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Discussion Forum

Grounding of Antennas & Satellite…

| Posted in General Discussion on March 27, 2001 05:11am

*
Instructions for satellite dish & OTA antenna installations require the dish, masts, etc all be connected to a Grounding Conductor (non-current carrying), as well as a grounding block for the coaxial cables.

But nothing is said regarding the wire guage of the Grounding Conductor … all they do is refer to the National Electrical Code.

Could someone please interpret what the NEC requires in this situation ?

And does the antenna grounding conductor have to go all the way to the service entrance or a ground rod, or could it be to the nearest available ground in a receptacle box?

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  1. mark_holbrook | Mar 24, 2001 01:38am | #1

    *
    I would use a ground rod at the antenna. A lightning strike would be hazardous to your health and property if you connected the antenna to your equipment ground. If there was a strike there would be massive currents flowing in your ground wires that could possibly kill someone, or cause a fire. I myself would use something like #4 copper wire for grounding. Be sure that all metal parts are properly grounded. Use a ground arrestor on the antenna/lnb wiring. They allow the signals to pass, but static voltage jumps a gap to ground. Lightning is powerful! It hit my aunt and uncles house and exploded a cast iron vent stack, blew up most of the light switches and bulbs, phone wiring was melted and phones were trashed, some breakers were blown to smitherines, tv blew up with a smoking hole blown through the case, macintosh was cooked. Lotsa damage.

    1. tom_herman | Mar 24, 2001 04:44pm | #2

      *I think I found the answer to my question, at the NEC web site ( http://forums.nfpa.org:8081/necfaq/FMPro?-db=necfaqs.fp3&-format=necwk.htm&-lay=allfields&-sortfield=Reference&-op=cn&Search=ground&-max=5&-skip=5&-find= ).In short the answer appears to be AWG10 copper or larger. Since I don't live in a lightning prone area (in fact, have never heard of a direct residential hit anywhere in the area), I'll probably stick with the #10.Here's the text from the NEC site:Question: We are installing a new D.D.S. (sic) TV system in a dwelling unit. How do I ground the metallic frame that mounts to the outside of the house to hold the dish? Section 810-21 (a) through (j) The frame shall be grounded in accordance with Section 810-21. The grounding conductor shall be connected to the nearest accessible location as follows: (a)The building or structure electrode system as covered in 250-50. (b)The grounded interior metal water piping system as covered in 250-104 (a). (c)The power service accessible means external to enclosures as covered in Section 250-92 (b). (d)The metallic power service raceway. (e)The service equipment enclosure, or (f)The grounding electrode conductor or the grounding electrode conductor metal enclosures. The grounding conductor shall be copper, aluminum, copper-clad steel, bronze, or similar corrosion-resistant material. Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum grounding conductors shall not be used where in direct contact with masonry or earth or where subject to corrosive conditions. Where used outside, aluminum or copper-clad aluminum shall not be installed within 18 inches of the earth. The grounding conductor shall be permitted to be run either inside or outside the building. The grounding conductor shall not be smaller than No. 10 copper, No. 8 aluminum, or No. 17 copper-clad steel or bronze. A single grounding conductor shall be permitted for both protective and operating purposes. A bonding jumper not smaller than No. 6 copper or equivalent shall be connected between the radio and television equipment grounding electrode and the power grounding electrode system at the building or structure where separate electrodes are used.

      1. tom_herman | Mar 24, 2001 04:45pm | #3

        *I think I found the answer to my question, at the NEC web site ( http://forums.nfpa.org:8081/necfaq/FMPro?-db=necfaqs.fp3&-format=necwk.htm&-lay=allfields&-sortfield=Reference&-op=cn&Search=ground&-max=5&-skip=5&-find= ).In short the answer appears to be AWG10 copper or larger. Since I don't live in a lightning prone area (in fact, have never heard of a direct residential hit anywhere in the area), I'll probably stick with the #10.Here's the text from the NEC site:Question: We are installing a new D.D.S. (sic) TV system in a dwelling unit. How do I ground the metallic frame that mounts to the outside of the house to hold the dish? Section 810-21 (a) through (j) The frame shall be grounded in accordance with Section 810-21. The grounding conductor shall be connected to the nearest accessible location as follows: (a)The building or structure electrode system as covered in 250-50. (b)The grounded interior metal water piping system as covered in 250-104 (a). (c)The power service accessible means external to enclosures as covered in Section 250-92 (b). (d)The metallic power service raceway. (e)The service equipment enclosure, or (f)The grounding electrode conductor or the grounding electrode conductor metal enclosures. The grounding conductor shall be copper, aluminum, copper-clad steel, bronze, or similar corrosion-resistant material. Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum grounding conductors shall not be used where in direct contact with masonry or earth or where subject to corrosive conditions. Where used outside, aluminum or copper-clad aluminum shall not be installed within 18 inches of the earth. The grounding conductor shall be permitted to be run either inside or outside the building. The grounding conductor shall not be smaller than No. 10 copper, No. 8 aluminum, or No. 17 copper-clad steel or bronze. A single grounding conductor shall be permitted for both protective and operating purposes. A bonding jumper not smaller than No. 6 copper or equivalent shall be connected between the radio and television equipment grounding electrode and the power grounding electrode system at the building or structure where separate electrodes are used.

        1. TX_Rooney | Mar 27, 2001 05:11pm | #4

          *Make sure you bond (connect) the ground rods together to prevent ground loops. This is important. I ran 100' of #6 bare copper connecting two new grounds to the power company ground rod. I sleep better at night-especially during thunderstorms.

  2. tom_herman | Mar 27, 2001 05:11pm | #5

    *
    Instructions for satellite dish & OTA antenna installations require the dish, masts, etc all be connected to a Grounding Conductor (non-current carrying), as well as a grounding block for the coaxial cables.

    But nothing is said regarding the wire guage of the Grounding Conductor ... all they do is refer to the National Electrical Code.

    Could someone please interpret what the NEC requires in this situation ?

    And does the antenna grounding conductor have to go all the way to the service entrance or a ground rod, or could it be to the nearest available ground in a receptacle box?

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