sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Question about ariel cable

I need to run a new 25 pair cable that connects 2 buildings. First question what kind of outdoor cable should i use? it runs along the building then across aerial to building 2.

Second question. I am starting at building 1 going to Building 2 cross connecting at a 66 block to underground existing cable that goes to building 3. Do I need lightning protectors in all 3 buildings or just building 1 and 3?

Type PE-22 should be sufficient for the portion that runs outside, but along the building. It will need to be clamped to the wall because this cable is not strong enough to support itself.

Type PE-38 cable should be used for the aerial run since it has an integral 1/4" steel support strand built into the cable's "figure 8" jacket.

Here\'s a link for good information about cable types.

You will also need 1/4" strandvises to dead-end this strand and attach it to the building at each end.

Here\'s what they look like.

Fortunately, both of these cable types are NOT filled with "icky PIC", so working with them will be somewhat pleasant. You'll need to order sheath bond clamps to effectively bond the aluminum cable shields together and to each building's electrical grounding conductor. 3M #4462 clamps are pretty easy to work with on small cables.

As for protection, you can never have too much and yes, you should provide BET's at each building. If you are needing to trim costs, it is generally best to have the protection at the most expensive end (KSU), then next at the mid point. You can probably get away with the need for protection at the far end. A lightning hit anywhere on the premises is going to cause problems, but those usually aren't what damage phone equipment. It is difference in ground potential that causes the real headaches.

Make sure that all of your sheath bond clamps are connected using #6AWG copper providing a unified ground path and you should be fine.

Clifford (800-451-4381) stocks all of these products and has a facility in Carbondale, PA. Tell them what you need and they'll take care of you, not to mention that shipping costs will probably be minimal.

Great thanks, Guess I'll go with PE22. I am following an existing 25 pair cable so the standvises and 1/4" steel support PE38 I am assuming would be unnecessary.

I don't know how long the outdoor building-side portion of the run is, but we always just used aerial end-to-end. Just be sure to ground ALL the strand, or cut it off. It makes a really GREAT antenna, that you do NOT want! The aerial end-to-end was easier and often times cheaper than the splice(s) needed to transition from cable to cable. Esp when you have a small number of well paid, very versatile techs. We spliced only when absolutely necessary. Besides, a splice is a problem looking for a home, IMO. John C.

I am following an existing 25 pair cable so the standvises and 1/4" steel support PE38 I am assuming would be unnecessary.

How do you plan on supporting it? You going to ty-wrap it to the existing?

-Hal

Unless you have access to a lasher, I'd go with the self support.

Sorry I have no idea how heavy these cables are and funds are an issue, I also need to have a sales room up and running in 3 days unfortunately the existing cable I was going to use only has 7 good pairs in it. I need to do one complete run no splicing about 150'. Out of the foundation of building 1 up the building 20' across 30 ft to the other building down that building and into the basement of that building. Do you think PE22 will work following the existing cabling. Or am I creating a giant lightning rod?

The lightning rod part isn't as much of a concern as what you are planning on using to support the PE-22 cable. That stuff has no tensile strength whatsoever, in fact it is designed to stretch to allow distribution terminals to be cut in on long runs. If you put this cable up in the air with no support strand, it will sag by five feet within a year. You must provide some form of solid support means. White cable ties to another cable are NOT an option.

A thirty foot span between buildings doesn't legally require protection, but you must bond the cable sheaths at each end to the building's electrical service ground. Otherwise, you may very well be creating an untintentional lightning rod.

If you only have 7 good pairs left that cable needs to come down anyway. Stick a little battery on those "good" pairs and they won't be good long.

Not to be the bearer of bad tidings, but if you don't have local help & advice from someone that has done some aerial cable installation, you may want to bow out gracefully now. It's not nearly as simple as cat3/cat5/IW. And 1 guy without proper tools and equipment has NO chance of getting the cable up above the 14 foot (Unless it has changed) NEC requirement. John C.