This topic

Grey box inside house

jonmohajer1 — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 08:28:56 GMT

Hello, I have recently bought a house and wondered if anyone could help me to identify this piece of kit, and whether it is serving any function. It is a grey box mounted on the wall above the only phone socket in the house. Thanks

Re: Grey box inside house

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 08:55:59 GMT

@jonmohajer1

The fact that it says British Telecom on the front, must mean its very old and possibly no longer in use. It looks like an extension bell, so people can hear the phone ring.

Where does the cable below go to?

Have you looked inside the box to see what is there?

Re: Grey box inside house

NeilO — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:41:37 GMT

@jonmohajar that's a Bell 50E to make the ringer louder.

Re: Grey box inside house

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:47:30 GMT

@NeilO wrote:

@jonmohajar that's a Bell 50E to make the ringer louder.

@NeilO Spot on 😀

Data sheet https://docs.rs-online.com/7d3e/0900766b81190ea3.pdf

Re: Grey box inside house

jonmohajer1 — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:20:26 GMT

thanks so much for your help. I haven't opened the box yet, or properly checked how it connects, but I think it ran into the top of socket housing, from memory.

I'll have a look at removing it now I know it's redundant, just wanted to make sure it wasn't something to do with the internet connection, but as you say, the British Telecom branding pre-dates that I suspect...

Re: Grey box inside house

jonmohajer1 — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:20:46 GMT

thanks a lot for your expert help!