Sattelite dish grounding

[lu302dan]

The satellite installers just mounted the dish on the roof and grounded it by running a # 10 wire to an outdoor fixture where they picked up the 14-2 romex ground in the box. I kind of chuckled and asked them what they were doing? Shouldn't you guys ground the dish to the electrical system grounding electrode conductor and with a much larger size conductor? The young men responded that they usually do, but the GEC is clear on the other side of the house. I said will then lets get under the house and route at least a #8 bare solid copper conductor to the GEC. They said that they were trained not to run the dish ground farther than 25 feet between the dish and grounding point of attachment and that this method is acceptable to Dish as they were trained.

Does anyone know the actual installation method to properly ground the dish?

Thanks...Dan

 

[bphgravity]

Re: Sattelite dish grounding

Start with Section 250.94 of the NEC. This section then refers to individual sections of the code that may apply. For this installation, I feel 810.15 and 810.21 apply.

It appears the size of the grounding conductor is compliant per the requirement of part (H), however part (F) certainly does not permit the EGC in an outlet to be used for the grounding means. See parts (1), (2),and (3) for all allowable grounding locations.

 

[tom baker]

Re: Sattelite dish grounding

Actually you would start with Art 810, and then if you coax, then you use Art 820. If either 810 or 820 refer you to Art 250 then you comply with 250. Take a look at section 90.3 for the reason why. For example in Art 810 there is no reference to 250 on how to connect the grounding electrode, I made a code proposal to correct this and it was accepted for the 2005 cycle.