Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

whereistom · 13th Sep 2010, 9:53 pm

Hi,

I've just bought a couple of old Australian phones for next to nothing on ebay, and I'm wondering if I can convert them to work on the UK network. Has anyone done this before, or does anyone know of a decent resource on the web? Google isn't helping me

I'm guessing from this site that they are 802 series: http://www.bobsoldphones.net/Pages/T.../800series.htm

I've converted a few UK phones (746, 706 and trimphones) so know how to move wires about, but don't yet have any real understanding of what I'm looking at or how they work, so any links or advice very appreciated!

Thanks,
Tom

AndiiT · 13th Sep 2010, 10:37 pm

Hi,
I have a couple of 800 series phones in my collection, luckily I was in Australia at the time they were purchased so, whilst over there, obtained some in line sockets from Tandy and wired them to a UK line cord.

I will dig mine out, have a look, and post some conversion details for you (if someone else doesn't beat me to it first)

If you do mange to get hold of in - line sockets the bell circuit is wired in series, in a similar fashion to the "old" way of GPO wiring, so you have to link a couple of the pins in the sockets to get the bells to ring.

I think that some of the more modern Australian 800 telephones use an RJ11 plug so all that you need is a suitable adapter, an ADSL filter would probably suffice.

This page may also be of use

Regards
Andrew

whereistom · 18th Sep 2010, 3:04 pm

Thanks Andrew. I'm actually about to be in Australia for a few weeks with work, so will have a look while I'm out there!

AndiiT · 18th Sep 2010, 6:33 pm

Hi,
I am having a busier weekend than first expected but will try to dig out my 800 series telephones for you tomorrow evening and post some modification/wiring details.

Co-incidentally we currently have visitors from Australia staying here with us!

Regards
Andrew

AndiiT · 23rd Sep 2010, 8:02 pm

Hi,
Apologies for the delay in replying. As far as I can work out, if your telephone is a standard dial type 800 telephone, you can convert it to UK working by wiring as follows -

RED of UK line cord to terminal B on PCB
WHITE of UK line cord to terminal A
3k3 resistor, or link, between terminals A and P1
Remove link C1 - GS4
BLUE of UK line cord to GS4

Regards
Andrew

whereistom · 3rd Jul 2011, 6:43 pm

Hi there,

Sorry for the (very!) long delay in replying to this - I was out of the country for a few months, then with work various other things it's only the past few weeks that I've managed to get back to my phones.

Finally got my Aus 802 working today. AndiiT - thanks! Those instructions allowed my phone to do everything except ring when called. With the invaluable help of Bob at www.britishtelephones.com, it turned out that for some reason there was an extra unnecessary connection in there - when removed, and wired up as above it worked.

For anyone else trying to do the same thing, I've attached a diagram of how the phone should be wired up with a UK cord.

Tom

13th Sep 2010, 9:53 pm	#1
whereistom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 25	Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? Hi, I've just bought a couple of old Australian phones for next to nothing on ebay, and I'm wondering if I can convert them to work on the UK network. Has anyone done this before, or does anyone know of a decent resource on the web? Google isn't helping me I'm guessing from this site that they are 802 series: http://www.bobsoldphones.net/Pages/T.../800series.htm I've converted a few UK phones (746, 706 and trimphones) so know how to move wires about, but don't yet have any real understanding of what I'm looking at or how they work, so any links or advice very appreciated! Thanks, Tom

13th Sep 2010, 10:37 pm	#2
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? Hi, I have a couple of 800 series phones in my collection, luckily I was in Australia at the time they were purchased so, whilst over there, obtained some in line sockets from Tandy and wired them to a UK line cord. I will dig mine out, have a look, and post some conversion details for you (if someone else doesn't beat me to it first) If you do mange to get hold of in - line sockets the bell circuit is wired in series, in a similar fashion to the "old" way of GPO wiring, so you have to link a couple of the pins in the sockets to get the bells to ring. I think that some of the more modern Australian 800 telephones use an RJ11 plug so all that you need is a suitable adapter, an ADSL filter would probably suffice. This page may also be of use Regards Andrew Last edited by AndiiT; 13th Sep 2010 at 10:39 pm. Reason: Added URL

18th Sep 2010, 3:04 pm	#3
whereistom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 25	Re: Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? Thanks Andrew. I'm actually about to be in Australia for a few weeks with work, so will have a look while I'm out there!

18th Sep 2010, 6:33 pm	#4
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? Hi, I am having a busier weekend than first expected but will try to dig out my 800 series telephones for you tomorrow evening and post some modification/wiring details. Co-incidentally we currently have visitors from Australia staying here with us! Regards Andrew

23rd Sep 2010, 8:02 pm	#5
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? Hi, Apologies for the delay in replying. As far as I can work out, if your telephone is a standard dial type 800 telephone, you can convert it to UK working by wiring as follows - RED of UK line cord to terminal B on PCB WHITE of UK line cord to terminal A 3k3 resistor, or link, between terminals A and P1 Remove link C1 - GS4 BLUE of UK line cord to GS4 Regards Andrew

3rd Jul 2011, 6:43 pm	#6
whereistom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 25	Re: Converting 800 series Australian phone for UK? Hi there, Sorry for the (very!) long delay in replying to this - I was out of the country for a few months, then with work various other things it's only the past few weeks that I've managed to get back to my phones. Finally got my Aus 802 working today. AndiiT - thanks! Those instructions allowed my phone to do everything except ring when called. With the invaluable help of Bob at www.britishtelephones.com, it turned out that for some reason there was an extra unnecessary connection in there - when removed, and wired up as above it worked. For anyone else trying to do the same thing, I've attached a diagram of how the phone should be wired up with a UK cord. Tom Attached Thumbnails