So its barely summer and im already planning for winter. My shop is a good 100 yards from my back door and with my knee, thats quite a walk, especially with snow. So I was thinking about using two antique phones to connect the house and my shop. Luckily ive a fence that runs right by both, i think ill use that to string the wire.

Ive found out how to connect them, intercom style. But to ring it says it takes 90v? I didnt realize that much power ran through phone lines, but supposedly only 6 volts to use them like intercoms. So how do i modify these so that the ringer works?

Truth be told.. since i put the heater in my shop, a tv and a rather comfy couch, ive been spending more than a few "working" hours out there just comfortabley dozing away. So I think ill need the ringer to wake me up.

The ringer is 90 V AC at about 20 Hz. Originally generated by a hand crank generator. Yes you will need a source, although the full 90V won't be needed. Sometimes DC will work but you'll have to try it.

I have a pair of WW II field phones that have hand crank ringing generators. Maybe your best move is to add a simple buzzer as a ringer.

I remember the first time I found out that there is 90VAC going through the phone line when it's ringing, it was of course the hard way. The guy I was working with had a hardy laugh out of it. We always treat working on a live phone line as roulette, sometimes you loose :eek:.

Well field phones arent necesarilly that expensive and it would certainly make it easier. Though early wooden wall phones with the crank seems like they would work as well.

Its certainly something ill have to look more into.

I would be happy to part with my field phones. They have been upgraded from the old crappy sounding handsets to a more modern telephone type. The rest is original, one in a leather case and the other in a heavy cloth case. They have a place for D cells but of course running them from a power supply makes more sense for a permanent installation.

I would be happy to part with my field phones. They have been upgraded from the old crappy sounding handsets to a more modern telephone type. The rest is original, one in a leather case and the other in a heavy cloth case. They have a place for D cells but of course running them from a power supply makes more sense for a permanent installation.

I might have to talk to you about them later on. Right now im just trying to do a bit of research on the subject. Combine that with having too many radio projects, adding solar cells to my shop and figuring out just how THAT works as well. heh.

But yes, this last year I put in new flooring and added a woodstove. My goal this summer is to get my 12v solar system up and running for additional light (mainly because i need an excuse to experiment with solar) and adding a phone system so she doesnt storm out of the house yelling for me. Just being able to call and get me to get off my butt and come inside.

Easier than all that: I searched on e**bay for "wireless intercom" and found a lot of them, pairs for just a few dollars. No wiring. Just plug into an outlet and you're hooked up.

Whats the fun of doing it the easy way?

This way i get to muck around and figure things out.

Just ask her to call you on your cell phone and pick up the intercom. That should work... :)

At one time I had a half-finished Heathkit power-line intercom set (with instructions!) which would be an appropriate solution. Long gone now, but it would be yours if I still had it.

Chip

I just like a good project, ill admit it. Any excuse to play with a new toy or have some fun. I could always get a waterproof 4 starnded wire and run that, for the calls and to power the ringer.

Well you'd enjoy my field telephones, EE-8 I think they are. I got them working and put them away about40 years ago, and recently noticed them on the shelf in the garage. Who knows what shape they are in now...

You could use two cameras, and two TVs for a point-to-point videophone. RF modulators, etc.

Chip

A better idea would be to hire some attractive young people to run back and forth with messages.

http://www.easy39th.com/files/TM_11-333_Telephones_EE-8,_EE-8-A_and_EE-8-B_1950.pdf