Re: Telephone grounding

From: zxcvbob (zxcvbob_at_charter.net)
Date: 07/16/04 

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 10:10:56 -0500

w_tom wrote:
> From the FCC Part 68 Connection of Terminal Equipment to the
> Telephone Network:
>
>> Part 68.215d (4) Building and electrical codes. All building and
>> electrical codes applicable in the jurisdiction to telephone wiring
>> shall be complied with. If there are no such codes applicable to
>> telephone wiring, Article 800 of the 1978 National Electrical Code,
>> entitled Communications Systems, and other sections of that Code
>> incorporated therein by reference shall be complied with.
>

I wrote to the local electrical inspector, explained the whole thing
(with a full orchestration and 5-part harmony and stuff like that) and
told him I was contacting him first because FCC Part 68 "Connection of
Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network" gave him jurisdiction, and
this seemed like a dangerous public safety issue he needed to be aware
of. Here's his response:

> The NID (network interface device) does not have gas discharge
> devices, it is strictly a disconnecting means. The telephone company
> is required, if you request, an accessible Network Interface Device.
> The ground wire typically only protects the enclosure or the wire
> sheathing, which in this case is plastic for the NID, and
> non-existent in the drop. The exception would be if the aerial drop
> to the property is using a messenger to carry the weight, most drops
> do not use a messenger, the drop is actually tempered wire. Most
> phone companies now protect the lines at the pole or at the
> underground splice box at the edge of the property, not at the
> entrance to the unit and it is not designed to protect your
> equipment. Your conclusions about lightning damage are right on the
> money. There is not inspection of utilities as they are regulated by
> the Public Utilities Commission on a state level and the FCC on a
> national level. The utilities will not hook up the ground if there
> is not an accessible ground point adjacent to there equipment.
>
> You are also correct about damage to your equipment from spikes and
> lighting damage. Since the Telecommunication Act in the 1980’s it is
> by and large your responsibility to provide your own protection of
> your equipment on and in your property. There is some good
> protection equipment on the market but it is not installed or
> provided by the telephone company. There is some whole house
> protection that may be available from an electrical or phone systems
> contractor. Many will not know what you are talking about.

Maybe I should have included the "27 8x10 color glossy photographs, with
circles and arrows, and a paragraph on the back of each one, explaining
what each one was to be used as evidence..." (it's kind of scary that I
can quote old Arlo Guthrie material from memory)

Best regards,
Bob

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Never Underestimate the Worth of Surge Protectors on your Computer Stuff
    ... I went out to ask the firemen what was going -on, and it turns out that something had happened to a transformer down the street and it was putting more than 200 volts on one leg of the three-phase house current. ... With the power off, it was impossible to check the computer stuff, so I had to wait until the electric company knocked on my door to tell me that all was restored. ... I have a number of these surge-protected power strips daisy-chained under my desk to connect all of my computer equipment. ... As for the surge protection - consider yourself lucky. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Never Underestimate the Worth of Surge Protectors on your Computer Stuff
    ... I have a number of these surge-protected power strips ... daisy-chained under my desk to connect all of my computer equipment. ... Phillips active video control unit ... As for the surge protection - consider yourself lucky. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: Power Strips
    ... > Is there a "real" benefit to a more expensive power strip versus a $12 ... Check out the equipment protection guarantee at the end of the listing. ... Robust surge suppression circuits with sine-wave ...
    (rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic)
  • Re: Telephone grounding
    ... The presence of the ground lug indicates that some type of arrester is ... accessible communication equipment subject to overvoltage be protected ... >> The ground wire typically only protects the enclosure or the wire ... >> by and large your responsibility to provide your own protection of ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
  • Re: brown-out
    ... :by a surge." ... I have seen several pieces of equipment fried by brownouts. ... A UPS is not for hardware protection. ...
    (comp.security.misc)
Loading