strange voltage

On wiring that has been disconnected, but is still near a live circuit. Don't use your meter, but instead connect a light bulb to the wires and see what happens.

It may be that there is no direct connection here. The two wires you are measuring may have been abandoned but since they are located along with other energized wires you may be measuring a capacitive voltage divider. I'd guess that you are using a high impedance volt meter that doesn't load the circuit. Measure with a low impedance volt meter, or load the circuit slightly...perhaps with a small load like a night-lite (4 or 7 watts) clipped between the two wires you are measuring and the measured voltage will probably drop to zero.

It'd be nice if those meters came with a button that applies a small load. You could press it and see if the voltage drops significantly.

bet a digital meter was used, way too sensitive.

use a light bulb with digital meter at same time..............

do you get a dial tone on it?

Yes, and they'd be more usefull when testing batteries.

Obviously limited knowledge of electricity! Not only that; the the type of wiring, method of measuring and type of device (meter?) used is not specified! For example; is it an 'induced' voltage due to disconnected wires running through the same walls and possibly alongside working electrical wiring? The suggestion that maybe it's an old telephone circuit can not be discounted. Or maybe a disconnected speaker citcuit? Insufficient info. to comment. Just hooking up a meter to some unknown wiring is a meaningless exercise.

Hi, Specially if the meter is digital type. Some cases analog meter is more useful.

I do have one digital meter with settings for voltage testing, and two other settings for battery testing. I forget the brand.