I have shorted out digital ports many times without causing damage. C'mon admit it you've done it too. That is the worst that any analog device could do to an ESI digital port, as far as I know. What I want to know is:

1. Do the phones ring on intercom calls?
2. Do they ring when you use program 4 to set the ringer volume and tone?
3. Do the speakers work for voice prompts and speakerphone use?
4. Are any of the phones hooked up with 4 conductor wire? This is your most likely culprit, if there is something loading down the second pair that the phone uses to power the optional DSS console. This would cause the phone to "fizzle out" whenever it tries to light all the l.e.d.'s

Brian Dunne
ETC Telecom
www.etctele.com