How to Make Proper Grounding in Telecommunications

Your land line telephone service is supplied via a set of wires buried underground. Like all electrical systems, the telecommunication wiring requires grounding as well. An electrical ground is the back up safety system for any circuit. If electricity gets somewhere it shouldn't, the ground provides the safe path back to the earth. It also provides a path for electricity from a lightning strike to make back to the ground. Installing the ground connection is simple once you have located a proper ground.

12 gauge insulated copper wire
Wire strippers
Screwdriver
Non-contact voltage detector

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the telephone service box. This is typically on the exterior of the building near the electrical meter. It may also be installed close to the building's electrical panel.
- 2
  Open the box and locate the terminal marked "Ground". Loosen the terminal with a screwdriver.
- 3
  Strip 3/8 inch of insulation off the 12-gauge insulated wire. Insert this wire into the ground terminal and tighten it down.
- 4
  Find a suitable location to ground the telephone system. This is typically done by bonding to to the electrical system's ground. If the phone box is close to the electrical meter you can ground it to the ground terminal located on the outside of the metal meter box. Loosen the screw, slide the wire underneath and tighten it down.
- 5
  Run the wire into the house, through the hole for the telephone wire, if you couldn't bond it to the meter. Run the wire from this location to the electrical panel.
- 6
  Turn off the power to the building by opening the main breaker. Confirm the power is off by touching a non-contact voltage detector to the wire's insulation.
- 7
  Remove the cover from the electrical panel and locate the grounding bus bar (green or bare wires).
- 8
  Loosen and empty terminal on the ground bus bar. Insert the stripped end of the telephone ground wire into this terminal and tighten it down.

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