satellite dish grounding

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dublr

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There are currently debates ongoing concerning grounding satellite dishes for tv.
What does code say about grounding dishes mounted on tripods in mdu's?

Can satellite installers put in there are own ground rods?

If you could also supply relevant code Numbers that would be helpful.
 
dublr said:
There are currently debates ongoing concerning grounding satellite dishes for tv.
What does code say about grounding dishes mounted on tripods in mdu's?
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They must be grounded.

Can satellite installers put in there are own ground rods?
Click to expand...
Yes, but they must also be connected to the electrical GES if they do.

If you could also supply relevant code Numbers that would be helpful.
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Requirements are in Chapter 8. Article 800 for certain, and likely 810. Just find the sections regarding grounding.
 
dublr said:
There are currently debates ongoing concerning grounding satellite dishes for tv.
What does code say about grounding dishes mounted on tripods in mdu's?

Can satellite installers put in there are own ground rods?

If you could also supply relevant code Numbers that would be helpful.
Click to expand...

Article 810.21 will require a dish to be grounded, and if the distance is over 20' to the service grounding electrode system (800.40(A)(4) ) then you must install a electrode within 20' of the dish and bond it with a #6awg back to the main grounding electrode system for the building (810.21(J)

Now as I believe your are talking about multiple dwelling units (MDU's)
like putting a dish on a balcony of a second or third story apartment, I can see the frustration at trying to properly ground a satellite dish, in most cases tenets have no authority to be running grounding conductors across property that they don't control (pay rent for) and about the best they can do is try to sneak a grounding conductor down to a ground rod and hope they don't get caught.
I cases like these I don't know the options as they would have to be treated on a case by case base.

If I was a paid installer and was asked to install a dish in a situation like this, I would probably tell them unless I have access to run my grounding conductor from the dish to a installed electrode and then run a #6 bonding conductor back to the main service grounding electrode system, I could not install the dish, this is because of the liability if the dish were to take a lightning strike and caused a fire I would be up a creek without a paddle when the insurance lawyers came knocking in court.

Always cover yourself and do it by code or you could find your self in court without a defense.
 
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hurk27 said:
I was quoting out of the 2002, I know I need to get the 2008 on here lol, but thanks for the proper code, I need to put which cycle I'm quoting from:roll:
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I know how you feel. I am on '05, but I have spent so much time here I have started thinking in '08 - yet I quote out of my '05. I end up confusing myself.
 
I'll bet 90% of the dishes out there are not bonded to the GES. I'll bet 80% are not bonded to anything.
 
My guess is that over 90% of satellite system installers have never read chapter 8 in the NEC and many of them never even know of the NEC. Most people that I have seen that are installers are not electricians and have limited training on how to install cables in a building but a fair amount of training on proper connecting of equipment.

Their work is often unpermitted and usually does not require permits so they have nobody enforcing any codes to make sure they are installed correctly. On a newly constructed building there may be greater chance of doing it correctly. That will usually depend if the electrician made provisions for them or even done some pre wiring for them.

I would not call most of them bad installers just ignorant. They are never around at the time to see consequences of their mistakes so they never learn from them either.
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
Agreed......Maybe the new requirement for the Intersystem Bonding Terminal will entice them to use it.
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I would like to see some kind of code that would require providing a grounding electrode connection at these balcony's if they face the southern sky for future dish bonding, but that would be a tuff one on how to make it acceptable for everyone.
 
A good thought but a tough sell. Actually, IMHO, a dish on a balcony isn't nearly as likely to be hit by lightning as an antenna on a rooftop by virtue of it's physical location. Generally, dishes are mounted much lower than traditional antennas but then lightning does have a mind of its own......
 
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