Does ATT fiber need to be grounded?
ATT fiber optic internet services can be defined as a form of broadband service that employs fiber optic cables to provide incredibly fast internet connection within homes and business premises. However, the common question that emerges especially from the engineers is whether ATT fiber installations need to be grounded or not the fiber lines. The approach of this article will involve determining if and when ATT fiber must be grounded.
What is Grounding?
Earthing on the other hand is said to be the process of touching electrical equipment or cables to the ground or a bare conductor placed in the ground. This offers the protective way through which electric current will flow in the instance of a fault, short circuit, or lightning strike. Cables and related pieces of equipment require earth connections to avoid electrical shocks, fire outbreaks, and harm to the equipment at hand.
The primary reasons for grounding, especially for metallic cables and electrical systems are safety and protection. But actually, fiber optic cables do not operate in the same way as conventional metallic internet cables. In fiber cables, the data is in the form of pulses of light, and they are carried through glass fibers instead of an electrical current. This fundamental difference indicates that the grounding requirements for fiber are significantly smaller.
Is it Time to Put ATT Fiber Back on the Ground?
Fibre optic cables used by AT&T Internet do not utilize electric current for transmission of data hence there is no need to ground fiber lines. The glass fiber does not transmit electricity and is thus well protected from electric hazards. This makes fiber internet a lot less vulnerable to a lightning strike or some other event that might harm the lines and interrupt the transmission.
However, ATT fiber optic cable installations, in most cases entail fiber optic cables and other metallic cables and equipment. The fiber line goes from a provider’s premise to a fiber terminal known as the ONT (optical network terminal) that is fixed at the residence or building. This fiber terminal then is connected using an ethernet or coaxial cable to the WiFi router and devices in the home.
I have learned that the fiber line itself does not require the grounding but the ONT box and any metallic cables that emerge from it would require grounding. This benefits the related electrical equipment that transmits and distributes the internet service safely. Copper coaxial or any Cat5e ethernet cables that connect the ONT with the router should also be grounded.
Namely, all installation procedures performed by ATT technicians will always entail the correct grounding of metallic equipment and cables in compliance with local electrical codes. However, it was the identification of the fiber optic line that stated that it did not require a ground connection.
Importance of Proper Grounding
Cross-connecting these internet metallic parts requires a ground connection, though it is necessary for safety as well as for protecting the equipment. If the grounding is incorrect, the furnishings remain open to electric interference, lightning that moves along power and cable wires, and much more.
These include; ungrounded ONT boxes and other metallic installations that pose a great danger to home electrical systems and other connected devices. Also, variations in ground potential between the pieces of equipment can disrupt the data interconnectivity. One concern with this is that devices can easily be isolated and the fiber optic internet line miniates this concern though.
In conclusion, if ATT fiber service is installed correctly, all coaxial and ethernet copper will be grounded to mitigate the risks of damage to equipment and ensure electrical security. However, the fiber line itself which comprises optic fiber that is made of glass does not contain any metal and does not pass any electric current will not need to be grounded. Fiber internet stands as a wonderful option to normal cable or DSL services in that it is resistant to electrical hazards.
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