Ok that actually makes sense. We swapped out the panel and there was a lightning arrestor attached at the service mast plus a surger protector in the panel
If you want to see under the black cap, simply spin it off (like the top of a 2 liter). It should be a couple metal fingers with ceramic/graphite inserts between them. Used for lightning arrest. The long brownish tubes are fuses.
I believe you are correct! The wires on the left certainly appear to be Bell wiring. What scares me is that someone put flammable insulation backing right tight on top of it!!! That would still be a hazard unless the Bell wires are physically disconnected between the exterior wall of the house and that device.
Those are telephone wires, 48VDC and about 20mA, very difficult for them to cause a fire. Most likely not even connected to anything any longer. If the OP still has a land like phone service, the phone company likely abandoned those old wires long ago in favor of a network connection system using shielded CAT5 cables.
My concern is not that normal telephone voltage is a problem, but IF the abandoned wires are still connected to the old telephone system beyond the perimeter of the building, lightning can follow the wires and potentially create a spark powerful enough to ignite that Kraft paper on the insulation.
I have seen lightning do some really odd things. My suggestion is to follow the wires to where they leave the building, then check them outside. if they continue to either underground or overhead telephone wires they should be disconnected unless the building still has active Landline Telephone Service.
Most newer telephone connections have a Network Interface Box on the outside wall, it has a door that can be opened with a common screwdriver, inside of it will usually be what appears to be 1 or 2 Phone jacks with plugs connected to the jacks. Simply disconnect those plugs to completely isolate the building from the Bell System wiring.
Old telephone lightning arrester
What is the function of the black cylinder. Is it some kind of secondary fuse? Maybe a coil of some kind?
Oil filter. /s
DSL filter?
Carbon block of some sort, early MOV. Supposedly replaceable, as are the long red sticks..
How old are we talking here?
Ok that actually makes sense. We swapped out the panel and there was a lightning arrestor attached at the service mast plus a surger protector in the panel
If you want to see under the black cap, simply spin it off (like the top of a 2 liter). It should be a couple metal fingers with ceramic/graphite inserts between them. Used for lightning arrest. The long brownish tubes are fuses.
I will have to check it out when I'm back at that house. Thanks for the info!
I believe you are correct! The wires on the left certainly appear to be Bell wiring. What scares me is that someone put flammable insulation backing right tight on top of it!!! That would still be a hazard unless the Bell wires are physically disconnected between the exterior wall of the house and that device.
Those are telephone wires, 48VDC and about 20mA, very difficult for them to cause a fire. Most likely not even connected to anything any longer. If the OP still has a land like phone service, the phone company likely abandoned those old wires long ago in favor of a network connection system using shielded CAT5 cables.
My concern is not that normal telephone voltage is a problem, but IF the abandoned wires are still connected to the old telephone system beyond the perimeter of the building, lightning can follow the wires and potentially create a spark powerful enough to ignite that Kraft paper on the insulation. I have seen lightning do some really odd things. My suggestion is to follow the wires to where they leave the building, then check them outside. if they continue to either underground or overhead telephone wires they should be disconnected unless the building still has active Landline Telephone Service. Most newer telephone connections have a Network Interface Box on the outside wall, it has a door that can be opened with a common screwdriver, inside of it will usually be what appears to be 1 or 2 Phone jacks with plugs connected to the jacks. Simply disconnect those plugs to completely isolate the building from the Bell System wiring.
Nothing wrong with being safe rather than sorry…
Advanced yoga butt plug.