.png

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    BT class it as stealing electricity as I recall although whether they would pursue it I don't know.. You can screw up your line card however and that would leave you no phone and the chance they'd suss why

    supe
    http://www.speedtest.net/result/2920820230.png

  11. #11
    DF VIP Member Over Carl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    I believe this would be the specific crime if caught and prosecuted, whether you would get caught and/or prosecuted I have no idea.

    Thanks to Over Carl

    Mule (31st August 2015)  


  12. #12
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using phone line electricity

    Yes I worked for BT and they class it as Abstracting Electricity but when I was there I knew they didn't ever pursue a prosecution.

    I heard a few of how they took people to court but they were all jokes when you dug deeper.

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