High-speed fiber optic cable with lightning safeguarding features
High-speed fiber optic cable with lightning safeguarding features
Hi, recently my area is getting a lot of thunder strikes almost everyday. My broadband connection is through Cat5 cable.So, there is a risk of getting hit by thunder & damaging my devices. Moreover, my speed is a little bit messy. So, switching to optical will resolve the speed problem, but I'm a bit of confused that, will it resolve the thunder problem, too? My ISP doesn't care much about the connection. So I'm not sure if the connection is grounded(My ISP is within 2km from my house). So if I use the optical cable during thunderstorm, is there a chance that the optical encoder/decoder(I'm not sure what it is called) may get damaged?
Fiber isn't copper or metal, which means it doesn't conduct electricity. Additionally, based on your location, local building codes often require grounding for these connections. For instance, Comcast runs the cable from the pole into a grounding block that connects to a rod on the side of my house. Then the cable enters my home, providing a path for lightning strikes. To some extent, your ISP must be mindful of this, as they invest in their infrastructure—cable internet typically passes through coaxial cables, amplifiers, and nodes, which can cost between $25k and $50k per unit. So yes, they do have an interest.
Since fiber isn't conductive, it can still be ground through mechanical processes or by adjusting its properties.
It appears the device passed overhead. That's fine. I'm just noting that most ISPs typically use ground copper connections.
I’m trying to understand your question. A copper connection in fiber usually refers to how electrical signals or power are linked to the fiber optic system. It helps ensure stable communication and proper power delivery. You don’t have to worry about it if you’re comfortable with the basics.
Generally, they are grounded at several points. Some fiber cables include a metal trace wire to help locate their route underground. If lightning strikes the cable, it should not cause any problems. Unless the lightning affects the light signal, that’s likely not an issue.
When fiber arrives at your residence, the main concern is typically lightning striking the power lines. For Ethernet connections, you can upgrade to fiber and then revert for an air gap. Although I have this configuration on my rack, it isn't advised for most users (I set it up just for demonstration). For lightning defense with coax or Ethernet, gas discharge tube protectors are strongly suggested. You can purchase replacement tubes easily—when a strike occurs, simply swap the internal tube. If you're using coax, the recommended model is: http://www.l-com.com/surge-protector-ind...rj45-jacks. For F-type to F-type connections, the chosen product is: http://www.l-com.com/surge-protector-f-f...-protector