Satellite Dishes

A Few Words About Grounding the System

Grounding the satellite system to the central building ground helps protect it and other components from lighting damage. Dish installation should comply with local codes and the National Electrical Code (NEC). Grounding the satellite system is something you can probably do yourself. But if you're not sure, you should contact a qualified electrician.

Acceptable Central Building Ground Points

  • Grounded interior metal cold water pipe within five feet of the point where it enters the buildingScrews in a Satellite Dish
  • Grounded metallic service raceway
  • Grounded electrical service equipment enclosure
  • Eight-foot grounding rod driven into the ground (only if bonded to the central building ground by Number 6 or heavier bonding wire)
  • Other acceptable grounding electrodes that comply with sections 250 and 810 of the National Electrical Code (NEC)

Important

The United States National Electrical Code specifies that coaxial cable that is exposed to lighting shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as possible.

Routing & Grounding the Cables

Bonding Jumper for a Satellite DishAttach the grounding block to the side of your house close to the point you have chosen as the coaxial cable entry point. You may have to use anchors, togglers, or wood screws depending on the surface on which you are mounting the grounding block.

It is extremely important to ground the dish and the coaxial cables to a single point in the central building ground. a nearby lightning strike can easily damage an ungrounded dish, the receiver dish, the receiver and your TV. Connecting both ground wires to the same point in the central building ground meets code requirements and provides the best protection for your equipment.

If a separate grounding electrode is used at the antenna, a bonding jumper run to the power grounding electrode system is required