ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Voice - Data - Video Discussion Service Drops: Not just for Electricians anymore

Reno:
I'll take the camera and see if I can find something. Doug already answered the hardware issue.

picture

What's the deal with using the service mast to support/anchor the cable??
That bonding point on the meter pan here (POCO Rule) won't happen here either.

Is this all Canadian devices?

http://www.seniorindustries.com/

a USA Company but they are the only one i have found for CSA approved grounding blocks.

Why go with those fancy devices? My cable drop appears to be a bent lag-hook (guess lag-eyes were outside of the budget) and misc. wire wrapped around the coax to provide "strain relief". Bonding is done via one of those meter-pan clamps; it's not a very good bond due to the layers of paint on the pan.

I knew I could count on Doug to provide some solid links - thanks, buddy!

I re-opened this thread because it's a lot easier to say 'that looks wrong' ... than it is to say 'I know how to do it right.'

The meter-pan clamps and sundry 'pipe clamp like straps' we see might seem inadequate - but only very recently has the NEC required electricians to provide a bonding point on the OUTSIDE of the service.

I raised the issue of mounting, not just because of my picture, but because so many 'good' installs hang the wire from the service mast - something the NEC prohibits.

As you might have gussed, I have my own dog in this fight. My current accomodtions are served by a cable install far worse than the picture at the top of this thread - something I intend to address.

This - and the inadequacy of the local parts houses - reminded me that most 'real' electricians actually have very little direct experience with CATV. So - Let's have a learning opportunity

Reno:

I agree there are some really bad cable installs, along with telco installs.

The cable drop on the service mast is a no-no, and gets a red sticker IF that's how it is upon inspection. However, when the cable/telco guys arrive after the inspection, the install was already approved.

IF I have to go back for a re-inspect, or a final....that's another story. If it's a new house, or a renovation I give a red tag to the builder/HO to contact cable/telco for a NEC violation. It's tough, & a case-by-case issue.

This is the Spec from our telco and catv for new homes

http://about.telus.com/publicpolicy/bics_bc/docs/p546.pdf

Doug:
I have seen the meter pan gizmos within a PowerPoint I received from Erico. They did a comparison of devices and $$ for the 250.94 requirement.

Our POCO (PSE&G) does not allow anything attached to the meter pan.

Thanks again for the links