Wires attached to screws in a little white plastic thing

[Iota]

Can anyone point out what this is?

 

It's been on my bedroom wall as long as I've lived in this house.

 

Doubt it's that interesting, but I might be able to use it?

[Moontanman]

If you are in the USA I would speculate that it's an old style telephone connection.... is it live?

[Iota]

If you are in the USA I would speculate that it's an old style telephone connection.... is it live?

 

I'm not sure how to test that without killing myself, but I think so.

 

I'm in the UK. I think you must be right, because there is this on the floor underneath it, which is for old phones, I think:

 

Edit: If it is live, there's a plastic lid that goes on, which I've put back on now.

Edited August 11, 2012 by Iota

[Moontanman]

You would have to have an volt meter to be sure but the safest thing is to cover it back up and ask a professional. Don't you guys use 240 over there? If it's an old power tap of some sort it could be dangerous...

[John Cuthber]

The fact that it's in the UK and has those colours of wires indicates that it is, or at least was, a mains power connection for something.

 

Be very careful.

[Iota]

Yeah we use 240.

[dimreepr]

If the plastic lid’s plain then it looks like a junction box, though quite what it’s doing on a wall like that? Maybe wall lights...

 

 

[John Cuthber]

To me the socket by the skirting board looks more like TV antenna connector.

If that's true then it may have been the power connection for a TV.

[Iota]

Ah-hah! Dimreepr, looks like you got it. It's a junction box.

 

Meaning it is live, and connected to the mains. Apparently the lid on it contains sparks when/if a junction overloads, to prevent fires. I think I'll leave that on from now.

[John Cuthber]

The lid stops you putting your finger on the live wires.

[Iota]

The lid stops you putting your finger on the live wires.

 

Well, first and foremost that too. But they are usually out of sight and out of reach.

[tomgwyther]

It's definatly a main Junction box, the four holes around it are where other cables connected to it at one time.

It's likely quite old as those wire colourings are no longer used. It's most likely still connected to the/a socket ring-main which should have it's own MCB on your distribution board, so as you can turn it off.

Best to get a qualified electrician to remove it/make it safe.

 

The other photo is a standard RF connector, the other end is the aerial on the roof. it's passive and thus, not dangerous.

 

 

p.s. with regard to the mains junction box: don't touch it.

p.p.s if you ever need to carry out electrical work, switch the entire distribution board off, i.e cut power to the whole house.

Edited August 11, 2012 by tomgwyther

[Fuzzwood]

Tbh, looks like something you hang a lamp from. Esp if it is at such a height on the wall.