[blkhouse]

We recently moved from Washington to Arizona (Phoenix Area), and had Dish Mover install the new dish. We were busy and were just grateful to have a service work correctly, so we didn't look at everything, and it was installed at a temporary location until we could get everything settled with CCR's.

I know grounding loops are a possibility (I read the links), but we do live in lightning territory and so I believe external grounding is essential. Currently, the dish is mounted on a pole on a metal tripod which is sitting on the bare ground. The tripod is secured using concrete blocks. The installer mounted the grounding block to the tripod. The ground makes it's connection through the tripod to the bare ground.

Initially we were going to move either the tripod on to a concrete pad or place the metal pole into a concrete post hole. I know don't know how we would install the ground when we move it, because there are a lot of pipes in the area. After we saw other neighbors had installed their dishes near the roof line and not the 6' we thought was required, we now have multiple options, but still not sure where to install the ground.

I am looking for advice, and recommendations.

Thank you

 

[BattleZone]

Lightning really isn't the issue: if lightning hits the dish, the dish is going to be toast, and probably so will the cable, the receiver, and maybe even the house. A ground wire is not going to help that.

Grounding the dish is mainly to drain away the static electricity buildup that occurs from the metal dish being exposed to the wind and humidity. It also potentially provides some protection should a live power wire fall on the dish and energize it.

Any ground connection needs to be connected to your main house ground. This is why installers generally try to mount the dish near/above the power meter whenever possible.

There's not a lot of advice we can give without some more description or, preferably, some pictures.

 

[boba]

Call 800-333-3474 and complain that your dish isn't grounded you should get a response. Also select Tech support from the telephone options.

 

[spear61]

Lightning really isn't the issue: if lightning hits the dish, the dish is going to be toast, and probably so will the cable, the receiver, and maybe even the house. A ground wire is not going to help that.

Grounding the dish is mainly to drain away the static electricity buildup that occurs from the metal dish being exposed to the wind and humidity. It also potentially provides some protection should a live power wire fall on the dish and energize it.

Any ground connection needs to be connected to your main house ground. This is why installers generally try to mount the dish near/above the power meter whenever possible.

There's not a lot of advice we can give without some more description or, preferably, some pictures.

Whoa there! Lightning definity is an issue and a good ground will protect you and your house from damage

 

[BNUMM]

We recently moved from Washington to Arizona (Phoenix Area), and had Dish Mover install the new dish. We were busy and were just grateful to have a service work correctly, so we didn't look at everything, and it was installed at a temporary location until we could get everything settled with CCR's.

I know grounding loops are a possibility (I read the links), but we do live in lightning territory and so I believe external grounding is essential. Currently, the dish is mounted on a pole on a metal tripod which is sitting on the bare ground. The tripod is secured using concrete blocks. The installer mounted the grounding block to the tripod. The ground makes it's connection through the tripod to the bare ground.

Initially we were going to move either the tripod on to a concrete pad or place the metal pole into a concrete post hole. I know don't know how we would install the ground when we move it, because there are a lot of pipes in the area. After we saw other neighbors had installed their dishes near the roof line and not the 6' we thought was required, we now have multiple options, but still not sure where to install the ground.

I am looking for advice, and recommendations.

Thank you

Call an electrician to make sure it done to code.

 

[dnero]

May be hard to find but buy a lightning rod and install it at a point higher than the Dish. Mine is not grounded either was going to put a ground rod in and may still do so but and electrical supply house in my area said an 8 foot ground rod is minimum electrical code required. So an electrician may be best the advice to have this done properly. I live in southern Vermont and we have a lot of bad thunderstorms here as well. Although with a lightning rod you will still need it connected to an 8 ft ground rod.

 

[Shellback X 23]

Get the copper clad steel rod, its much easier to drive into the ground. You can purchase a standard ground rod clamp to solid copper wire. Slide the clamp on first as you may mushroom the top end. Cup the ground around the rod and drive to at least 2" below ground level then cover after connecting the wire, do not solder the wire. Rent a fence post hammer (a piece of pipe closed at the top end with two handles) to get the rod down as far as you can before trying to sledge hammer it on down to below ground level. My last house required two 8' rods 3' apart at the electrical meter/house entrance.

 

[TVontheBrain]

If you are planning on driving a separate ground rod in the ground for your dish you are better off contracting an electrician. Most local codes require that any ground rod be bonded to the main service ground with at least 6 gauge ground wire. This prevents a difference in ground potential.

 

[BattleZone]

Whoa there! Lightning definity is an issue and a good ground will protect you and your house from damage

If you think a 17 ga copper wire, or even a 10 ga copper wire, is going to be enough to protect the satellite system in the event of a direct hit to the dish, you should talk to a few electricians or firemen. They'll be more than happy to share some stories with you.

 

[kucharsk]

The purpose of a ground wire is not only to bleed off static electricity but also to help protect the system in case of a nearby strike as well, as, like a lightning rod, to bleed off some charge to reduce the differential in charges making it ever so slightly lightning will strike elsewhere.

A direct strike will fry everything anyway, the old saying being that lightning doesn't take the easiest path to ground, it takes every path to ground.

 

[jkane]

If you don't have static in either the picture or the audio, you don't have a ground loop problem. Leave it alone! If you do, connecting a wire between the grounds may help. Most coax cables for use in homes have a ground wire attached to the coax. That's why it's there.

 

[brant]

My last house required two 8' rods 3' apart at the electrical meter/house entrance.

NEC states unless you can prove less than 25ohms-ground on one grounding electrode, it must be supplemented by a second spaced a minimum of 6' away. I install two ground rods at every service (its easier than trying to meet w/ the inspector and measure the resistance, etc. . ). Your electrician was half right.

_______________________________________________________________

Whatever you do, don't put the dish on its own ground rod. The ground block must be grounded to the service of the structure it serves, which is your house. you can have a ground rod there, but still must be bonded to the service grounding electrode.

The coax that feeds your dish should have a grounding wire attached to it. It sounds like one end is connected to the dish, so just connect the other to a grounding block at your house.

 

[blkhouse]

I think I understand. First the dish wasn't properly grounded per code (by Dish's own manual)

The 211 manual states...

Note to Satellite TV System Installer: This reminder is provided to call the satellite TV system installer’s attention to Article 820-40 of the National Electrical Code (NEC) that provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

The picture attached to it is sort of difficult to understand.

Nothing will help against a direct strike of lightning, but a separate lightning protection system by an electrician could help against strikes which are close.

We probably can talk Dish into correcting the 1st problem, but the second problem will be our responsibility.

 

[John79605]

Time to share my lightning story. Two years ago a thunderstorm fried the modems in both my Dish receivers. They got replaced under DHPP or whatever. Six months later I noticed a utility company crew working in the alley and I asked what was going on. They pointed to the top of the power pole that looked like a burned matchstick. They were replacing the pole. It's right behind my house, so I must be lucky the two fried modems (and the pole) were the only loss.

 

[Donp]

What if the cover is too thick for the dish to get a signal on the meter side of the house. That is my problem. My dish is 50 ft away form the house on the opposite side of the house from the eletrical meter. The incoming coax from the dish is grounded to the bar the phone drop is also grounted too. This is because the phone comes in on the same side as the dish coax.

There is as a ground block at the dish and has the dish ground attached to it but this block is not attached to a ground itself. The dish is mounted on a wooden fence post. Is it ok to leave all this alone or should I drive a ground rod up at the dish location and complete the ground there too.

 

[mworks]

I like to use arrestors on my setups.
They can take an almost direct strike and are easy to install.
Great for cable modems as well.