Another TV antenna question

Kurt Gavin 19 years ago

I've got a standard aluminum TV antenna, mounted about 10 ft from the house and 7 ft off the ground (it works fine that way).

It's definitely not the highest thing around. Do I need to worry about grounding the thing?

I can easily mount the antenna on a wooden fence post instead of a metal post, and therefore cut down on metal exposure - if that would help any.

The problem is, the cable inputs are about 70 feet from the power system ground, so it's going be a hassle and some cost in doing the job right.

I was hoping to give it its own ground rod and call it good, but I guess you're supposed to then wire that rod to the power system rod, so I'm back to stringing expensive thick wire all around my patio, etc.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Thanks

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Tony Hwang 19 years ago

Hi, I wouldn't worry at that height.

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buffalobill 19 years ago

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Frank 19 years ago

Myself - I'd give it a ground rod. It may not be the highest thing around, but it is a conductor. My brother had a light pole, lower than surrounding trees, hit by lightening messing up several of his appliances. Frank

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Joseph Meehan 19 years ago

You need to follow the local codes. I would want it grounded, but I tend to be very concerned about things like lighting. We get a lot of it around here. I had my A/C knocked out be a strike once and I was about to buy a home and in the two days between the time I had decided to buy and when I was able to get a hold of the realtor, it had been struck by lightning and suffered great damage.

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trader4 19 years ago

I thought we settled this yesterday. The antenna mast should be connected to a ground rod. The cable should have a lightning arrestor connected to a ground rod near where it enters the building. If either one of these is too far to be easily tied to the existing ground, then I would use seperate grounds.

At 7 ft, it's not nearly the risk of a chimney mounted mast, but it still has some risk, and I would do it right.

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