Comcast outages continue even in areas with PG&E power restored

Wed Oct 16 19:09:45 UTC 2019

On Mon, Oct 14, 2019 at 4:26 PM Michael Thomas <mike at mtcc.com> wrote:
>
>
> On 10/14/19 4:16 PM, Sean Donelan wrote:
> > On Mon, 14 Oct 2019, Michael Thomas wrote:
> >> Of course this is a lot of conjecture on my part... be glad to be
> >> clued in by folks in know.
> >
> > An old news story, but telco's usually have backup batteries in their
> > outside plant, cell towers, etc.  During power outages, they shuttle
> > small generators between outside cabinets to re-charge the batteries.
> > Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) use local power, i.e. look for the
> > utility meter nearby.  There is often a generator plug and battery
> > cabinet next to the RTU. They aren't powered from the central office.
>
> Interesting! And so primitive! So they go to all of the expense of
> laying fiber, but not power too?

Note: small local telco experience speaking below:

Telco's tend to have experience with fiber, but probably not the
construction and transmission of the sort of power plant that would be
required to keep a bunch of  48V cabinets up and running reliably. We
certainly don't. Besides, an advantage of fiber is that hopefully the
copper thieves won't bother it.

 By definition a remote terminal/cabinet is going to be... remote. Far
more simple to install commercial power, and then haul out a generator
if the battery string in the cabinet appears to be in danger of
dropping below about 46v.

We do run some 360v DC at micro-amp levels out to equipment like ONT's
and remote 12 and 48 port remote VDSLAM's. But that's over existing
24-26 ga. plant. Frequently using multiple pairs to avoid excessive
voltage drop over distances.

Primitive is tested and works.

-- 
Jeff Shultz
Central Office Technician

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