Dropping phone lines?

[Cobleskill]

My connection was made by the power company. Poorly done and melted the plastic cover it got so hot. I replaced with AL service entrance cable and split bolts years ago. No problems.

I had one leg loosing power years ago. I searched my house and scratched my head. Finally located the connection out on the pole where the power co. tied two cables off the transformer together.

So far my record is better than the power companies at my house.

 

[Limbrat]

Trust me, copper to aluminum with split bolts will fail. One of the main reasons crimped copper to aluminum connections fail is because the copper wire is placed on top of the aluminum instead of vice versa. With the aluminum on top, they will last infinitely longer. Another reason is the wire is not cleaned (wire brushed) properly.

 

[Brock Mayo]

Good info! What did the boxes you couldn't get into look like Butch? Pad lock or something? I've only looked at 4 boxes now, and they were all different setups. None were too secure, though I did feel like an outlaw opening the phone company's side

 

[Merle Nelson]

Specialized screws to close boxes in our area. Pentagon with a post in the center rather than an open hole octagon like a Allen Head screw.

 

[vharrison]

We accidentally dropped a phone line yesterday. I get the task of trying to have it repaired. I call ATT and speak to a young man from Pakistan who recently changed his name to Jim. He is clearly reading from his script while I try and try to explain that I don't know the phone number, the account number, the 4 digit secret code or ANYTHING ELSE, he puts me on hold for a specialist. All I have is an address which I told him during the first 5 seconds of the conversation. Eh, after 20 minutes, seriously, 20 minutes on hold, I get disconnected. Bless a billy goat.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Lordy!

Yea, Brock - some type of weird tool was required to open the box.

We didn't have it...

 

[Altissimus]

There's a wrench in two sizes (one on each end) for the specialty bolts , Orange plastic middle. Phone Co. Wrench I have seen them turn up at the flea market alot.

 

[Brock Mayo]

Those special hexes or pentagons with the center post open pretty nice with a small flathead screwdriver. Just make sure it fits tight between the post and one side. The cool thing about those boxes is they cant really torque the screw very much or the cheap plastic would break. vharrison, you could be an expert at spicing phone lines with a couple 5 minute youtube videos... just as a backup plan

 

[MasterBlaster]

 

[flushcut]

That special tool is a tamper-resistant hex driver bit

 

[flushcut]

They come in all different sizes and drive styles hex and torx to name a few. But my tamper resistant drive bit set has something like 70 different bits.

 

[flashover604]

Ive been with A major Telephone and Telegraph company for 20+ years. I've personally spoken to "Jim". (He's really a great guy.) You should not be getting into the Telco side of the Network Interface Device (grey box on the side of the house). You know that. I shouldn't be cutting down big trees, I know that, so we both know where we stand. Usually the drop wire goes to a connection on the house called a Rams Horn, you'll know it when you see it. If the clamp that holds the drop wire is removed somehow from the rams horn, you can usually lay the drop on the ground. Now, if you feel like you're sure it's telephone, it's usually 48V low current, until someone calls the number, then the current jumps up SIGNIFICANTLY to trip the ringers in the phones. Incidentally it's called ringing current. This will make you taste your fillings if you have any.

Around here (Ohio) we don't usually charge to re-attach a drop that a tree pulls down. We DO sometimes charge to come out and lower it or move it. Ya' dig? If you aren't sure which one is Telco, leave 'em alone. The power line stuff is no joke. I've seen sparks that would be at home at a rock concert from powerlines and have personally seen a guy melted into his aluminum ladder. That shit stays with you.

 

[sotc]

yesterday's removal. Cable company came out Sunday to drop a line and told the lady how we should unhook it... ummm ok thanks anyway

 

[flushcut]

I would recommend diagonal cutters!

 

[vharrison]

Ive been with A major TI've personally spoken to "Jim". (He's really a great guy.)

You know Jim? Bless a billy goat, what is his real name?

 

[sotc]

I would recommend diagonal cutters!

Yeah, I disconnected a few that haven't been in use for years. BUT I didn't get into the "grey box" :p

 

[rbtree]

If you can get the plastic box open, it's nothing to disconnect them. Most boxes are accessible, but I've ran a couple across that I couldn't open.

Get a security bit set from Harbor Freight. Gets you into any box... I drop phone lines at the house and cable at the pole... as its usua;;y easier than dealing with all the staples on the house.