Phone Jack Safety And Toddlers ?

[Bob]

Hi,

Know it's a very good idea to cover all electrical outlets with
those Kiddy-safe blank plugs when you have a toddler around, but
is it also necessary for unused phone jacks ?

BTW: what's the max. voltage out of these things ?

guess it is also different "normally," and when a call is being
received. True ? What's the volt. then ?

Do they sell blank plugs for phone wall/floor mounted outlet jacks ?
Have never seen any.

Thanks,
Bob

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[The Daring Dufas]

On 4/30/2014 5:58 AM, Bob wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Know it's a very good idea to cover all electrical outlets with those
> Kiddy-safe blank plugs when you have a toddler around, but is it also
> necessary for unused phone jacks ?
>
> BTW: what's the max. voltage out of these things ?
>
> guess it is also different "normally," and when a call is being
> received. True ? What's the volt. then ?
>
> Do they sell blank plugs for phone wall/floor mounted outlet jacks ?
> Have never seen any.
>
> Thanks, Bob
>
> ---

The normal "on hook" talk battery voltage for a POTS line is 48 volts DC
and it will drop to 6-12 volts DC "off hook". The current of this DC
voltage is limited and not necessarily dangerous but the ringing voltage
is a nominal 90 volts AC at 20 cycles. The talk battery voltage can
sting an adult and the ring voltage can give an adult a bite but the
current of the voltages found on a POTS line is not very high. A toddler
might experience a great deal of pain if he sticks his tiny finger in a
phone jack when the phone line gets ringing voltage but it's not going
to stop his heart. I you are really worried, you can buy a small package
of the plugs you see on the end of phone cords and slip them into the
unused jacks. The plugs are available almost everywhere at any hardware
store. You will need some tweezers or needle nose pliers to get the plug
out when you wish to use the phone jack again. When I was a toddler, I
didn't mess around. I got under my mother's Singer Sewing Machine,
unplugged the female end of the power cord from underneath the machine
and proceeded to stick it into my mouth to find out what it tasted like.
I was told I turned blue and my diaper needed changing utilizing a
shovel. I'm sure that's the reason I have such an electric personality. ^_^

Worry about power cords that plug into the back of computers and many
appliances these days. I'm sure a toddler would think they were very
tasty. ^_^

TDD

[Stormin Mormon]

On 4/30/2014 6:58 AM, Bob wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Know it's a very good idea to cover all electrical outlets with
> those Kiddy-safe blank plugs when you have a toddler around, but
> is it also necessary for unused phone jacks ?
>
> BTW: what's the max. voltage out of these things ?
>
> guess it is also different "normally," and when a call is being
> received. True ? What's the volt. then ?
>
> Do they sell blank plugs for phone wall/floor mounted outlet jacks ?
> Have never seen any.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

It's been a while since I researched this, but
the voltages are about 48 VDC "on hook", or
idle. "off hook" is about 5 VDC (talking on
the phone). Ring is about 100 VAC. Only really
dangerous when ringing. Never seen a blank
plug, but it's a good idea.


--
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

[Pat]

I have never heard of a real problem with this as the current is very
limited, but it can be quite a surprise to be in contact with a phone
line when it rings. Anyway, I have never seen a blank plug designed
for the purpose of protection. However, any standard crimp-on plug
will work. You (the OP) can buy bags of them at radio shack for a few
dollars. These are meant to be crimped on the end of a phone cord
with a crimping tool, but for this purpose, just plug in the blank
plastic plug with no cable attached.

Pat

[WW]

"Pat" wrote in message news:jf12m953v34rg7nc2...@4ax.com...

This brings back memories. In WWll on Okinawa doing electric repairs in US
Navy Sea Bees. A large monkey would get into our Quonset hut shop and chew
through wiring. So one day he was on the metal hut and I wrapped a phone hot
wire onto a metal file with a wood handle. Shook it at the monkey and he
grabbed it. The wire have ring voltage on. 90 volts 20 CPS. That was the
last I ever saw of the monkey again. Also as a 2 year old my dad carried me
into the butcher shop to purchase some meat. in those days fresh meat was
displayed in glass show cases that had line voltage lighting. The lamps were
under a open bottomed cover. As dad was holding me I ran my hand under the
cover came to a socket that did not have a bulb in it. Stuck my finger into
it and got a good shock. However this I thought was funny and did it again.
I never was hurt on line voltage. WW

[Jeff Wisnia]

Lim Time!

There once was a man from Woonsocket,
Who stuck his big cock in a socket.
His wife was a bitch,
And flipped on the switch,
Which made him take off like a rocket.


Re using a crimp on plug, I wouldn't put it past toddlers to be able to
figure out how to press on the latch and remove it pretty quickly.

But as others have implied, the chances of receiving serious injury are
slim, particularly if there's nothing grounded around that the kid could
be in contact with while sticking his little finger into the phone jack.

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

[Unquestionably Confused]

On 4/30/2014 12:20 PM, Jeff Wisnia wrote:

>
>
> WW wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Know it's a very good idea to cover all electrical outlets with
>>>> those Kiddy-safe blank plugs when you have a toddler around, but
>>>> is it also necessary for unused phone jacks ?
>

> Re using a crimp on plug, I wouldn't put it past toddlers to be able to
> figure out how to press on the latch and remove it pretty quickly.
>
> But as others have implied, the chances of receiving serious injury are
> slim, particularly if there's nothing grounded around that the kid could
> be in contact with while sticking his little finger into the phone jack.

As I read the original thread this morning I considered the likelihood
of the toddler receiving a shock from a phone jack vs. the potential of
working that little plug out of the socket, putting it in his mouth and
perhaps choking on it.

My thought is that the latter presents a much greater danger than the
former.

Anyone else?

[Oren]

On Wed, 30 Apr 2014 18:30:06 -0500, Unquestionably Confused
<puzz...@ameritech.net> wrote:

>As I read the original thread this morning I considered the likelihood
>of the toddler receiving a shock from a phone jack vs. the potential of
>working that little plug out of the socket, putting it in his mouth and
>perhaps choking on it.
>
>My thought is that the latter presents a much greater danger than the
>former.
>
>Anyone else?

If I was really worried, I'd remove cover plate, cut the wires or
remove the snap in module, stuff them inside and use a blank cover
plate.

<http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3900/wlejmk/products/368/images/9049/1_oversized_blank_switch_plate_cover_spbbv__46736.1367344785.1280.1280.jpg>

[Red...@hotmail.com]

The ring voltage used to be 90v when they had the mechanical ringers on the old style phones. With the 'party line' hookup the ring voltage was present at the same time at all houses on the party line loop. Since all phones are now electronic the ring voltage has been reduced to 48v and only goes to one house. (Per the ATT repairman a few weeks ago.)

[The Daring Dufas]

On 4/30/2014 10:13 PM, Red...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> The ring voltage used to be 90v when they had the mechanical ringers
> on the old style phones. With the 'party line' hookup the ring
> voltage was present at the same time at all houses on the party line
> loop. Since all phones are now electronic the ring voltage has been
> reduced to 48v and only goes to one house. (Per the ATT repairman a
> few weeks ago.)
>

Phone systems were one of the things I did for a living before I became
very ill and I still help my roommate with his data/telecom business.
I have equipment to measure the voltages on phone lines and even with
more VoIP systems going in, the POTS line standards haven't changed. You
can still hook up a 1948 model rotary dial Western Electric phone to a
modern POTS line and the vintage phone will work perfectly. It's
not unusual for guys in a technical field to tell a civilian a story
which amounts to a hot steaming pile of male bovine droppings. It can be
very amusing. ^_^

TDD

[The Daring Dufas]

Use the same tamper proof hardware used in prisons. ^_^

TDD

[John G]

Pat formulated on Thursday :

A Crimp plug, RJ11 style, would be more dangerous than leaving the
socket open.The hole is VERY SMALL and the plug is small enough for a
child to swallow :-?

--
John G

[gregz]

Bob <rgs...@notme.invalid> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Know it's a very good idea to cover all electrical outlets with
> those Kiddy-safe blank plugs when you have a toddler around, but
> is it also necessary for unused phone jacks ?
>
> BTW: what's the max. voltage out of these things ?
>
> guess it is also different "normally," and when a call is being
> received. True ? What's the volt. then ?
>
> Do they sell blank plugs for phone wall/floor mounted outlet jacks ? Have never seen any.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob

Phone jack is not the term. Telephone or RJ style jack. Those plugs are
pretty hard to get out sometimes, so a blank plug would probably work, as
well as DUCT TAPE. The local Internet outlet should be safe.

Phone plug can be a telephone plug for switch operators of old, looks like
a 1/4 inch headphone plug. Used mostly in audio. Sometimes also amplifier
outputs, speaker inputs.

Phono plug is another, for phonographs.

Greg

[Jeff Wisnia]

Usually referred to as an RCA jack Greg, by us old timers.

Jeff

[Tekkie®]

The Daring Dufas posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP

Can you hear me now?

--
Tekkie

[Tekkie®]

WW posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP

> This brings back memories. In WWll on Okinawa doing electric repairs in US
> Navy Sea Bees. A large monkey would get into our Quonset hut shop and chew
> through wiring. So one day he was on the metal hut and I wrapped a phone hot
> wire onto a metal file with a wood handle. Shook it at the monkey and he
> grabbed it. The wire have ring voltage on. 90 volts 20 CPS. That was the

> last I ever saw of the monkey.
>

I wondered what happened to my brother.

--
Tekkie

[Tekkie®]

Unquestionably Confused posted for all of us...

And I know how to SNIP

>

Hmm, a very valid concern, good thinking. I won't make any snarky remarks
on this.

--
Tekkie

[The Daring Dufas]

Wasn't that a Pop Music song from years ago? ^_^

TDD

[The Daring Dufas]

A drop of hot melt glue which can be removed with pliers can keep a
toddler from pulling the plug. ^_^

TDD

[The Daring Dufas]

Or "phono jack/plug". ^_^

TDD

[Pat]

...Or cut the pin off flush with the socket. The plug can still be
removed with a pin or needle, but not the normal way.

Pat

[The Daring Dufas]

Didn't a five year old recently break the security code to some video
gaming system? I don't put anything past kids of any age. ^_^

TDD