Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tyrindor 
I just had Dish Network come to my house to install a over the air antenna (since they don't get local channels in HD in my area) and the dish. He didn't ground either. I told him that I wanted them grounded as they are being hooked up to a $12,000 home theater system. He told me that grounding was not needed, and that he's been doing it for 30 years and has never grounded anything and none of his customers have ever had any damage. He also told me that lightning comes UP from the ground, not down from the sky - which makes grounding pointless according to him.
He refused to ground them, and said there wouldn't be any problems. I am very scared about this. He also told me I am not able to run my coaxial cable through my surge protector/power conditioner and it MUST go straight to the receiver. I've never heard of this either.. I should be able to surge protect my coax cable lines?
Is this guy crazy, or is he right? I'm very close to calling dish and telling them that the guy refused to ground my equipment when he installed it.
It's code that antennas (OTA and satellite) be grounded. In other words, he is required by law to ground his installations, whether the viewing equipment be a $12k HT system or a $100 13" TV set.
Article 810 (Radio and Television Equipment) sets out the standards for safety related to antenna systems. You'll find many similar references in 810 as you will to 820 (Community Antenna).
Article 810.15 starts our tour:
810.15 Grounding.
Masts and metal structures supporting antennas shall be grounded in accordance with 810.21.
...but before we get to 810.21, we have to stop at 810.20
810.20 Antenna Discharge Units Receiving Stations.
(A) Where Required. Each conductor of a lead-in from an outdoor antenna shall be provided with a listed antenna discharge unit.
Exception: Where the lead-in conductors are enclosed in a continuous metallic shield that either is permanently and effectively grounded or is protected by an antenna discharge unit.
(B) Location. Antenna discharge units shall be located outside the building or inside the building between the point of entrance of the lead-in and the radio set or transformers and as near as practicable to the entrance of the conductors to the building. The antenna discharge unit shall not be located near combustible material or in a hazardous (classified) location as defined in Article 500.
(C) Grounding. The antenna discharge unit shall be grounded in accordance with 810.21.
810.21 Grounding Conductors Receiving Stations.
Grounding conductors shall comply with 810.21(A) through (J).
(F) Electrode. The grounding conductor shall be connected as follows:
(1) 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 (5ft) from its
point of entrance to the building, as covered in 250.52
See the commentary following 250.52(A)(1).
c. The power service accessible means external to the building, ascovered 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;
(J) Bonding of Electrodes. A bonding jumper not smaller than 6 AWG copper or equivalent shall be connected between the radio and television equipment grounding electrode and the power grounding electrode system at the building or structure served where separate electrodes are used.
