atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telecom Service & Providers ground

I recently gained a new customer and replaced their old phone system w/ a new system, and noticed that the old system was grounded by running a ground wire to a clamp which was connected to a metal electrical conduit. Is this an acceptable ground? I do not remember seeing anywhere that it would not be, and the metal conduits should be grounded to the power ground anyways, so I don't see any reason why it would not work. Just curious.

In my house the cable and phone are grounded to the meter outside. I didn't think this was okay but apparently it is...

That's the way it's always done around here nowadays Jeff as Bell doesn't run wire to the inside anymore unless they're forced to!

We were always taught to run our ground to a water pipe (There were no PVC water pipes in NYC in those days). On a big job, we went to the street side of the Water Main.

An ground run to an electrical conduit was something that you saw on a trunk slammers job. But I do believe I'm dating myself.

Sam

No, it is not OK. The only acceptable points for connecting the system's ground is to: A) Metal building framing (not steel studs); B) A continuously metal cold water pipe or C) The electric service's grounding electrode conductor.

Hot water, gas and sprinkler pipes are also a no-no.

Thank you Ed, I should have said "a COLD water pipe". I always heard that tying to building steel was considered 'bonding', NOT 'grounding', but in a pinch, it was acceptable.

Again, I'm sure I'm dating myself.


Sam

The only exception I've seen is when you're on the conduit from the power company feed which is bonded to the neutral.

This has been said many times, but can never be said enough. Whatever you ground to make sure the ground is common to the other grounds. This is the only way to assure you are not the best ground, which you don't want to be.

To Sam: My answer was directed to the OP's original question, not to your reply. Come on, you have a lot more experience than I do!

To Bill: Truer words have never been spoken. Anything metallic in a building that is not bonded to the electrical service's neutral is nothing but an antenna for lightning.

To all: Technically, just about anything metallic in a modern building is supposed to be bonded (tied) to the electric service's GEC (Grounding Electrode Conductor, A.K.A. "the wire that goes to the ground rods"). That doesn't always happen.

The best way to blow up a system is to drive your own ground rod and not tie it into the building's bonded grounding system.

Unfortunately, in older buildings that are not covered under today's codes, it is best to stick with the GEC as the first choice with the cold water service being a strong second choice.

Thanks for the information/clarification guys. I appreciate it.

Had a trouble case called into me last weekend. Long Story short. It was not one of my lines but one of the local providers. Ended up helping them trouble shoot the issue and found that the ground that feed both there protector and 2 of mine had 39 amps on it. needless to say my protectors were about 200 degrees. when we pulled the ground of i got to see first hand what that much current on a ground can do. this is in the same closet with two conduits running to two differant CB panels. neither one of them was on.





had to call the local power company and they ended up breaking the ground 2 poles down the road. Needless to say the 50 pair feeder cable from Local service provider was toast. Lucky none of my stuff was damaged.