Fiber Optic Cable And Lightning Strike

ABLE1

On Wednesday it was said to me by a customer that a lightning bolt hit the fiber cable to their house and blew the Fiber box off the wall. Verizon had to replace the whole box.

It was stated to the customer by (I assume) the Verizon guy, that the lightning strike that hit a tree and blew out the ground from the tree in a line to across the driveway (some 30 feet long)to a point where the fiber is buried. This point is easily 1/4 mile from the house and followed it to the Fiber/Phone box blowing it off the wall and knocking out the phone service.

I had to replace the phone line protector that I had installed on the security panel. Panel was ok and functions with out a problem.

There a lot of "Say What's???" and "Really's??" in the story above.

The fiber runs on top of the underground power cables that run beside the driveway.

So what is your opinion???

Later,

Les

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ABLE1

GregS

That they will say anything in order to pass the buck.

Was it a shielded fibre run? ZAP!

MALCO.New.York

Electrons have specific, unbendable, exacting properties and behaviors. This said........Lightning is VERY unpredictable. VERY!

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Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

ABLE1

That I can't answer. The cable was installed new maybe 6-8 months ago. I don't know the specs other than Verizon did it with the new residential fiber stuff they are doing in the Phila., Pa area.

If that be true that it was shielded would it also be true that the shielding at the contact point would be fried as well and no longer effective?? This would warrant a new cable run??? This was not done. Yet!! Strange.

Les

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ABLE1

ABLE1

Agreed!!

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ABLE1

Security101

If their fiber has a "gopher shield" then maybe. If not than it probably came in "some other way"

Jim

Synacom

If fiber is buried then I would assume it carries a metallic shielding component that could very well allow lightning to travel the length of the cable. I could also be that the electrical wires were the conductor of choice. Maybe that cable path through the earth just having a different dielectric constant from the solid earth was enough to induce the strike. If lightning can jump a mile or more through the air it can do pretty much what it wants regarding cables or equipment.

Celtic

Electricity...or in this case lightning...is a phenomena that is not fully understood.

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SGTTubb

In response to "Electricity...or in this case lightning...is a phenomena that is not fully understood. "
I'm sorry but I have to comment that you ,Celtic, dont seem to know what your talking about. Electricity is not a phonomenon but a fully understood scientific princible of the movement of electrons through a conductor! The electrons "bounce" from atom to atom in a set path buy the force of Voltage like water down a river with a current of Amperage. Voltage times amperage creates Wattage or work like a water mill. Also Electricity will follow the path of least ressistance to ground like water moving from a high point to the lowest possible point available.

Celtic

Thanks for replying to a post that's over 6 mths old!


Since you haven't a clue ...I'll point you in the right direction...
Electricity will follow the path of least ressistance to ground

Electricity will take ALL PATHS back to it's source.



When you get another clue....don't be afraid to speak up ~ I'll let you know you're wrong

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msalinas

I've never heard of a shielded fiber cable, after 12 years of fiber experience. I've heard of armored, also I don't think electricity will travel down the fiber since fiber dose not conduct an electrical current.

wireaudio

One of the advantages to fiber is that it does NOT contain ANY kind of materials that would conduct electricity. That's like having a plastic cable powering your vacuum cleaner...