Grounding rod requirements
Hi, I've installed an antenna on my roof and was grounding it using the same terminal as the cable broadband connection. Cable guy said he didn't like that and cut my ground wire.
Does it somehow affect signal quality, put us in danger in some way, or was the guy just being a jerk? In any case, I've also read that some places are only allowed one grounding rod per dwelling, so was hoping to get some expert advice on how I should proceed. What's the best approach to grounding an antenna in northern NJ? |
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The code says that a second grounding rod may be used IF it is bonded to the house grounding rod with 6 gauge copper wire. If the antenna is outside, the coax shield should be grounded with a grounding block that is connected to the house electrical system ground with 10 gauge copper wire for electrical safety and to reject interference. For further compliance with the electrical code (NEC), the mast should also be grounded in a similar manner to drain any buildup of static charge which will tend to discourage a strike, but the system will not survive a direct strike. http://i.imgur.com/RT41tXx.gif The latest device to ground multiple services is the IBTB. It has a lay-in clamp for the house grounding conductor without disconnecting the house grounding conductor even for a moment, which would be dangerous. Previously, split bolts were used to make individual grounding connections to the house grounding conductor. https://i.imgur.com/PMgJ62P.jpg https://i.imgur.com/zd0mkmA.jpg https://i.imgur.com/jOLzHcG.jpg https://i.imgur.com/ffKm9j1.jpg The electrician on This Old House (PBS} showed how to install an IBTB. As you can see, there are many screws to make connections by you and the cable guy. |
Anyone who intentionally cuts any ground wire is a person who has put your house and TV equipment at risk. CATV companies are liable for grounding mistakes, so his fear is not imaginary. A good install tech would have told you the right way to connect both his and your ground. An excellent CATV installer would have connected it properly for you.
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Could it somehow affect my signal quality using their grounding rod, or potentially affect how ground works, or even put me at risk (assuming I did it correctly)? |
Grounding does not effect TV reception unless there are extremely strong nearby transmitters, especially high power AM stations.
The key to a safe ground system is to have every ground tied together in a single location as close as possible to your main breaker panel. |
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Thank you for your explanation and diagram. I had used wireties to fasten the coax to the mast, so obviously I'm doing that wrong. Where can I buy the standoff described in the diagram, to extent the coax off of the mast? Quote:
I'm thinking the best place would be to either use the same basic coupler as my antenna, which ultimately leads to ground, or perhaps somehow splice the existing ground and add my ground to it? I've included an image that describes what I'm seeing. For some reason it isn't displaying it inline with the IMG tags. https://imgur.com/UNYrReE Thanks |
For the mast you don't need the coupler like is used on coax, just the split bolt to clamp it to the ground wire going to the rod.
Mount it below all that other stuff, just wire to wire. |
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like this https://i.imgur.com/UNYrReE.jpg |
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The code says the coax shield should be grounded using the grounding block and the mast should be grounded, each with its own separate 10 gauge copper wire connected to the house ground. Don't make a splice, use a separate split bolt for each. The split bolt is an open "U" that will surround the house ground wire when the nut for the split bolt is removed.
http://forum.tvfool.com/attachment.p...2&d=1540302823 Quote:
https://www.summitsource.com/Channel...071-P9727.aspx https://www.summitsource.com/Channel...072-P9726.aspx |
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Also, just to be clear, the idea here is to strip a section of the ground wire close to the point where it leaves the house, correct? It's not possible to just add the ground wire to an existing split bolt? |
If it's too large for the ground, then strip back the wire twice as far and fold it over on itself so the bolt thinks it's accommodating a heavier gauge wire.
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If it fits well you can add it to an existing split bolt. Key is a good solid connection.
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