Mounting surge protector for ethernet cable

[mikefamig]

Would it be acceptable to mount a ditek lvlp surge device to a ceiling joist in my unfinished basement with no enclosure?
 
Mike.

 

[ecborgoyn]

An EXCELLENT question.  You saw from my other thread that I was asking about SPD's for network lines.  I'd prefer to mount the SPD's outside of my equipment rack.  And my current thought (pardon the pun) is to mount the SPD's in a bulkhead space near the rack.  It's several feet from the cable entrance into the basement, but a more convenient space.  This amounts to mounting the SPD's on a joist.  Only difference is that my mounting area would be above a suspended ceiling.

 

[mikefamig]

An EXCELLENT question.  You saw from my other thread that I was asking about SPD's for network lines.  I'd prefer to mount the SPD's outside of my equipment rack.  And my current thought (pardon the pun) is to mount the SPD's in a bulkhead space near the rack.  It's several feet from the cable entrance into the basement, but a more convenient space.  This amounts to mounting the SPD's on a joist.  Only difference is that my mounting area would be above a suspended ceiling.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm not an electrician and have been reading the recent posts about enclosures and insurance and it worries me that I may not have done everything to code in my installation.
 
I  was thinking and it occured to me that none of the pots phone wires that I have seen are enclosed in metal boxes and they carry 35 volts which is higher than ethernet or the elk rs-485 data bus so why would a surge protector need to be in a box. And then you want the spd to be as close to the metal ground stake outside as possible which would be screwed to a joist near the outside wall in my case.
 
But how would an insurance adjuster look at this in case of a fire or other claim relating to the system? What does NEC say on the topic?
 
Mike.

 

[Del91574]

It's fine, BUT.....
 
Seeing hits and similar, I'd probably mount in an enclosure. I've seen surges for RJ31X's catch on fire with a good enough it.
 
In EB's case, above a ceiling would scare me if something were to smoulder after a hit.
 
POTS is 50-60VDC that goes up to 90VAC (on a DC carrier) when ringing and 5-7V when in use

 

[ecborgoyn]

In EB's case, above a ceiling would scare me if something were to smoulder after a hit.

Thanks, an interesting point.  I should look at installing in a metal enclosure...  The other option is to install the SPD's in the equipment rack, but brings the 'unprotected' line into the rack. 

 

[mikefamig]

Thanks,  The other option is to install the SPD's in the equipment rack, but brings the 'unprotected' line into the rack. 

 
In my case moving the spd into the elk enclosure would also put the spd about 30 feet away from the metal stake in the earth.

 

[Del91574]

Get yourself an 8X8X4" box or slightly larger if needed. Mount in the joist bay and call it a day.

 

[mikefamig]

We're expecting heavy weather with lightning here today and I plan to use old school surge protection.  I'll be unplugging the ethernet cable at the switch and the rs-485 at the elk panel.
 
Mike.

 

[ecborgoyn]

We're expecting heavy weather with lightning here today and I plan to use old school surge protection.  I'll be unplugging the ethernet cable at the switch and the rs-485 at the elk panel.
 
Mike.

An air-gap is good....
 
Regarding metal enclosures:  I happened to be at Home Depot last evening and was reviewing the sizes of metal enclosures they offer.  I think 10x10x4 was the largest they stock..

 

[Del91574]

We're expecting heavy weather with lightning here today and I plan to use old school surge protection.  I'll be unplugging the ethernet cable at the switch and the rs-485 at the elk panel.
 
Mike.

One of these days I need to sit down with Elk and talk repeaters and the like. I don't see why I couldn't use a 485 repeater that's optoisolated to bridge the gap.....of course it does nothing for the power.

 

[mikefamig]

One of these days I need to sit down with Elk and talk repeaters and the like. I don't see why I couldn't use a 485 repeater that's optoisolated to bridge the gap.....of course it does nothing for the power.

DEL I just learned another new word from you "optoisolated". I googled it and and optoisolater is a very cool device and would solve my worries here. I'd like one for the IP cable too.
 
mIke.