I think Bob is being a little facetious with his comments. The point I think he's making is that we all "could" do something, but commonsense dictates that we wouldn't. I don't think endless, pointless comments about domestic electrical wiring has any worth here at all. And certainly wouldn't help the "non-noob" original poster - who clearly knows what he's talking about (not).

Of course not, Malcolm! No voltage on the line?

I would be shocked if BT couldn't cope with shorts.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

I would be shocked if BT couldn't cope with shorts.

Given how many wires there are on poles, they must bang together in the wind, years after any insulation has worn out in the elements.

In fact wasn't that the reason given for 999 originally instead of 111, as wires banging together in the wind could pulse (loop disconnect) dial these digits. Now we have tone dialling its a moot topic.

Possibly so - but your "doubt if" wouldn't cut it if it did cause problems. Bit of an odd take on the fact that a pair of wires - carrying current (or indeed raisins) - could be "touched together - with gay abandon". Let's do away with insulation altogether!

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In fact wasn't that the reason given for 999 originally instead of 111, as wires banging together in the wind could pulse (loop disconnect) dial these digits. Now we have tone dialling its a moot topic.

It is one reason and there were others.

On the old call boxes it was easy to make 9xx a free call alongside the 0 use to call the operator.
It was easy to locate the hole on a rotary dial - one away from the zero.
It was not susceptible to inadvertent contact during installation/repair work.

Other countries went for 112 and 911 to avoid the possible problems with accidental contact.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Other countries went for 112

112 can also be used to call the UK emergency services and certain fault conditions can cause a line to do just that.

In reply to a post by Jaggies:

In reply to a post by MHC:

Other countries went for 112

112 can also be used to call the UK emergency services and certain fault conditions can cause a line to do just that.

Not in the 1930's ...

To take this even more off topic ..when you dial 999 or 112 on your shiny new smartphones, the handset doesn't actually dial 999 or 112.

No neither would I, I recently wanted to shorten the drop from the rose to the lamp socket, I made sure I tripped the circuit breaker first, just in case