sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Lightning Protectors - Strange Grounding Technique??

Maybe I am behind the times. I have not installed cable between buildings for several years.

My employer wants me to install direct burial cable attaching it to an already existing span with cable ties. They won't purchase a cable with a messenger. But that is not the worst of it.

They don't want to install a ground stake with a #6 cable coming from the protector. I don't think thay will even want to bond and ground the shield.

They want me to terminate the pairs to the protector and then run a ground wire (#10 I suppose) from the protector to some kind of an adapter that plugs into a 110VAC outlet and which supposedly only has continuity with the ground terminal at the outlet. Of course this would send a lightning strike through who knows where in their customer's building

Has anybody ever heard of such a thing?

This idea seems absolutely wrong and very unsafe

That is not proper grounding. An inspector would red tag that one for sure.

Sorry Dave,

I forgot to mention that there won't be any inspection. And, because of that, they think that this "grounding adapter" will be adequate

If you can't convince them its wrong, and your going to do it, at least use the black cable ties (uv rated) on the overhead, direct burial.

While this ought to be in the outside wiring forum, and being in the St. Louis area (IBEW Local 1), are you and your employer ready for the mess and liability issues? Yes, LIABILITY! Between the icky pic running out all over the place and the lightning induced fire......well.....

Now IF I were there, somehow, a mysterious phone call to the inspector would be placed....or to the culprits' insurance carrier....hmmmmmmm.....

Why in the world would they want you to install direct burial cable overhead? Talk about a recipe for an oozing mess at the ends!

This is a liability issue. If (and when) an event occurs, and there is damage or, worse, loss of life, the "Nuremberg defense" will not work. You'll be on the hook because you installed it that way.

Protect yourself and your co-workers and call a local NFPA inspector and have him state, to your boss, the proper grounding requirements for this job. A legitimate, reputable business with ethical management personnel would welcome the input from a recognized expert. A shady, fly-by-night operation would ask you to violate NFPA and NESC code and create an unsafe, dangerous condition. The next question you need to ask yourself is: do you really want to work for someone who is so cavalier about your's and your co-worker's life safety? I know I wouldn't.

Rcaman

No sense in using anything larger than #12 - That's all that will be between the outlet and whatever ground at the panel. Even then the outlet ground is only designed to carry 20A from a hot/ground short long enough to pop a circuit breaker. If a lightning strike doesn't blow the adapter right out of the outlet, it will probably melt the wire or blow half the splices along that run.

In other words, Don't Do It!

You are intelligent, know your business, and obviously have a conscience. Is the guy who is telling you to do this the Big Boss, or some middle-management guy?

Is your employer willing to "put it in writing?"

Does the customer know that your employer is a jerk and a criminal?

If your employer tells you to do something illegal, you have several choices.

Do it, because, as an employee you are indemnified.

Refuse to do it, and get fired.

Call the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) and get fired.

Are you a member of a union?

With all the old timers who know the business retiring and the new generation that doesn't know their ass from their elbow taking over, it's no wonder this industry is going down hill fast.

I wouldn't worry about it, just do what they tell you because it's going to look just fine next to all the other crap we see every day.

-Hal