What is this? Mystery cable attached to Internet Line

apushamazon

Junior Member
Jul 2, 2015
2
0
0
Hey guys I was smoking a cigarette in my backyard and I noticed that my cable line had a green line attached to it. On the cable there are tags that say don't remove and to contact my local tv company if damaged. I called my ISP to see what this was but all they could tell me was that it wasn't their's. I was wondering if you guys could tell me what this is


http://s8.postimg.org/unsr8vknp/IMG_0214.jpg



 

QuietDad

Senior member
Dec 18, 2005
523
79
91
As a cable installer, that's a ground wire. Protects the house in case the telephone poles are hit by lightning and protects the cable company's wires on the street if your house gets hit. I have no idea where that outlet is connected to, but here, that green wire is usually attached to the Power meter ground.
 

RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
8,622
40
91
If lightning hits it directs the flow to the ground instead of through the cable line and to your stuff inside. It doesnt mean your stuff is safe, but it means the failure will be far less spectacular.
 

john3850

Golden Member
Oct 19, 2002
1,436
21
81
If lightning hits it directs the flow to the ground instead of through the cable line and to your stuff inside. It doesnt mean your stuff is safe, but it means the failure will be far less spectacular.

but it means the failure will be far less spectacular

That the best meaning in a while if I do say so.
 

KingFatty

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2010
3,034
1
81
Can you take another picture to show where that conduit goes up to, after coming out of that box on the right? Seems to go upward somewhere, but away from the literal ground, so I wonder where it eventually is grounded.
 

MtnMan

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2004
9,437
8,843
136
Homeland Security installed it, they now know more about you than you do.
 

freeskier93

Senior member
Apr 17, 2015
487
19
81
That is not your house's earth ground, you'll find that near the electrical panel with one end connected to a stake driven into the literal ground. That green cable is just tying the ground shield of the coax to the common ground of the house.
 
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RadiclDreamer

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2004
8,622
40
91
Im not sure how to make this simpler.

This is a ground line, it directs electricity to the ground vs whatever is connected to the other line. So if electricity were to be present on the coax line, it would be diverted to the ground rather than to your house. It is a safety measure, high voltage to your electrical devices could cause lots of damage as well as safety issues.

Read to your hearts content here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_(electricity)