Grounding a Satellite Dish

[wissamk]

I just purchased a new Satellite system, and I am installing it myself however, I am lost as to grounding it, I live in a big appartment building and I am on the 18th floor, is it ok if I plug in the grounding wire into the third (round) hole in an elctric outlet inside my appartment? the dish will be in the balcony, any recommendations? thanx for any help.
Sam

[jeff1]

Hi,

What does your installation instructions have to say?

I have never installed one...but I found this...

A copy...

Grounding the Dish
Grounding the dish mount and the cable is not an option.
Proper grounding of both mount and cable can prevent damage due to lightning and static charges, and will help prevent signal loss due to certain types of interference.
Method:
1. Attach the ground wire (Part #35) to the grounding bolt and nut (Parts
#26 & 27) on the dish mount or pole.
2. Run the ground wire to the ground block (Part #31), which should be attached
to the house near the home’s ground source (i.e., a metal rod
driven in the ground near electric source or a water pipe under your
house). Please see page vii to see an illustrated example of antenna grounding as per National Electrical Code.
3. Run the ground wire through the slot on the ground block, and tighten the screw.
4. Run the other end of the ground
wire to your home’s grounding
source, and attach with a grounding
clamp.
5. Attach RG 6 type COAX cable coming
from the dish to the ground
block connector
6. Attach the other RG 6 type COAX
cable to the other ground block connector,
route it into the house, and
connect to the "LNB IN" terminal on
the back of the receiver.
Possible Grounding Sources:
Ground rod driven in ground near electric
service entry to home, internal
water pipe, ground rod for outside air
conditioning unit or furnace (usually already
tied to home’s grounding source),
or a separate ground rod driven 8 feet
into the earth (must also be tied to
home’s ground source).
If the dish is installed on the roof, the
ground wire can be run down the roof,
down the outside wall of the house to
the ground block, and then be attached
at your home’s grounding source.

jeff.

[imported_Ron]

Since you indicate that you have an equipment ground at the receptacle, I will assume that the building or structure served has a grounding means, so the following is your choices from the code. You must also follow the instructions with the dish.

To the nearest accessible location on the following:

a. The building or structure grounding electrode system as covered in 250.50

b. The grounded interior metal water piping systems, within 1.52 m (5 ft) from its point of entrance to the building, as covered in 250.52

c. The power service accessible means external to the building, as covered in 250.94

d. The metallic power service raceway

e. The service equipment enclosure, or

f. The grounding electrode conductor or the grounding electrode conductor metal enclosures


In any of these cases above, you have a long run 18 stories with a #10awg Copper conductor..