Does dish have to be grounded?
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OK, there are two separate NEC codes at work here. Both came about under separate circumstances. One code was written to govern the grounding of antenna systems. If you remember, off-air antennas were first installed with 300-ohm flat wire. There was no way to ground that flat wire. In the event an overhead high voltage wire such as power lines or the power mains feeding the house somehow came into contact with that antenna, the ground should cause enough of a sudden current flow to cause a high enough current rise in the power system to trip whatever breaker/shunt was protecting that system.
In the case of a cable TV system, there was no on-premise antenna to be grounded. However, the potential for high voltage currents to come into contact with the cable system (it is below power on the pole) was still a reality. There needed to be a way to keep any high current coming down that cable to be dissipated to ground long enough to create a current rise that would trip whatever breaker/shunt was protecting the power source energizing the cabling. That method involved providing a path from the shielding of a cable to the house ground, aka, the ground block.
Grounding systems aren't really intended to carry current over a period of time. They facilitate a way of removing power from places that power would be dangerous to people and property. The way to do that is through extremely low resistance so that the current flow rises to a point high enough to trip a breaker.
Two separate systems, Off-air antenna and CATV, each with their own codes to protect those individual systems. Satellite dishes are the first real system that incorporates both systems. So, the reality is you should have at minimum, a ground block that is properly grounded to protect the introduction of harmful current into the home from the cabling. On new dishes, the dish itself is often isolated from the cabling by a plastic yoke, etc. In that case, the code should still technically stand. However, with the cabling ground in place, the dish ground is still technically unnecessary. That said, I would still suggest grounding the dish in those cases where overhead power lines are present such as a home that has overhead power service. Another circumstance would be if some idiot ran romex underneath his eave without installing it in conduit. I would even do it in those circumstances where you believe Christmas lights might be installed where they can come in contact with the dish. The code doesn't provide for all these potential circumstances. It just covers all the bases without any regard for the ability of the installer to determine the level of risk.
So, for the OP, if your cabling is grounded and your dish is not in a place where it is likely to suffer accidental contact with high voltage wires, I wouldn't really worry about it.
In the case of a cable TV system, there was no on-premise antenna to be grounded. However, the potential for high voltage currents to come into contact with the cable system (it is below power on the pole) was still a reality. There needed to be a way to keep any high current coming down that cable to be dissipated to ground long enough to create a current rise that would trip whatever breaker/shunt was protecting the power source energizing the cabling. That method involved providing a path from the shielding of a cable to the house ground, aka, the ground block.
Grounding systems aren't really intended to carry current over a period of time. They facilitate a way of removing power from places that power would be dangerous to people and property. The way to do that is through extremely low resistance so that the current flow rises to a point high enough to trip a breaker.
Two separate systems, Off-air antenna and CATV, each with their own codes to protect those individual systems. Satellite dishes are the first real system that incorporates both systems. So, the reality is you should have at minimum, a ground block that is properly grounded to protect the introduction of harmful current into the home from the cabling. On new dishes, the dish itself is often isolated from the cabling by a plastic yoke, etc. In that case, the code should still technically stand. However, with the cabling ground in place, the dish ground is still technically unnecessary. That said, I would still suggest grounding the dish in those cases where overhead power lines are present such as a home that has overhead power service. Another circumstance would be if some idiot ran romex underneath his eave without installing it in conduit. I would even do it in those circumstances where you believe Christmas lights might be installed where they can come in contact with the dish. The code doesn't provide for all these potential circumstances. It just covers all the bases without any regard for the ability of the installer to determine the level of risk.
So, for the OP, if your cabling is grounded and your dish is not in a place where it is likely to suffer accidental contact with high voltage wires, I wouldn't really worry about it.
This is true..........yes wind will build static electricity.
But the original NORAD radar rigs (big as a barn & steel construction) were exposed to constant high winds. Improved grounding fixed the static problem. Plastic or steel small dishes (pizza size) are not on the same scale, nor is their static issue.
Leave one out for a year and see if ya get a spark when grounding it.
Joe
Dude 22 minutes later you asked again? I've been in the can longer than you waited
Dish DNS techs I believe are required to ground systems. They wouldn't install at my apt. It took 3 tries with them coming out till we ecided to run the ground wire about 25 feet to the account unit on the floor below.
Depends on if the technician wants to work that day.
Yes, they are required to ground the system. I think they can get a waiver to install without grounding, but if a tech is being lazy they can use no ground as an excuse.
I have seen it done many times.
Well my installer was out last night to install a 2nd hopper. I told him about grounding the dish and he said "I can do it, but it doesn't HAVE to be done".
He grounded the dish inside, from the duo node to a piece of electrical conduit.
He works for Galaxy 1.
He grounded the dish inside, from the duo node to a piece of electrical conduit.
He works for Galaxy 1.
Correct, he just grounded the node inside. When I referred him to the NEC code, he said "Ya, but it's not required, trust me, I used to be an electrician".
I got a hold of the local installer and spoke to the manager, he wouldn't tell me if it needs to be grounded, only that he is gonna send someone out to inspect it today.
can't imagine any ''real" electrician taking a huge pay-cut and going to work for dish....'
Re-read my post and decide for yourself if the dish needs to be grounded or not. According to NEC code, yes. However, the NEC code doesn't make exceptions for individual circumstances where an antenna system doesn't need grounding, such as when the cabling portion of it is grounded. NEC codes don't take into consideration the ability of the technician to determine risk and alter safety systems accordingly. It's just as stupid as saying that you should put fires out with water. It's a blanket rule but one that will get you killed if the fire happens to be a grease fire, electrical fire, fuels, etc.
I will share this with you though, you are one of those pain in the butt customers who insists on things being done exactly to book standards without understanding the purpose behind the practice.
I will share this with you though, you are one of those pain in the butt customers who insists on things being done exactly to book standards without understanding the purpose behind the practice.
Ever stop to think that he didn't have a choice in the matter of his employment. The housing bubble burst six years ago, taking many tradesmen out with it.
An ungrounded system is not a QAS fail. its a 1 point deduction. I've never failed a job due to lack of ground.
As stated before, grounds tend to cause more problems than they prevent as far as sytem operation.
As stated before, grounds tend to cause more problems than they prevent as far as sytem operation.
The OP was asking about grounding the Dish, not the cabling..... Just saying.
Here in Canada, the Dish is ONLY grounded if it is the highest part of the house, otherwise it is just the RG6 lines that have to be grounded.
Here in Canada, the Dish is ONLY grounded if it is the highest part of the house, otherwise it is just the RG6 lines that have to be grounded.
It does not HAVE to be grounded, but they should have done it. You have two options if you want to make it right: 1) Call Dish and make installer come out and do it right.; 2) DIY.
If you choose #2, you can get grounding cable at hardware store and also the attachments needed. When you run the ground, you want to make sure it goes the same route as the rest of the house... Two grounds within the same 'system' is bad.
If you choose #2, you can get grounding cable at hardware store and also the attachments needed. When you run the ground, you want to make sure it goes the same route as the rest of the house... Two grounds within the same 'system' is bad.
DIY is a very poor suggestion, don't risk injury to yourself doing something that serves no purpose. The ONLY thing that could happen is the installer could get in trouble for not doing it if the jobs is inspected, again not affecting you. Even if you did DIY, it would be obvious you did and the installer would still get in trouble from an inspection.
You can sleep soundly and not worry about it.
