So I took my neon bulb assembly to my "Old School" next door neighbor. He has a 2500 phone hooked through a mod jack to some 4 conductor cable and an interface box with Bell South service.
And of course the bulb worked exactly as it should.
I guess it's a good thing I didn't accidentally hook the green to the red.
Duh!
My guess is that gremlins have attached a skyhook with a left handed monkey wrench to my phone wire and the squirrels are messing with my cable.

Ok, some recent remarks have made me a little defensive.
Sorry,
I actually respect this forum very much, and relish my participation in it. However, I don't appreciate being demeaned in a public forum.
Terry

:So I took my neon bulb assembly to my "Old School" next door neighbor. He has a 2500 phone hooked through a mod jack to some 4 conductor cable and an interface box with Bell South service.
:And of course the bulb worked exactly as it should.
:I guess it's a good thing I didn't accidentally hook the green to the red.
:Duh!
:My guess is that gremlins have attached a skyhook with a left handed monkey wrench to my phone wire and the squirrels are messing with my cable.
:
:Ok, some recent remarks have made me a little defensive.
:Sorry,
:I actually respect this forum very much, and relish my participation in it. However, I don't appreciate being demeaned in a public forum.
:Terry
:
:
:
Terry,

When you know that statute has no need of status you can walk tall through the reeds of the swamp.
Thanks for you help, keep posting.
Regards,
Mitch

A couple of things to help solve the puzzlement:

1.) What kind of telephone is it? How does it interface to the cable system? Is there some kind of special box or something involved? How many pairs are in the phone cord?

2.) Now for some tests.

(A)Measure the dc voltage(s) on the pair (or pairs) going to the phone.

(B)Connect an ac voltmenter that can measure ac in the presence of dc. Call someone and have them call you right back. Measure the ring voltage. Do this on all (if there are more than one) pairs.

These items should tell you what is going on.

:So I took my neon bulb assembly to my "Old School" next door neighbor. He has a 2500 phone hooked through a mod jack to some 4 conductor cable and an interface box with Bell South service.
:And of course the bulb worked exactly as it should.
:I guess it's a good thing I didn't accidentally hook the green to the red.
:Duh!
:My guess is that gremlins have attached a skyhook with a left handed monkey wrench to my phone wire and the squirrels are messing with my cable.
:
:Ok, some recent remarks have made me a little defensive.
:Sorry,
:I actually respect this forum very much, and relish my participation in it. However, I don't appreciate being demeaned in a public forum.
:Terry
:
:
:

:A couple of things to help solve the puzzlement:
:
:1.) What kind of telephone is it? How does it interface to the cable system? Is there some kind of special box or something involved? How many pairs are in the phone cord?
:
:2.) Now for some tests.
:
:(A)Measure the dc voltage(s) on the pair (or pairs) going to the phone.
:
:(B)Connect an ac voltmenter that can measure ac in the presence of dc. Call someone and have them call you right back. Measure the ring voltage. Do this on all (if there are more than one) pairs.
:
:These items should tell you what is going on.
:
:
::So I took my neon bulb assembly to my "Old School" next door neighbor. He has a 2500 phone hooked through a mod jack to some 4 conductor cable and an interface box with Bell South service.
::And of course the bulb worked exactly as it should.
::I guess it's a good thing I didn't accidentally hook the green to the red.
::Duh!
::My guess is that gremlins have attached a skyhook with a left handed monkey wrench to my phone wire and the squirrels are messing with my cable.
::
::Ok, some recent remarks have made me a little defensive.
::Sorry,
::I actually respect this forum very much, and relish my participation in it. However, I don't appreciate being demeaned in a public forum.
::Terry

Terry:
It looks like to me you HAVE to have 105 Volts somewhere in your house to make the phone ring. I am on fiber optic for most of my trip to the central office, so I get plenty of ring Voltage over the short pieces of copper that run into my neighborhood. Tingles the fingers very well, too.
Lewis
P.S. Dont let the rantings of just one idiot get under your skin.

::
::
::
:

::A couple of things to help solve the puzzlement:
::
::1.) What kind of telephone is it? How does it interface to the cable system? Is there some kind of special box or something involved? How many pairs are in the phone cord?
::
::2.) Now for some tests.
::
::(A)Measure the dc voltage(s) on the pair (or pairs) going to the phone.
::
::(B)Connect an ac voltmenter that can measure ac in the presence of dc. Call someone and have them call you right back. Measure the ring voltage. Do this on all (if there are more than one) pairs.
::
::These items should tell you what is going on.
::
::
:::So I took my neon bulb assembly to my "Old School" next door neighbor. He has a 2500 phone hooked through a mod jack to some 4 conductor cable and an interface box with Bell South service.
:::And of course the bulb worked exactly as it should.
:::I guess it's a good thing I didn't accidentally hook the green to the red.
:::Duh!
:::My guess is that gremlins have attached a skyhook with a left handed monkey wrench to my phone wire and the squirrels are messing with my cable.
:::
:::Ok, some recent remarks have made me a little defensive.
:::Sorry,
:::I actually respect this forum very much, and relish my participation in it. However, I don't appreciate being demeaned in a public forum.
:::Terry
:
:Terry:
:It looks like to me you HAVE to have 105 Volts somewhere in your house to make the phone ring. I am on fiber optic for most of my trip to the central office, so I get plenty of ring Voltage over the short pieces of copper that run into my neighborhood. Tingles the fingers very well, too.
:Lewis
:P.S. Dont let the rantings of just one idiot get under your skin.
:
:::
:::
:::
::
:e
First of all I don't have a meter that will check an AC voltage riding on a DC voltage. I have a scope, but the phone line and the scope are VERY far apart. However, if you think it's necessary, I'll run a line.

Now, in answer to your questions-
The only line coming into my apt. is the cable line. No phone lines. The only phone lines go to each phone. When I had regular DSL I switched all of them to CAT 5. The cable terminates in a box that has a regular interface, (the phone test jack), and a modem. The phone lines come from that.

I have two 2500's, two 'system' type phones, (special features like hold, redial last number received, etc.) and a cheap 'princess style' next to the bed.

Voltages, which I measured with both digital and analogue meters-
On hook-48 VDC
Off hook 6VDC
Now here's the weird part, the ring did not change either the AC or DC voltages at all.
(Maybe I'm a dumb goober after all.)
Like I said, I can run a line from the bedroom to my bench to hook up the scope.
And finally, my Tone generator/mod tester shows the correct polarity.
Does any of this help?

(yeah, I can't help it, they do bother me)

Terry

Part of the idea was to measure the ring voltage, in order to see what is going on. You may have trouble using a scope as it will ground one side of the phone line unless you float it. All you need for the meter is an ac voltmeter and a capacitor. That's what the "output" jack is on a Simpson. It just adds a cap (0.1 or so) in series with the ac voltmeter, blocking dc.

Who supplied the phones? What kind of ringers are in the phones? You did not say how many pairs go to the phones(?). Are you sure the ring voltage isn't on a separate pair from the talk pair? The 48 vdc and 6 vdc are about right, but there should be 90 v ac at 20 or 30 hz riding on it when the phone rings, if it is a standard single pair system.

:Thanks-
:First of all I don't have a meter that will check an AC voltage riding on a DC voltage. I have a scope, but the phone line and the scope are VERY far apart. However, if you think it's necessary, I'll run a line.
:
:Now, in answer to your questions-
:The only line coming into my apt. is the cable line. No phone lines. The only phone lines go to each phone. When I had regular DSL I switched all of them to CAT 5. The cable terminates in a box that has a regular interface, (the phone test jack), and a modem. The phone lines come from that.
:
:I have two 2500's, two 'system' type phones, (special features like hold, redial last number received, etc.) and a cheap 'princess style' next to the bed.
:
:Voltages, which I measured with both digital and analogue meters-
:On hook-48 VDC
:Off hook 6VDC
:Now here's the weird part, the ring did not change either the AC or DC voltages at all.
:(Maybe I'm a dumb goober after all.)
:Like I said, I can run a line from the bedroom to my bench to hook up the scope.
:And finally, my Tone generator/mod tester shows the correct polarity.
:Does any of this help?
:
:(yeah, I can't help it, they do bother me)
:
:Terry
:

:Part of the idea was to measure the ring voltage, in order to see what is going on. You may have trouble using a scope as it will ground one side of the phone line unless you float it. All you need for the meter is an ac voltmeter and a capacitor. That's what the "output" jack is on a Simpson. It just adds a cap (0.1 or so) in series with the ac voltmeter, blocking dc.
:
:Who supplied the phones? What kind of ringers are in the phones? You did not say how many pairs go to the phones(?). Are you sure the ring voltage isn't on a separate pair from the talk pair? The 48 vdc and 6 vdc are about right, but there should be 90 v ac at 20 or 30 hz riding on it when the phone rings, if it is a standard single pair system.
:
:
:
:
:
:
::Thanks-
::First of all I don't have a meter that will check an AC voltage riding on a DC voltage. I have a scope, but the phone line and the scope are VERY far apart. However, if you think it's necessary, I'll run a line.
::
::Now, in answer to your questions-
::The only line coming into my apt. is the cable line. No phone lines. The only phone lines go to each phone. When I had regular DSL I switched all of them to CAT 5. The cable terminates in a box that has a regular interface, (the phone test jack), and a modem. The phone lines come from that.
::
::I have two 2500's, two 'system' type phones, (special features like hold, redial last number received, etc.) and a cheap 'princess style' next to the bed.
::
::Voltages, which I measured with both digital and analogue meters-
::On hook-48 VDC
::Off hook 6VDC
::Now here's the weird part, the ring did not change either the AC or DC voltages at all.
::(Maybe I'm a dumb goober after all.)
::Like I said, I can run a line from the bedroom to my bench to hook up the scope.
::And finally, my Tone generator/mod tester shows the correct polarity.
::Does any of this help?
:
::(yeah, I can't help it, they do bother me)
::
::Terry

Terry;
Take apart the 2500 phone and tell me what the ringer looks like. If it is a mechanical ringer, the leads will go to the terminas L1, L2, A, and K on the network. The last 2 are the capacitor that blocks the DC so the phone will be "On hook" when hung up. You should get pure AC without DC across either of the ringer coils.
Waiting for a reply,
Lewis

:

::Part of the idea was to measure the ring voltage, in order to see what is going on. You may have trouble using a scope as it will ground one side of the phone line unless you float it. All you need for the meter is an ac voltmeter and a capacitor. That's what the "output" jack is on a Simpson. It just adds a cap (0.1 or so) in series with the ac voltmeter, blocking dc.
::
::Who supplied the phones? What kind of ringers are in the phones? You did not say how many pairs go to the phones(?). Are you sure the ring voltage isn't on a separate pair from the talk pair? The 48 vdc and 6 vdc are about right, but there should be 90 v ac at 20 or 30 hz riding on it when the phone rings, if it is a standard single pair system.
::
::
::
::
::
::
:::Thanks-
:::First of all I don't have a meter that will check an AC voltage riding on a DC voltage. I have a scope, but the phone line and the scope are VERY far apart. However, if you think it's necessary, I'll run a line.
:::
:::Now, in answer to your questions-
:::The only line coming into my apt. is the cable line. No phone lines. The only phone lines go to each phone. When I had regular DSL I switched all of them to CAT 5. The cable terminates in a box that has a regular interface, (the phone test jack), and a modem. The phone lines come from that.
:::
:::I have two 2500's, two 'system' type phones, (special features like hold, redial last number received, etc.) and a cheap 'princess style' next to the bed.
:::
:::Voltages, which I measured with both digital and analogue meters-
:::On hook-48 VDC
:::Off hook 6VDC
:::Now here's the weird part, the ring did not change either the AC or DC voltages at all.
:::(Maybe I'm a dumb goober after all.)
:::Like I said, I can run a line from the bedroom to my bench to hook up the scope.
:::And finally, my Tone generator/mod tester shows the correct polarity.
:::Does any of this help?
::
:::(yeah, I can't help it, they do bother me)
:::
:::Terry
:
:Terry;
:Take apart the 2500 phone and tell me what the ringer looks like. If it is a mechanical ringer, the leads will go to the terminas L1, L2, A, and K on the network. The last 2 are the capacitor that blocks the DC so the phone will be "On hook" when hung up. You should get pure AC without DC across either of the ringer coils.
:Waiting for a reply,
:Lewis
:
:
:
:
:
:
::
:
The slate lead goes to K
The red goes to L2
and the red/slate goes to A

All of the ringers are turned off, (the 2500 has a switch in series with the red).
The only ringer is an old Northern Telcom gong. I've carried that damn thing around with me for years. I just love having the phone go "ding dong" instead of ringing or chirping.
I'm sorry it's taking so long to post. Yesterday my doctor told me I probably had a blood clot in my leg. As you can imagine I've been freaking out. I just came back from the ultrasound. Good news, I'm not going to die suddenly. However, I still have a foot that looks like a swollen sausage. So I've been trying to get a hold of my doctor, answer the calls from my family who still think I'm dying, AND walk the dog.
(As long as he gets walked he couldn't care less).
I'm going to try and make the ringer coil readings right after dinner.

By the way.
Thanks.
Didn't you help me with the payphone fiasco?
Terry

:::Part of the idea was to measure the ring voltage, in order to see what is going on. You may have trouble using a scope as it will ground one side of the phone line unless you float it. All you need for the meter is an ac voltmeter and a capacitor. That's what the "output" jack is on a Simpson. It just adds a cap (0.1 or so) in series with the ac voltmeter, blocking dc.
:::
:::Who supplied the phones? What kind of ringers are in the phones? You did not say how many pairs go to the phones(?). Are you sure the ring voltage isn't on a separate pair from the talk pair? The 48 vdc and 6 vdc are about right, but there should be 90 v ac at 20 or 30 hz riding on it when the phone rings, if it is a standard single pair system.
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
::::Thanks-
::::First of all I don't have a meter that will check an AC voltage riding on a DC voltage. I have a scope, but the phone line and the scope are VERY far apart. However, if you think it's necessary, I'll run a line.
::::
::::Now, in answer to your questions-
::::The only line coming into my apt. is the cable line. No phone lines. The only phone lines go to each phone. When I had regular DSL I switched all of them to CAT 5. The cable terminates in a box that has a regular interface, (the phone test jack), and a modem. The phone lines come from that.
::::
::::I have two 2500's, two 'system' type phones, (special features like hold, redial last number received, etc.) and a cheap 'princess style' next to the bed.
::::
::::Voltages, which I measured with both digital and analogue meters-
::::On hook-48 VDC
::::Off hook 6VDC
::::Now here's the weird part, the ring did not change either the AC or DC voltages at all.
::::(Maybe I'm a dumb goober after all.)
::::Like I said, I can run a line from the bedroom to my bench to hook up the scope.
::::And finally, my Tone generator/mod tester shows the correct polarity.
::::Does any of this help?
:::
::::(yeah, I can't help it, they do bother me)
::::
::::Terry
::
::Terry;
::Take apart the 2500 phone and tell me what the ringer looks like. If it is a mechanical ringer, the leads will go to the terminas L1, L2, A, and K on the network. The last 2 are the capacitor that blocks the DC so the phone will be "On hook" when hung up. You should get pure AC without DC across either of the ringer coils.
::Waiting for a reply,
::Lewis
::
::
::
::
::
::
:::
::
:
:Okay, the 2500, (HAL-2500-20F) has a mechanical ringer, all the rest have electronic transducers.
:
:The black lead goes to F
:The slate lead goes to K
:The red goes to L2
:and the red/slate goes to A
:
:All of the ringers are turned off, (the 2500 has a switch in series with the red).
:The only ringer is an old Northern Telcom gong. I've carried that damn thing around with me for years. I just love having the phone go "ding dong" instead of ringing or chirping.
:I'm sorry it's taking so long to post. Yesterday my doctor told me I probably had a blood clot in my leg. As you can imagine I've been freaking out. I just came back from the ultrasound. Good news, I'm not going to die suddenly. However, I still have a foot that looks like a swollen sausage. So I've been trying to get a hold of my doctor, answer the calls from my family who still think I'm dying, AND walk the dog.
:(As long as he gets walked he couldn't care less).
:I'm going to try and make the ringer coil readings right after dinner.
:
:By the way.
:Thanks.
:Didn't you help me with the payphone fiasco?
:Terry

I didn't help you much, we never got it working.

I still say you need 105/20 for that mechanical ringer. That should light the neon lamp very nicely.
Let me see if I can find out how Comcast generates the ring Voltage from a co-axial cable We'll get together again later today.
Lewis
:
:

::::Part of the idea was to measure the ring voltage, in order to see what is going on. You may have trouble using a scope as it will ground one side of the phone line unless you float it. All you need for the meter is an ac voltmeter and a capacitor. That's what the "output" jack is on a Simpson. It just adds a cap (0.1 or so) in series with the ac voltmeter, blocking dc.
::::
::::Who supplied the phones? What kind of ringers are in the phones? You did not say how many pairs go to the phones(?). Are you sure the ring voltage isn't on a separate pair from the talk pair? The 48 vdc and 6 vdc are about right, but there should be 90 v ac at 20 or 30 hz riding on it when the phone rings, if it is a standard single pair system.
::::
::::
::::
::::
::::
::::
:::::Thanks-
:::::First of all I don't have a meter that will check an AC voltage riding on a DC voltage. I have a scope, but the phone line and the scope are VERY far apart. However, if you think it's necessary, I'll run a line.
:::::
:::::Now, in answer to your questions-
:::::The only line coming into my apt. is the cable line. No phone lines. The only phone lines go to each phone. When I had regular DSL I switched all of them to CAT 5. The cable terminates in a box that has a regular interface, (the phone test jack), and a modem. The phone lines come from that.
:::::
:::::I have two 2500's, two 'system' type phones, (special features like hold, redial last number received, etc.) and a cheap 'princess style' next to the bed.
:::::
:::::Voltages, which I measured with both digital and analogue meters-
:::::On hook-48 VDC
:::::Off hook 6VDC
:::::Now here's the weird part, the ring did not change either the AC or DC voltages at all.
:::::(Maybe I'm a dumb goober after all.)
:::::Like I said, I can run a line from the bedroom to my bench to hook up the scope.
:::::And finally, my Tone generator/mod tester shows the correct polarity.
:::::Does any of this help?
::::
:::::(yeah, I can't help it, they do bother me)
:::::
:::::Terry
:::
:::Terry;
:::Take apart the 2500 phone and tell me what the ringer looks like. If it is a mechanical ringer, the leads will go to the terminas L1, L2, A, and K on the network. The last 2 are the capacitor that blocks the DC so the phone will be "On hook" when hung up. You should get pure AC without DC across either of the ringer coils.
:::Waiting for a reply,
:::Lewis
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
::::
:::
::
::Okay, the 2500, (HAL-2500-20F) has a mechanical ringer, all the rest have electronic transducers.
::
::The black lead goes to F
::The slate lead goes to K
::The red goes to L2
::and the red/slate goes to A
::
::All of the ringers are turned off, (the 2500 has a switch in series with the red).
::The only ringer is an old Northern Telcom gong. I've carried that damn thing around with me for years. I just love having the phone go "ding dong" instead of ringing or chirping.
::I'm sorry it's taking so long to post. Yesterday my doctor told me I probably had a blood clot in my leg. As you can imagine I've been freaking out. I just came back from the ultrasound. Good news, I'm not going to die suddenly. However, I still have a foot that looks like a swollen sausage. So I've been trying to get a hold of my doctor, answer the calls from my family who still think I'm dying, AND walk the dog.
::(As long as he gets walked he couldn't care less).
::I'm going to try and make the ringer coil readings right after dinner.
::
::By the way.
::Thanks.
::Didn't you help me with the payphone fiasco?
::Terry
:
:
:
:
:I didn't help you much, we never got it working.
:
:I still say you need 105/20 for that mechanical ringer. That should light the neon lamp very nicely.
:Let me see if I can find out how Comcast generates the ring Voltage from a co-axial cable We'll get together again later today.
Lewis

Black shuld go to L1, not F. Have you connected neon bulb across L1 and L2 of 2500? The chime ringer almost HAS to work on 105/20.
Lewis

::
: