Does anyone know the origin of the communications industry standard of tying the positive leg of their DC power systems to ground? Thanks for your answers.

 

According to one application note that I read on ECL/PECL circuits, tying the positive supply voltage on the chip to ground, and the
negative supply to -5 volts, results in much better noise rejection. I do not know for sure this is the answer for the communication
industry, but since it makes sense for the chip level, I could see it being adopted in this way.

Aaron

 

Hi list,
One of the reasons to use a positive ground was to prevent corrosion on the long distance signal wires strung on telegraph poles. The tradition has been carried over to this day of optic fibre and satellite for long distance communications. The same principle that is used to cathodically protect metal structures, both overground and underground.
regards
Tomy Zacharia
Telecom and Instrumentation Engineer