Phone cable break

[njames879]

hi,

So... I was trimming back a hedge and managed to cut through the external phone line. No problem I thought, I'll reconnect it. But when I stripped the cable back, there are five wires. One orange and four white! None of the whites have any sort of stripe. I'm very confused. Can anyone shed any light on this and help me figure out which white to connect to which white?

Any info gratefully received.

Best wishes,
Nick

 

[fourtytwo]

That is indeed very unusual for a copper cable, are you sure you are not on fibre ?

 

[bernardgreen]

Three of the white wires will be stiff steel support strands, the flexible white wire is the pair with the orange wire.

The support strands do not need to be connect if the cable is not under tension. They add strength to the cable when it is run in the air from post to house.

Beware the cut ends of the support strands can be very sharp and cut fingers,

 

[robinbanks]

Show a picture of the internals of the box on your house, into which the wire goes. Do you have access to a multimeter? Willing to buy a cheap one?

 

[njames879]

Thanks all. Much appreciated

 

[Sureitsoff?]

luckily not as bad as a neighbour of mine who trimmed the hedge growing round the telephone pole and cut through a 20 pair cable. OR billed them £500+

 

[daern]

luckily not as bad as a neighbour of mine who trimmed the hedge growing round the telephone pole and cut through a 20 pair cable. OR billed them £500+

"What cable?"