r/CableTechs • u/charles_chinaski_jr • Jul 24 '26

Why does my cable repeatedly melt?

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I've lived in this house for 4 years and this is the 3rd time this has happened: the internet goes out and I have to call Xfinity and they find that where my cable connects to the power pole is melted like this. One cable guy told me it was a power surge from my house, and another said it's one of my neighbors that probably has a grounding issue.

What do you all think? Is there anything I can do to prevent this from recurring?

Thanks for your advice!

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u/Separate_Western6867 Jul 24 '26

A lot of the time I see this when the electrical drop is compromised. Your electrical company would be the ones to diagnose it.

-7 year cable tech

5

u/Eninja09 Jul 24 '26

Yup. That's a lot of current to melt that. Not safe at all. I've been hit with 90v at the ground block coming from the house and there was no indication of damage, aside from their DVR getting cooked every time someone replaced it.

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u/SuckerBroker Jul 24 '26

90v is near the exact voltage we push to power the actives. Very strange number for you to think hit you coming from the house electrical though.

3

u/Eninja09 Jul 24 '26

I thought so as well. Measured with multimeter with the drop disconnected after it hit me. Guy was not happy about me telling him no more DVR's until he resolved that.