Coupling multiple conductor undersea optical cables to an undersea device with an isolated bypass conductive path across the undersea device

An optical network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes, wherein at least a first node includes a powered component that is powered with a first voltage potential and at least a second node includes a powered component that is powered with a second voltage potential;
• a plurality of optical cables, wherein at least a first one of the optical cables includes separate conductors for separate power paths at the first and second voltage potentials, wherein at least a second one of the optical cables is coupled to the first node and includes a conductor for providing power at the first voltage potential, and wherein at least a third one of the optical cables is coupled to the second node and includes a conductor for providing power at the second voltage potential;
• and
• a branching unit coupled to the optical cables, wherein one of the conductors in the first one of the optical cables and the conductor in the second one of the optical cables are terminated within a housing of the branching unit establishing a conductive path that provides the first voltage potential, and wherein a conductive bridge member is coupled to another of the conductors in the first one of the optical cables and to the conductor in the third one of the optical cables establishing an isolated bypass conductive path that provides the second voltage potential.