In a CATV system, a metalic conductor,the drop coax, enters a building from a utility pole therefore the coax must be bonded to the electrical system as per NEC Article 820. With new technology such as FTTP, Fiber To The Home, there is a non metalic fiber optic cable that enters the building. However once inside the building the optical power is converted to a "low energy-high frequency signal" that is distributed by coax to all users devices such as televisions or a VCR that operate on 120 VAC. Since there is no metalic conductor that connects to the utility pole there is no current path to transfere a lightning strike or ground potential difference to the inside coax. My questions are these:
Since all devices are connected inside the building with coax, must the coax be bonded to the electrical system? If there is no bonding provided would there not be a shock hazzard created if for any reason a connected device developed a "Hot" chassis or a ground fault for without a bond, there would be no low impedance path to ground? Since Article 820 appears to regulate all coax does Article 820 require that internal coax be grounded if it does not have a conductive connection to the utility pole? If not Article 820, does any Article require internal distribution coax be grounded? Finally, does IEEE Std 1100 apply?
Sorry for allot of question but this is an important subject as FTTH becomes more available.
Ron:-?
Since all devices are connected inside the building with coax, must the coax be bonded to the electrical system? If there is no bonding provided would there not be a shock hazzard created if for any reason a connected device developed a "Hot" chassis or a ground fault for without a bond, there would be no low impedance path to ground? Since Article 820 appears to regulate all coax does Article 820 require that internal coax be grounded if it does not have a conductive connection to the utility pole? If not Article 820, does any Article require internal distribution coax be grounded? Finally, does IEEE Std 1100 apply?
Sorry for allot of question but this is an important subject as FTTH becomes more available.
Ron:-?
