Don, Yes this is exactly correct. It is a pre-wired carbon block assembly
that came with either a 6 foot or 12 foot cable and was used at commercial
customer premises for phone line lightning/surge protection. I know and
understand the basic function, but am looking for information on the
internal workings (what distance spark gap that breaks down under what
voltage and how quickly will it clamp and to what voltage through the carbon
block? What maximum current over what duration will it handle before it
fails? How much resistance is allowed in the ground path to work properly?
What gauge ground wire and maximum distance? ) An assembly drawing,
schematic, technical specifications, and such.

I've learned that it was manufacturer discontinued, some alternative
customer orderable end item (Comcode) numbers, the engineering control
location (Bell Labs, Whippany, NJ), the place of manufacture (Western
Electric, Baltimore Works - Long Gone), and the replacement (still active)
Lucent arrestor part number, but so far these have not led to any of the
desired info.

I've been given a lead on a microfilm number and have a friend looking into
Engineering Records to see if this is reproducible.

If anyone has other info please let me know. Thanks.

Bob

"Don Bowey" wrote in message
...
He won't find the protectors in Part 68.

What he has is the device Telco cable pairs are permanently wired to, to
protect people and equipment from high voltage in the event of a lightning
strike or having a cable cross with AC power. I don't have any info left
to
see what type it is; they came in many configurations..

It is also used at large customer premises for the same purpose, still as
telco equipment.

Don