CCTV Pole Grounding
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Re: CCTV Pole Grounding
The Quality Assurance section of our group feels as though we should run a 6AWG wire to a ground rod at the base of the pole, and the other half of their group feels as though we should run a EGC from the source to ground the pole. We have our Master Electrician who feels as though we do need to do anything to the pole since it is not a "luminiare fixture" and we are only running 24VAC to the pole. Can somebody please provide some insight into this.
The Quality Assurance section of our group feels as though we should run a 6AWG wire to a ground rod at the base of the pole, and the other half of their group feels as though we should run a EGC from the source to ground the pole. We have our Master Electrician who feels as though we do need to do anything to the pole since it is not a "luminiare fixture" and we are only running 24VAC to the pole. Can somebody please provide some insight into this.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Re: CCTV Pole Grounding
The pole does not need a ground rod for a camera. I do a lot of radio antenna installations, the antenna mast has to be bonded to a grounding electrode, and this grounding electrode is bonded to the building electrode system, these rules are in Art 810. If lightning hits your pole the camera is toast. But if propely done with a impulse supressor on the camera coax at the building entrance you can mostly eliminate the surge energy from entering the building via the coax. The rules for coax installations are in art 820
The pole does not need a ground rod for a camera. I do a lot of radio antenna installations, the antenna mast has to be bonded to a grounding electrode, and this grounding electrode is bonded to the building electrode system, these rules are in Art 810. If lightning hits your pole the camera is toast. But if propely done with a impulse supressor on the camera coax at the building entrance you can mostly eliminate the surge energy from entering the building via the coax. The rules for coax installations are in art 820
Re: CCTV Pole Grounding
We run the 24 VAC, 3 conductor wire inside of the pole. The wire is in a 300volt insulated jacket. Do we need to bond the ground wire from the source(step down power supply) to the pole?
Do we need to take the ground from the power supply to the pole? Do we need to run a EGC along with the 3 conductor wire to bond the pole?
We run the 24 VAC, 3 conductor wire inside of the pole. The wire is in a 300volt insulated jacket. Do we need to bond the ground wire from the source(step down power supply) to the pole?
Do we need to take the ground from the power supply to the pole? Do we need to run a EGC along with the 3 conductor wire to bond the pole?
Re: CCTV Pole Grounding
Do we need to bond the ground wire from the source(step down power supply) to the pole?
If the pole is metal, and if you are referring to the EGC, then yes.
Do we need to take the ground from the power supply to the pole?
That is the EGC, and it is ran with circuit conductors.
Do we need to run a EGC along with the 3 conductor wire to bond the pole?
Confused
What are the three wires? I am thinking 1-ungrounded (hot or phase), 1-grounded circuit conductor (neutral), and 1-EGC. Is the third possible coax and you have no EGC?
There is no requirement for the pole to have a ground rod, but is permitted if you wish (performance issue not an NEC-safety issue). If the output of the transformer supplying the power has a grounded circuit conductor, then you need a EGC ran with the ungrounded (hot or phase) and grounded circuit conductors (neutral). The EGC would be bonded to the pole if it is metallic.
Your best bet is to supply a coax discharge unit and TVSS on the power supply conductors where it enters the building.
Do we need to bond the ground wire from the source(step down power supply) to the pole?
If the pole is metal, and if you are referring to the EGC, then yes.
Do we need to take the ground from the power supply to the pole?
That is the EGC, and it is ran with circuit conductors.
Do we need to run a EGC along with the 3 conductor wire to bond the pole?
Confused
What are the three wires? I am thinking 1-ungrounded (hot or phase), 1-grounded circuit conductor (neutral), and 1-EGC. Is the third possible coax and you have no EGC?There is no requirement for the pole to have a ground rod, but is permitted if you wish (performance issue not an NEC-safety issue). If the output of the transformer supplying the power has a grounded circuit conductor, then you need a EGC ran with the ungrounded (hot or phase) and grounded circuit conductors (neutral). The EGC would be bonded to the pole if it is metallic.
Your best bet is to supply a coax discharge unit and TVSS on the power supply conductors where it enters the building.
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CCTV grounding on a Pole
CCTV grounding on a Pole
For 17 years I have trouble shot lightning issues and grounding differential with CCTV cameras, and 90% of all lightning issues and differential problems are due to cameras being on a metal pole, and the power source is located at the pole. Lets think about ground loops. More then one ground, is a ground loop and multiple path ways for lightning to come up through ground, will go out the other ground. Now if lightning hit the pole, the camera is toast. Reason: SMT technology with low pf, SMT, capacity cannot stand EMI much less EMP. A pair of socks on a rug would knock out a camera. We are just focusing on the camera. What about the rest of the system? Is it not true that the shield is referencing to ground at the DVR. Is it not true that the DVR AC power is a different ground then the AC power for the 24V AC at the camera and the case ground of the camera? What do we have? We have three different grounds. Am I not correct? We have to get rid of the ground loops. First we have to look at the system and understand our goal is single point grounding. The question is, how are we going to do this. You have to look at before market approach and after market approach. To do it right, is to do it right during the before market approach then trying to band-aid it on the after market approach.
Here is the test:, you have three ground loops, get rid of two of them if you can. Lets add another piece to the puzzle. All CCTV cameras must have coax surge suppression, but do you dare to follow the direction the manufacture recommends, if you are trying to achieve single point grounding. But remember you have two ground loops you have to get rid of, and not add a ground loop to the equation. I have the answer, and it is true when Mike said, NEC does not have an answer to this dilemma. I just want to see what people think.
You think this is tough, wait until someone asks about Gate Access.:wink:
CCTV grounding on a Pole
For 17 years I have trouble shot lightning issues and grounding differential with CCTV cameras, and 90% of all lightning issues and differential problems are due to cameras being on a metal pole, and the power source is located at the pole. Lets think about ground loops. More then one ground, is a ground loop and multiple path ways for lightning to come up through ground, will go out the other ground. Now if lightning hit the pole, the camera is toast. Reason: SMT technology with low pf, SMT, capacity cannot stand EMI much less EMP. A pair of socks on a rug would knock out a camera. We are just focusing on the camera. What about the rest of the system? Is it not true that the shield is referencing to ground at the DVR. Is it not true that the DVR AC power is a different ground then the AC power for the 24V AC at the camera and the case ground of the camera? What do we have? We have three different grounds. Am I not correct? We have to get rid of the ground loops. First we have to look at the system and understand our goal is single point grounding. The question is, how are we going to do this. You have to look at before market approach and after market approach. To do it right, is to do it right during the before market approach then trying to band-aid it on the after market approach.
Here is the test:, you have three ground loops, get rid of two of them if you can. Lets add another piece to the puzzle. All CCTV cameras must have coax surge suppression, but do you dare to follow the direction the manufacture recommends, if you are trying to achieve single point grounding. But remember you have two ground loops you have to get rid of, and not add a ground loop to the equation. I have the answer, and it is true when Mike said, NEC does not have an answer to this dilemma. I just want to see what people think.
You think this is tough, wait until someone asks about Gate Access.:wink:
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