atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Returning after absence -- with a problem/question

Been many years since I was here. Guess the account was purged or something since the ID didn't work.

Also been many years since I worked on Vodavi key systems.

Had some pieces and parts left over when I started changing things in this house. 66 Blocks, bridge clips, protectors and what not.

So, if you want to stop reading, so be it.

If you're still reading, cool. Here's the deal:

Incoming CO line goes to 66 Block with the old style Siemens sneak fuses, then out to a PortaSystems 6 port protector with gas fuses. Then back to the 66 block for connection to the inside wiring.

Took a lighting hit last night (second one in 15 years or so). This one blew the sneak fuse across the utility room. Found the plastic, now blackened, but no sign of the fuses. That wasn't unexpected.

Bigger issue is the PortaSystem block. Both hits over the years blew the connected port, not the gas fuse. Found out last time by changing the fuses with no results. Had to change ports. Same thing last night. Now down to 4 good ports out of the original 6.

Any idea why? Isn't that was the gas fuses are supposed to do?

You didnt mention grounding, is there a place to ground block and is there a ground on it?

Also are all grounds bonded to each other? Sounds like maybe not.

PortaSystem block is tied to a ground rod outside that the main circuit panel is tied to. Pretty sure the NIB is tied to the same rod.

We have covered bonging extensively in other posts. It is essential that the telephone company ground at their NID, the inside protection that you have provided and the building electrical ground and metallic water pipe (if any) all be bonded together.

Lightning is one of the most destructive force in nature. The job of containing up to a billion volts is not possible. Things get really scary if you take a direct hit or, even, if the hit is a few miles away and travels down the electric or telephone copper.

Be thankful you have blown up pieces of protection and blown ports. Those little devices saved your house and, quite possibly, you from disaster.

Rcaman

^^ Well, I've held the discussion here to the phone related stuff and haven't gotten into all the other failed devices.

I don't really know how it came in since there are also electrical items that were not connected to the phone lines at all. I'll probably be in the $1,000 range.

Quick stroll outside doesn't find anything obvious like tree damage. Haven't had a chance to ask any of the neighbors yet if they got hit. This is a rural area and houses are 1/4 - 1/2 mile apart so they may or may not have been. If it hit the power or phone poles somewhere, I'd think they might be.

You mentioned having an ID from years ago. What is it? We can look to find it.

Same one.

Would have been 2005 or so. When I tried to log in using the ID and PW (pulled from old files that are still accurate), the error screen said the ID didn't exist.

Doesn't really matter. I'm just curious about why this PortaSystems block is failing the way it has twice.

Porta Systems Model 504 PX2

It does matter if you have an existing registration for a couple reasons, we like to keep all post by a member together and only one registration per member is allowed.

Please check your PM's I do see an existing member of CountyTech who registered in 2005 with 75 post. Respond to my PM and if that's you I'll PM you the email it was registered under, if you don't remember it. Also if it's you we'll merge the two together under your original user name.

Will, is that you?