atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Outside Plant OSP Construction Lead Conduit Strung Between Utility Poles.

I'm not accustomed to seeing lead cable hung overhead. I've only seen it coming into basements from underground.

Thank you for the clarification Noobed2336 & ugly1!

Kinda reads like "Lick the third rail".

Knock yourself out! âš¡

Correct! Used to be very common and squirrels loved to chew on it. (That's why they were so stupid!) I remember a big push to install squirrel guard over the miles and miles of lead cables. Squirrel guard is a "V" shaped plastic product that is made with something squirrels don't like to chew on. It was ty-rapped on top of the lead cables.

Eventually the lead cables were all replaced, probably not because of the lead content but because they were paper insulated and a maintenance problem.

I think California banned lead covered cables because it was causing brain damage to squirrels. What was it, Prop what?

-Hal

I think it was Proposition 4 (1911). California has been going down hill since then.

I saw a brave soul insist on using an oscillating multitool to cut a splice open instead of the authorized chipping knife. He was wearing coveralls and a dust mask at least but I still thought it was sketchy. Unfortunately I had to get in there after him so I had coveralls and a mask too.

And I dont doubt that it was significantly faster, we would have been there all day chipping it, I'm sure.

Use of lead above ground isn't common around here. This is the first time I've seen it used in this manner. It might have been prevalent decades ago. I'd be curious to find out if it's still in use, or, if it has been abandoned in place like so much of Verizon's copper OSP.

Here it was abandoned in place for awhile, then they came around and removed it, probably for the scrap value.

-Hal

Around here, Verizon is using the old OSP copper to support FiOS fiber. So double lashing isn't unusual.