Tip And Ring
Tip and ring are the standard industry terms of the two wires or sides of a telephone line. They originate from the early days of telephone service when concentric plugs were used that had one wire connected to the plug tip and another to a ring on the shaft. When inserted into a socket, a telephone connector would first connect the grounded circuit side on the tip, followed by the active battery potential on the ring. In the UK, tip and ring are referred to as the 'A' (earth) and 'B' (battery) wires.
Tip has a potential of 0 volts with respect to ground, while the battery side carries a DC potential of −48V when in the on-hook (idle) state (nominally −50 volts in the UK).
Read more about Tip And Ring: Origin, Line Voltage, Polarity, Color Code
Famous quotes containing the words tip and/or ring:
“When words reach the tip of your tongue, hold back half of them.”
—Chinese proverb.
“I mount the steps and ring the bell, turning
Wearily, as one would turn to nod good-bye to Rochefoucauld,
If the street were time and he at the end of the street,
And I say, “Cousin Harriet, here is the Boston Evening Transcript.””
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)