drewboo 0 #1 August 15, 2003 Im in upstate N.Y. just suffered through the power outage...but cant figure out why my phone worked through the whole thing...the type that plugs into a jack in the wall..and has a cord from the handset to the cradle part....doesn't it take electricity of some form to make this work....ring the bell..make the dial tone...something? everybody i asked said "I don't know." one person tried to explain it to me using the old two cans and a string story...but i couldn't get it on the massive scale of our phone system......anybody? MR WIZARD!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adamT 0 #2 August 15, 2003 The telephone companys lines have their own power running through them. 24volts i think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #3 August 15, 2003 This might help__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevin922 0 #4 August 15, 2003 yep the phone company has their own power source.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #5 August 15, 2003 You can call your local phone company and request a tour of one of the local switching stations. I did a few tours when working for U S WEST (now QWest). You can see how this works. Phone lines are powered by an array of large batteries that work even when local power is off. Of course, you need a conventional phone to make sure you can still talk - they wireless type usually use electricity to transmit to the handset, although some use rechargeable batteries as well. Personally, I keep a small wired telephone in the closet in case of power outage - those cell towers don't work either.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drewboo 0 #6 August 15, 2003 Thanks guys...and the site Ivan recomended actually had a answer listed to "Why your phone works when the power goes off." You are all right on...generators and a massive battery supply...Thanks!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #7 August 15, 2003 Glad we could help you. __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #8 August 15, 2003 The CO puts 48V DC on the line to power the equipment. When the phone rings, a 90V AC signal is superimposed on the wire."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #9 August 18, 2003 Along these lines, and old story that circulates around the communications industry. I don't know if it's true or not, but it could happen. An elderly lady calls the phone company and complains that most of the time when people call her, the phone doesn't ring, but the few times it works, it is preceded by her dog barking. Naturally, the phone company is intrigued by the psychic dog and sends a repairman out to find out what's what. The repairmen spends a little time at the residence and finds that: The lady has tied her dog to the phone grounding pole with a metal collar and metal chain. When the phone rings, a mid-range voltage is sent through the wires (and through the dog) on every ring. After a few rings (i.e. shocks), the dog gets agitated, begins to bark and urinate, which completes the circuit to ground and lets the phone ring.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
