Pogi
New User
- Location
- Salt Lake City Utah
- Occupation
- Nursing
Hello all!
I am new to the forum and not an electrician. I am installing an antenna on the roof of my house to run coaxial through basement to supply TV's. The problem is that the GES is on opposite side of house. I have been reading on-line trying to figure out the best way to ground the antenna mast and the coaxial but am getting rather confused by conflicting ideas and am seeking help and clarification. Thank you in advance!
Here is my set up - my GES in on opposite side of house, about 50 ft distance in a direct line through basement. My main outdoor electrical panel looks like it is grounded with a grounding rod (assuming as much as a green wire is ran straight down into ground from bottom of box), a second green wire runs into house from behind the box and connects to my copper plumbing where it enters the house from the ground. I am not sure if this is being used as a bonding wire or if it is being used as a second ground, or if that even matters in this scenario? It would be about a 40 foot run to ground the mast and coax to the copper pipping entrance into house, and about a 50 ft run to ground them to the outdoor electrical panel. What would you do?
These are my options as I see them (if there are better options, I am all ears). Which is best/safest way to go?
1) Run a 10 Aug (or 6?) wire from mast and coax through basement to ground with copper plumbing where it enters the house. I think I read somewhere that the grounding wire for coax cannot be longer than 20 ft though. Is this true, or can I just use a thicker wire for longer stretches? I also read that the grounding wire cannot be longer than the coaxial cable - which might be problematic in this case.
2) Run the same wire to the nearest cold water pipe in house (very close to where coax enters the house). Could this be a possibility if the copper plumbing is already bonded with outdoor electrical panel?
3) Add a ground rod to the side of house that the antenna is on to ground coax and mast to - then bond that ground rod to the electrical panel using 6 AUG wire. If this is the best option, can I just run the bonding wire through the basement or should I go around the house (which will significantly increase distance)? Is there a maximum distance for this bonding wire? If the copper plumbing is bonded already, can I just bond the rod to the nearest cold water copper pipe - or could I bond it to the pipe where it enters the house, at least - or should I take it all the way to the electrical panel, or the other grounding rod? I guess my question is, should I bond it to the pipe, the electrical panel, or should I bond it to the other ground rod on the other side of the house?
My other concern is that my soil is deep, deep sand (which I read is bad for grounding rods). How long of a rod should I use, and should I use more than one in this condition?
I hope this is clear. Any help is greatly appreciated!
P.S. The most obvious solution (moving the antenna to the other side of house) is not an option as there is a forest blocking reception there, while it is totally clear on other side.
I am new to the forum and not an electrician. I am installing an antenna on the roof of my house to run coaxial through basement to supply TV's. The problem is that the GES is on opposite side of house. I have been reading on-line trying to figure out the best way to ground the antenna mast and the coaxial but am getting rather confused by conflicting ideas and am seeking help and clarification. Thank you in advance!
Here is my set up - my GES in on opposite side of house, about 50 ft distance in a direct line through basement. My main outdoor electrical panel looks like it is grounded with a grounding rod (assuming as much as a green wire is ran straight down into ground from bottom of box), a second green wire runs into house from behind the box and connects to my copper plumbing where it enters the house from the ground. I am not sure if this is being used as a bonding wire or if it is being used as a second ground, or if that even matters in this scenario? It would be about a 40 foot run to ground the mast and coax to the copper pipping entrance into house, and about a 50 ft run to ground them to the outdoor electrical panel. What would you do?
These are my options as I see them (if there are better options, I am all ears). Which is best/safest way to go?
1) Run a 10 Aug (or 6?) wire from mast and coax through basement to ground with copper plumbing where it enters the house. I think I read somewhere that the grounding wire for coax cannot be longer than 20 ft though. Is this true, or can I just use a thicker wire for longer stretches? I also read that the grounding wire cannot be longer than the coaxial cable - which might be problematic in this case.
2) Run the same wire to the nearest cold water pipe in house (very close to where coax enters the house). Could this be a possibility if the copper plumbing is already bonded with outdoor electrical panel?
3) Add a ground rod to the side of house that the antenna is on to ground coax and mast to - then bond that ground rod to the electrical panel using 6 AUG wire. If this is the best option, can I just run the bonding wire through the basement or should I go around the house (which will significantly increase distance)? Is there a maximum distance for this bonding wire? If the copper plumbing is bonded already, can I just bond the rod to the nearest cold water copper pipe - or could I bond it to the pipe where it enters the house, at least - or should I take it all the way to the electrical panel, or the other grounding rod? I guess my question is, should I bond it to the pipe, the electrical panel, or should I bond it to the other ground rod on the other side of the house?
My other concern is that my soil is deep, deep sand (which I read is bad for grounding rods). How long of a rod should I use, and should I use more than one in this condition?
I hope this is clear. Any help is greatly appreciated!
P.S. The most obvious solution (moving the antenna to the other side of house) is not an option as there is a forest blocking reception there, while it is totally clear on other side.
