I have an antenna mounted on a pole to the side of our house. It is grounded to a rod pounded straight into the ground at the base of it. It is my understanding that the ground there has to be connected to our house ground.
Is anyone familiar if that can just be connected to a water pipe in the house? Or does it have to go back to the ground connecting at the breaker panel? Any special method for entering the house or just drill a hole at the attic level?
Is anyone familiar if that can just be connected to a water pipe in the house? Or does it have to go back to the ground connecting at the breaker panel? Any special method for entering the house or just drill a hole at the attic level?
I've had a 30 Ft antenna attached to my house since 1975
the bottom of the antenna mast sits in a pipe in the ground
about 10 Ft long. I live in Florida USA (We get a lot of
lightning strikes). What I do is put an outdoor 300 to 75
ohm balun at the antenna and run RG6 coax down to the house
where I have a grounding block(https://www.showmecables.com/single...MIx8-GiMS8-AIVSXFvBB1Zmg1REAQYAyABEgI7-_D_BwE)
for the coax. I then have a distribution amp to supply
the signal throughout the house.
I have lost 3 distribution amps but never a television.
in those 45 years due to lightning strikesi. I'm not sure what the fialures of
the distribution amps were from.
YMMR
the bottom of the antenna mast sits in a pipe in the ground
about 10 Ft long. I live in Florida USA (We get a lot of
lightning strikes). What I do is put an outdoor 300 to 75
ohm balun at the antenna and run RG6 coax down to the house
where I have a grounding block(https://www.showmecables.com/single...MIx8-GiMS8-AIVSXFvBB1Zmg1REAQYAyABEgI7-_D_BwE)
for the coax. I then have a distribution amp to supply
the signal throughout the house.
I have lost 3 distribution amps but never a television.
in those 45 years due to lightning strikesi. I'm not sure what the fialures of
the distribution amps were from.
YMMR
If there is a lightning rod above it, and properly grounded, a water pipe (metal) should be enough for the antenna.
The idea is that lightning will hit the rod, not your antenna.
Or look up your local legal needs, they vary from place to place...the local municipal or electrical authorities will be the inspecting agencies, better go as per their requirements.
Not doing so can cause insurance and other violations.
The idea is that lightning will hit the rod, not your antenna.
Or look up your local legal needs, they vary from place to place...the local municipal or electrical authorities will be the inspecting agencies, better go as per their requirements.
Not doing so can cause insurance and other violations.
Last edited:
Rules vary. Ask a local licensed electrician.
Generally, water pipes can not be trusted to be and stay "ground" since plastic pipe got popular.
Hole in the attic sounds wrong to me but I would defer to expert advice.
thanks. The county is coming out to check an A/C installation so I figure they will see other things and hope to have it done right so it doesn't throw up a flag.
I can't find anything on the proper method for the heavy copper ground wire to make entry into the house to connect to the main ground at the breaker box.
I can't find anything on the proper method for the heavy copper ground wire to make entry into the house to connect to the main ground at the breaker box.
You can connect to the cable that goes to the pole?
Rules vary, it is equivalent, but just a suggestion.
The main ground is connected to the incoming feeder wire, or to some sort of pit grounding?
In any case, a properly rated gland should be enough to be used as entry / exit for cable into the building.
Again, ask the local guys / girls, such a query must be routine for them.
Rules vary, it is equivalent, but just a suggestion.
The main ground is connected to the incoming feeder wire, or to some sort of pit grounding?
In any case, a properly rated gland should be enough to be used as entry / exit for cable into the building.
Again, ask the local guys / girls, such a query must be routine for them.
Asking someone local is probably what I'll have to do.
I haven't opened up the breaker area to see where the incoming ground is, it must be inside the wall somewhere as there is no wire coming into the wall around there.
I have the coax and the antenna pole grounded to their own 8' copper clad pole so I just have to attach that ground pole to the original one for the house to complete the grounding to code.
I haven't opened up the breaker area to see where the incoming ground is, it must be inside the wall somewhere as there is no wire coming into the wall around there.
I have the coax and the antenna pole grounded to their own 8' copper clad pole so I just have to attach that ground pole to the original one for the house to complete the grounding to code.