Disconnecting incoming telephone drop wire.

[Cycle]

Can the telephone drop wire (the wire that comes into my house from outside) be temporarily disconnected, without causing anything undesirable to happen to the telephone system?

The wire comes into my house and terminates at a junction box, where only the orange and white are connected. A very short length of wire leaves this junction box to be terminated at a master socket.

I want to re-route the path that the drop wire takes as it comes into my house, and this requires disconnecting it so it can be threaded through a different path.

Regards.

[Stuart Noble]

Mine were joined with sellotape outdoors for several weeks. Made no difference to the phone or internet.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Cycle was thinking very hard :

Officially you are not permitted to touch it. Unofficially they will not notice if you disconnect it briefly and reconnect it. The exchange runs a line test during the wee hours, which is designed to ensure there are no problems/faults/disconnections on your line.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

No problems but make sure to connect it back correctly and insulate against possible shorts or indeed touching a conductor while moving it. Although the DC voltage is nominally safe, the ringing volts could give you a nasty surprise. So treat it as you would a live mains cable.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Yes.

Just do it.

[Mr Fuxit]

Especially if you're up a ladder, in the rain. DAMHIKT!

[Cycle]

Many thanks to all for the really helpful information. It is much appreciated: I can have a go at the job now and expect it to be successful.

Regards

Cycle.

[Andrew Mawson]

successful.

You ain't supposed to do it, but nothing horrid (technically) will happen if you do. But if BT catch you they will probably flog you to death with a wet lettuce !

AWEM

[Peter Andrews]

Ringing voltage can hurt but it's certainly not dangerous, (unless it causes you to fall off your ladder) had oodles of fun with it as a PO apprentice, but that was a whole career ago:-(

Peter

[Andrew Gabriel]

Telex voltage was significantly worse. You don't strip those with your teeth...

[Dave Liquorice]

In a modern context don't use your teeth on ISDN...