atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems My 1A2 project

@ Godfather,

I would do whatever Ed or Arthur would suggest. I am a neophyte at all of this, and am just learning my T's and R's. As an old radio and teletype person though, I would say that no matter what, if your equipment is valuable to you in any way, to lightning protect the heck out of it. In my QTH, I have an antiquarian tube setup and a "modern" (early eighties) ICOM set up. Both have extraordinary lightning protection, but the ICOM stuff gets unplugged from both the mains as well as any antennas when I am not using it, especially in T-storm season.

Best,

Joe

Lou, ideally you should provide protection on each end of the cable. If you must skip one end, I'd be sure that there is protection at the KSU end.

Ed,

Thanks for the help. I wasn't sure, but I'd rather do it the correct way. I've never had to install an off premise extension before.


Joe,

Yes I know the practice. I am a Ham radio operator and disconnect my equipment unless I am using it. We have some wicked lightning here in the summer months. I used to work on fire alarm systems (including municipal telegraph) and telephone equipment 20 years ago, but I have been working with computer networks for the last 12 years. In my world everything that is "remote" now is linked via fiber, so there is no need to install circuit protectors.

Well, the big move is over. Thank God. I am exhausted, but now the really hard part starts... getting everything unpacked and put away. I will be installing my phone-system backboard this evening! There is a perfect place for the KSU and related stuff in the utility room. I will have photos shortly!

Joe

Joe,
When deciding to ground one or both ends your main concern is stray voltage caused by a difference in ground potenial between your house ground potenial and the out building ground potenial. If all you will have out there is pots it doesn't matter if you ground one or both ends of the cable.

I would do as EV suggests and protect at the KSU end first. By doing that you ensure a path of least resistance to ground and you place the entire cable between the house and the out building at the same ground potential.