Power outage?

Question

Ok, so here's what happened. We were having storms, and out power went out. But, while the power was out, the whole time the phones were working. We were calling and receiving calls while our power was out. Why were our phones working but everything else not?

Answer 1

Colin A: Your land line phone is connected to the Central Office by a pair (2twisted copper wires) & the Telephone Office runs from Batteries all the time. The normal voltage is negative 50 volts Direct current on one wire & earth ground on the other wire. In Telephone jargon, the wires are called Tip & Ring. The batteries are like a bucket & whatever power is drawn from the batteries, that power is replaced by what are called Rectifiers (Converts alternating current to direct current). The bucket is always kept full. If AC power is lost, the Emergency Generator starts up & provides AC power to the Rectifiers. Note: All Cordless phones require AC voltage/ current to be operational. The cordless base unit must always be powered.It is a two way radio between the base unit & the cordless handset. No house power, no cordless phone service. Sorry for the long dissertation. exbelltel

Answer 2

exbelltel   is correct, landline telephones are powered by battery in the central office, however it is 48VDC not 50...

Answer 3

The telephone company (system) has a very low voltage electric wire as part of the telephone wiring system. Hence - did you ever wonder what lights up the keys of your telephone?  That elelctricity doesn't come from the electrical company ~ it comes just from the telephone company ~ and it just runs the telephone.

Answer 4

thats the same with me. i think its a land line, not a electrical phone... i dont kno. but all i kno is that electricity isnt needed. but it is only with some fones... not all