2011 Grounding Fiber to the Home Products

[ziggle314]

I work in the fiber to the home industry. The 2011 NEC now addresses our industry and they have added section 840. In the 2011 NEC, section 840.101 the code states that we must ground the coaxial cable shield even when the optical network terminal (ONT) is "unplugged." Virtually all ONTs currently use a UPS and get their ground through the third prong ("safety ground") connection of the UPS to AC. This ground is connected by the ONT to the coaxial cable shield.

The ONT is powered by DC from the UPS. Does 840.101 mean that we must have a secondary ground connection in case the UPS is unplugged? Would it be acceptable to use some mechanism to secure the power cord from the UPS to the outlet so it could not be disconnected (this seems questionable to me)?

 

[qcroanoke]

I work in the fiber to the home industry. The 2011 NEC now addresses our industry and they have added section 840. In the 2011 NEC, section 840.101 the code states that we must ground the coaxial cable shield even when the optical network terminal (ONT) is "unplugged." Virtually all ONTs currently use a UPS and get their ground through the third prong ("safety ground") connection of the UPS to AC. This ground is connected by the ONT to the coaxial cable shield.

The ONT is powered by DC from the UPS. Does 840.101 mean that we must have a secondary ground connection in case the UPS is unplugged? Would it be acceptable to use some mechanism to secure the power cord from the UPS to the outlet so it could not be disconnected (this seems questionable to me)?

When does 2011 become enforced in your state or area? Here in Va. we are not on 2008 till Jan. 1,2011. So it doesn't apply just yet.
But I'm sure there are many here who can tell you what that means.