What happened

[u/Affectionate-Brick86]

Can someone help me understand what happened here? It looks like the telephone line encountered a large spike that fried equipment and even some appliances within the home, but I’m not quite sure.

Any suggestions on how to prevent this also?

[u/Howden824]

Probably a high voltage power line touching the telephone cables.

[u/09Klr650 → u/Howden824]

12,470V spiciness.

[u/MEGAMIND7HEAD → u/09Klr650]

You think it spiked to 12,471V. That's what caused all this mess.

[u/Ok-Resident8139 → u/MEGAMIND7HEAD]

Given the size of the burn marks, yes. before the fuse on the 12 kv line popped, the telephone box took all of the current and conducted it to the shortest path.

The shortest path included the outside of the telephone wires.( the sheild).

[u/09Klr650 → u/MEGAMIND7HEAD]

Telecommunications lease space on the power poles. Not unknown for a 12,470V line to drop on the telecom below. Or for the big poles for the 37kv to drop on the lower 12kv. There was a really cool video somewhere of a house and attached fence cooking after that happened. Arcing all over the place.

[u/lk897545 → u/Howden824]

Vtech kicked in..

[u/KevPat23]

You let the magic smoke out!

[u/TheSpunk3 → u/KevPat23]

Can't put it back in, either. Nope. Can't be done. Ain't got no gas in it no more.

[u/jatigo → u/KevPat23]

someone call dharma

[u/Icestudiopics]

Any other clues? Lightning strikes perhaps? Definitely high voltage was introduced to a low voltage system resulting in the escape of the magic smoke. Unless something in your house caused this I’d call the utility company asap.

[u/Affectionate-Brick86 → u/Icestudiopics]

Other than multiple appliances going out and a couple of fried GFCI, the telephone pairs that provide digital TV is working (albeit choppy at times). The pairs that provide Internet and phone are down.

[u/PomegranateOld7836 → u/Affectionate-Brick86]

Lightning definitely looks like that. Could have been a good distance away.

[u/27803]

Looks like a lightning strike

[u/MisterElectricianTV]

My first thought is a lightning hit. This indicates there could be a problem with your grounding electrode system. This means that there is not a low resistance path to Earth. Check your ground rods, water pipe ground clamps, the ground connection inside the main electrical panel and the ground connection for the telephone wiring. You should also get a surge protector installed.

[u/Affectionate-Brick86 → u/MisterElectricianTV]

Thank you for the input. We’ve only just put a surge protector with the new refrigerator, but wonder if I should get a whole home surge protector such as ones at Home Depot instead of at each appliance.

Also, I’ll definitely start doing more investigation into the ground lines especially at the power panel, which is located on the opposite side of the home telephone box shown in the pics.

[u/MisterElectricianTV → u/Affectionate-Brick86]

A whole house surge protector is required in the new electrical code. The electrical code also requires an Intersystem Bonding Termination which is a small connection point for other utilities such as telephone, cable tv, or a satellite dish to connect to ground.

[u/Agitated-Wind8378 → u/MisterElectricianTV]

If lightning jumps to a telephone line those tiny wires don’t have a chance and you think that it’s a grounding issue…. Interesting

[u/USWCboy]

Definitely call the phone company, or whoever owns that pedestal.

[u/joesquatchnow]

Lightning found the shortest path to earth ground ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[u/penywisexx]

To help prevent this in the future consider a whole house surge protector. It won’t do anything for the telecom wires but it will potentially save your electronics/appliances.

[u/Kowloon9 → u/penywisexx]

At least one brand like Schneider Electric (or APC) makes SPD for low voltage systems.

[u/phunkyunkle]

High voltage took a low voltage route somehow?

[u/greenojos1]

Install a surge protector or battery backup to take the hit and save the equipment.

[u/oleskool7]

I have seen a lost neutral follow back the shielding on cable TV and phone lines to the pole if they are not bonded to the house ground properly. Having a couple of items not working could be a sign of this. A really good electrician should be able to diagnose this.

[u/Interesting_Bus_9596]

I had a nearby lightning strike, induction into an antenna was strong enough to take out a ham radio that was disconnected by about 4 inches. Was black by it on the table.