[why not the LS2/LS7? @ Oct 14th 2007 7:28PM]

You cannot "pull volts from a wall". Volts are a measure of potential, volts don't flow, they just are. Amps flow and Watts sort of flow, since they incorporate current as part of their measure.

And you really shouldn't have posted this article, there's little that can be accomplished by doing this except screwing things up.

[Ryan @ Oct 14th 2007 7:39PM]

Watts is a measurement of power. P = VI, so do watts flow? Not really, it is just a measurement.

It really is no secret that phone lines come with 40ish volts to on them. That is how old pay phones works, they were supplied their own power and also the old school telephones that you just simply plugged into the wall, the power was just there.

The only secret about it, is the fact that it is more lost knowledge among average people now. But yeah, definitely could be easily caught when the phone company gets complaints of DSL speeds sucking, they come out and easily trace it to you.

[kaztm @ Oct 15th 2007 7:07PM]

Hackers used to recharge batteries using phone lines at least in the 80s. It was suitable source of power for trickle charge (low current).

But modern (90s) switches have mechanism to detect such abuse or faulty phone line/equipment. People get billed/sued for damages from the phone company, and arrested/prosecuted for violating relevant laws.