How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. It's your turn to identify the violation.
Hint: This installer only gets partial credit.
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One of the ironies of this improper coaxial cable bonding/grounding connection is the fact that the electrical service equipment is located in the same room. Bonding the coaxial cable shield to the grounded electrical service equipment would have been the right thing to do.
Section 820.100(B)(2) establishes the requirements for bonding/grounding of CATV systems in buildings with no intersystem bonding termination installed. The bonding conductor or grounding electrode conductor (GEC) must be connected to the nearest of the following items:
1) the grounding electrode system described in Sec. 250.50;
2) the first 5 ft of a grounded interior metal water pipe;
3) external connections on grounded power service enclosures;
4) nonflexible metal service raceways;
5) service equipment enclosures;
6) the GEC or the GEC enclosure of the service;
7) the grounding electrode or the GEC of a building supplied by a branch circuit or feeder.
The EMT used as the grounding and bonding point for this CATV system is a branch circuit raceway and does not meet any of those requirements. I will give partial credit to the installer for realizing that bonding the systems together is important in reducing the possibility of voltage differentials from developing between the two systems. This is especially important during lightning storms.