Telephone question

James P. Brown

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Dec 30, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/30/97

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While tracing the phone lines from the main terminal inside my house to
the extensions, I found one line ended in a box-like device that
apparently had been plugged into a nearby outlet at one time. It was
sitting on the foundation ledge when I found it. Been that way probably
the four years we've lived here.

Markings are: TRANS 2012A, Western Electric, 105-125V 60 CPS, SEC 6-8V,
1.75VA CLASS 2.

Can anyone tell me what this is, and whether it would be worth plugging
in again?

--
Jim Brown
jim...@ptd.net
tn...@compuserve.com

assets.wharton.upenn.edu

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Dec 30, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/30/97

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On Tue, 30 Dec 1997 06:40:15 GMT; James P. Brown (jim...@ptd.net) wrote:
: While tracing the phone lines from the main terminal inside my house to

It's a Class 2 Transformer, whose specs are almost identical for the
typical wall wart which transforms AC to battery DC for many little
electronic devices. This takes household AC from 105 to 125 Volts, 60
Hz, and transforms it to DC, 6 to 8 Volts, with the Volt-Amps (almost the
same as Watts) being 1.75. Since VA = V x A, then assuming 7 Volt output,
the Amps would be .25 or 250 milliamps.

I'm just brushing up on my reading of transformers. I'm not an
electrician or telephone tech. I'm not sure why this would be plugged
into a phone line unless it were lighting up the dial of those phones
that needed transformers to be able to do, called "Princess" phones?

If your doorbell is not working or a telephone device is not lighted up, I
might plug it in again after checking exactly what it was putting out and
precisely where it was connected. But try to fight the temptation to fix
something that is not broken. Just keep it for a spare transformer.

Adam

: --
: Jim Brown
: jim...@ptd.net
: tn...@compuserve.com

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To get back to me, put "sundor96" before the @ sign, thanks.

danh...@millcomm.com

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Dec 30, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/30/97

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In <34A898...@ptd.net>, "James P. Brown" <jim...@ptd.net> writes:
>While tracing the phone lines from the main terminal inside my house to
>the extensions, I found one line ended in a box-like device that
>apparently had been plugged into a nearby outlet at one time. It was
>sitting on the foundation ledge when I found it. Been that way probably
>the four years we've lived here.
>
>Markings are: TRANS 2012A, Western Electric, 105-125V 60 CPS, SEC 6-8V,
>1.75VA CLASS 2.
>
>Can anyone tell me what this is, and whether it would be worth plugging
>in again?

This was a transformer used to supply the juice for the dial light on a
Princess phone. Would have been connected to the yellow and black wires.
Should be disconnected before attempting to use those wires for a second
phone line. No sense plugging it in unless you have a Princess phone (or
some other one that needs this juice for its dial light).

Dan Hicks
Hey!! My advice is free -- take it for what it's worth!
http://www.millcomm.com/~danhicks

gb

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Dec 30, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/30/97

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It's a transformer used to power the incandescent lamp inside older
"Princess" style phones and some others that had illuminated dials. It
probably used the yellow and black wires to carry the current to the phone.
This was common practice for years. Most newer phones that ahve illuminated
dials use line power for the function and don't need the transformer.
James P. Brown wrote in message <34A898...@ptd.net>...

>While tracing the phone lines from the main terminal inside my house to
>the extensions, I found one line ended in a box-like device that
>apparently had been plugged into a nearby outlet at one time. It was
>sitting on the foundation ledge when I found it. Been that way probably
>the four years we've lived here.
>
>Markings are: TRANS 2012A, Western Electric, 105-125V 60 CPS, SEC 6-8V,
>1.75VA CLASS 2.
>
>Can anyone tell me what this is, and whether it would be worth plugging
>in again?
>

Matclark

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Dec 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/31/97

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The device sounds like a doorbell transformer. I've seen doorbells using
telephone lines as a way to signal different areas of a house. E.g..
between a house and garage. On a residential, single, private line, only 2
conductors are used leaving the other 2 open for any other use.
I'm using the other 2 as the power supply for my phone with call display.
This eliminates the need for the phone to be plugged into a nearby outlet
making for a neater looking installation. Perhaps that was what it was used
for in the past, or something similar. I've also used the spare wires for
an intercom between the upstairs and basement of our house, although the
quality was less than satisfactory.
I wouldn't plug it in without checking out the wiring in case it isn't
connected somewhere and You don't want to damage any expensive devices such
as your modem or telephones.

Joe

James P. Brown <jim...@ptd.net> wrote in article

Jim Thompson

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Dec 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/31/97

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There used to be a "Princess" phone which used a remotely located
external transformer to light the dial when the handset was lifted...I
don't know if the voltage would be compatible with more modern phones
that use external power...the transformer with my "Home Receptionist"
phone (Nortel) is not marked in any fashion as to VA ratings, etc.

...Jim Thompson

HEY, LOOK! IT'S NOT MY FAULT; IT'S SOME GUY NAMED "GENERAL PROTECTION".
(Ratbert, the Consultant, speaks, in Dilbert, by Scott Adams)

For proper E-mail replys remove "numeric" from E-mail address.

David Winslow

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Dec 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/31/97

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James P. Brown wrote in message <34A898...@ptd.net>...

>While tracing the phone lines from the main terminal inside my house to
>the extensions, I found one line ended in a box-like device that
>apparently had been plugged into a nearby outlet at one time. It was
>sitting on the foundation ledge when I found it. Been that way probably
>the four years we've lived here.
>
>Markings are: TRANS 2012A, Western Electric, 105-125V 60 CPS, SEC 6-8V,
>1.75VA CLASS 2.
>
>Can anyone tell me what this is, and whether it would be worth plugging
>in again?
>
>--
>Jim Brown
>jim...@ptd.net
>tn...@compuserve.com

There used to be auxiliary lamps on some phones. I'll bet that was the
power source.

The Bakers

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Dec 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/31/97

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David Winslow wrote:

> There used to be auxiliary lamps on some phones. I'll bet that was the
> power source.

Sounds like it was the original power supply for "Starlite" (IIRC)
telephones which sported a lit dial (typically installed in bedrooms,
etc.) Also IIRC, some of those transformers were found to be fire hazards
so best leave it unplugged :-)

M. Baker
mba...@monmouth.com

danh...@millcomm.com

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Jan 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM1/1/98

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James P. Brown wrote in message <34A898...@ptd.net>...
>While tracing the phone lines from the main terminal inside my house to
>the extensions, I found one line ended in a box-like device that
>apparently had been plugged into a nearby outlet at one time. It was
>sitting on the foundation ledge when I found it. Been that way probably
>the four years we've lived here.
>
>Markings are: TRANS 2012A, Western Electric, 105-125V 60 CPS, SEC 6-8V,
>1.75VA CLASS 2.
>
>Can anyone tell me what this is, and whether it would be worth plugging
>in again?

Yeah, I just went and found ours: ITT CAT NO 31()690, 105-125V, 60 CPS,
SEC 6-8V, 1.75VA, CLASS2. It's a transformer for the dial light on a
Princess phone. (We had Continental phone service so the equipment is ITT
rather than Western Electric.)