CAT-5 Lightning/Surge Protection?

Archived from groups: comp.dcom.lans.ethernet (More info?)

"Tom B" <nospam@paonia.com> wrote in message
news:tr1l21tkf2n48lpujq6s9u6fnuof0rfsog@4ax.com...
> Looking for a product and recommendation for lightning/surge
> protection on standard CAT-5 cabling between buildings. The only two
> products I know of are -
>
> http://www.tripplite.com/products/ [...] ductID=151
>
> and
>
> http://www.itwlinx.com/home/default.asp
>
> The first, I believe, is available from Amazon for around $18.00. Does
> anyone out there have a good recommendation and/or experience in this
> area? I live an a very rural area and really need an on-line source to
> purchase from.
>
> Thanks for any help -

Tom,

A couple of years ago, I had a couple of 8-port 10/100 3Com Ethernet switches at
opposite ends of my house, a 3Com ISDN Modem/Router (gateway to my ISP) and two
Ethernet cards get damaged by a nearby lightning strike. When I got everything
repaired/replaced, I installed a Triplite DSUT1CSU between the ISDN Modem/Router
and the telco plus a DNET1 and DTEL2 between the equipment at the ends of the
house and the CAT5 cable that connects them. I suspect that the initial failure
was caused by a surge coming in from the telco on the ISDN line and finding a
ground path through the ISDN Modem/Router, the Ethernet switches and the
Ethernet cards in the systems to the ground in the PC power supplies but wasn't
able prove it. Another possible, though less likely, cause would have been a
very, very close lightning strike causing a significant potential difference
between the two ends of my house. While I haven't had any more failures since
installing the Triplite protectors and I feel better protected, it doesn't
really prove anything.

As far as your situation with separate buildings, I would use fiber optic cable
between the buildings which would be a much better solution since glass fiber
won't conduct electricity at all. Depending on the length you need, you might
be able to find a multi-mode duplex fiber cable with the connectors already on
the ends and a pair of fiber to Ethernet converters for a lot less than you
might expect. Search the web and eBay for "fiber optic jumper" and "fiber
Ethernet converter". By getting a fiber with the connectors already on the
ends, you eliminate the biggest hassle and cost with fiber, i.e. hiring someone
with the special tools to put the ends on the fiber.

--
James T. White

Archived from groups: comp.dcom.lans.ethernet (More info?)

James T. White wrote:

> As far as your situation with separate buildings, I would use fiber optic
> cable between the buildings which would be a much better solution since
> glass fiber won't conduct electricity at all.

Several years ago, while touring Corning Glass, in Corning New York, I saw a
demonstration of glass that was able to conduct significant amounts of
power. The display included a common household light bulb, that received
it's power through the glass.