Code-a-phone dialer hookup?

Question

This may seem like a basic question but I know little about telephone connections. I just came across an old Ford Industries Code-a-phone dialer. It has no phone jack connection but had a 6 pin connector where the hook-up should be. 2 of the cnnections don't seem to go anywhere. the other four, I assume, are for a four wire phone hook-up. My question is, is there any possibilty of damage to the device or my phone service if I take a educated guess as to a connection and get it wrong? I cannot seem to find any info or schematic on the device online. It is a Ford Code-a-phone model CAP-925 and the model may have been used by AT&T for a while. Any input for a daft old git like me would be appreciated. Thanks

Tim Wescott · Accepted Answer

1: Yes, there's a possibility of damage. The nominal phone line connection is 48V through a 600 ohm resistor (with wide variation, although almost always never more than 48V). If some of those pins go to low-level logic, you're toast. 2: Phone connections in the US are 2-wire, tip & ring. There used to be an old four-wire standard, but it went away with deregulation. 3: If you have four connections there's a good chance that the dialer is meant to be connected in line, with two wires going to the wall and two wires going to the phone system (or phone).

Sorry I can't be of more help. There used to be a Code-a-phone (I think it was Code-a-Phone) plant located about 6 miles from where I grew up, but by the time I applied for work there they were already dying.

doh · Answer

Thanks. I was hoping to get it running for my elderly mother who seems to have a problen operating the speed-dial on her phone. This seemed easier to use (Ah! The good old days.) I'll probably just find a easy to use one at RS or Amazon. Thanks again.

Michael A. Terrell · Answer

A lot of their products used a FCC approved 'Protective Coupler' that you leased from the phone company, on a monthly basis. I have seen some that were abandoned at radio stations, but they are likely in a landfill by now.

Here area couple pages on the Sandman website that you might like:

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Here is their home page:

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Code-a-phone dialer hookup?

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