Antenna and Grounding

[JimC55]

A friend brought me over to see they have a TV antenna mounted outside there home. Don't want to get into the way it looks thing but want to issue a warning. You must ground any outside TV antenna. Not doing so will open you up for damage to electronics in your house! Since many TV's are now connected to CAT-5 cabling in your house, a surge from a near by lightning strike can not only damage your TV but your internet connection and any other device connected to your TV. It is important to understand you don't have to be "hit" by a lightning strike to have damage. It could hit a nearby pond or tree and the outside antenna could pick up the discharged energy and cause lots of problems. I made sure he connected his antenna coax to a grounding block to offer some protection. Storm season is just a few weeks away.

[Topspinmo]

I always wondered how you can separate the strike from the pole and cable that runs to the TV. Even though the pole in the ground seems the path would still run down the cable connections also?

[JimC55]

I always wondered how you can separate the strike from the pole and cable that runs to the TV. Even though the pole in the ground seems the path would still run down the cable connections also?



Yes, but a grounding block and surge suppressor will result in the energy draining to the ground rod. This is your best protection against nearby strikes.


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[Rango]

Advise: Wise men don't need it, Fools won't heed it!

[Hacker1]

A friend brought me over to see they have a TV antenna mounted outside there home. Don't want to get into the way it looks thing but want to issue a warning. You must ground any outside TV antenna. Not doing so will open you up for damage to electronics in your house! Since many TV's are now connected to CAT-5 cabling in your house, a surge from a near by lightning strike can not only damage your TV but your internet connection and any other device connected to your TV. It is important to understand you don't have to be "hit" by a lightning strike to have damage. It could hit a nearby pond or tree and the outside antenna could pick up the discharged energy and cause lots of problems. I made sure he connected his antenna coax to a grounding block to offer some protection. Storm season is just a few weeks away.

If antenna is in the attic, is it also important to ground?

[JimC55]

If antenna is in the attic, is it also important to ground?



Yes. They make surge protectors that plug in wall outlets near your tv.



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[Hacker1]

Yes. They make surge protectors that plug in wall outlets near your tv.



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So, should the TV power source be plugged into the surge protector? Or the transformer for the antenna signal booster? Or both?

[tophcfa]

So, should the TV power source be plugged into the surge protector? Or the transformer for the antenna signal booster? Or both?

Both. Our antenna signal booster got fried during a lightning storm last summer. Only cost about $40 to replace and was not on a surge protector. The more expensive TV was protected and was not damaged.

[JimC55]

Good answer. You can buy a surge protector power strip that also has connectors for your TV coax. Cheap protection. I saw them on Amazon for $20.


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