Posted: 4/11/2009 6:19:30 AM EDT
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A Kansas farm wife called the local phone company to report her telephone failed to ring when her friends called - and that on the few occasions, when it did ring, her dog always moaned right before the phone rang. The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile lady. He climbed a telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house. The phone didn't ring right away, but then the dog moaned and the telephone began to ring. Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found : 1. The dog was tied to the telephone system's ground wire with a steel chain and collar. 2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose. 3. The dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the number was called. 4. After a couple of jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate. 5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring. Which demonstrates that some problems CAN be fixed by pissing and moaning. Thought you'd like to know |
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As a electrician, I would have to say this story is a little far fetched. First a steel chain laying on the ground would send most of the current to the ground. A steel collar would have jump the voltage to the skin of the dog with fur inbetween the collar and the dogs skin. Another thing to remember. Correct me if I am wrong, but the ground wire is only to drain off the electric charge on the wires from a lighting strike on or near the telephone lines. Anyone knows anything about the box outside, knows that there are either gas discharge tubes or the old fashion carbon blocks between each wire (tip and ring) to the ground wire.
Not a true story, but a good one that makes a point. Max |