First, thanks to all that have commented on the proper way to ground a satellite dish. And understand that telling me to "just" read the code section is kind of like telling me to "just" read the tax code. I really have seen one of them there code books and could probally find the most pertinent secton but understanding what is says is another story.
Dish Network comes with a free installation and free dish equipment. I now understand that you get what you pay for. My guess is the installers don't know ohms from arsholes.
The dish is more than 20 ft away from the service and driveway/carport is between the dish and service. To bond to the service would be run the ground wire through/over the house.
I hope that because 1) the dish/service are more than 20' apart and 2) the dish is a separate installation and 3) A ground rod would provide lightning protection a ground rod is the answer.
I am going to tell dish that I will enjoy the free 3 month satellite service and free equipment. They have until the end of the 3 months to either send someone out to drive an 8' ground rod for the dish or they can expect my credit company to dispute any charges they try to make to my credit card.
Driving a separate ground rod is not the correct answer. You could get a difference in potential from the dish ground to your service ground. Any lightning protective devices should come with a " Master Label" and a UL inspection after installation. If your interested it is UL 96A. You should not be using the dish as the lightning rod. You will not be able to protect your electrical system, equipment and life by just driving one ground rod. I will bet that your house is taller than the dish in some place. To do the job properly you would need to add a lightning protection system to your house. Check out Erico, or Harger on the www. Both are good companies and knowledgeable.
If your interested in protecting your home electronics from lightning then get a whole house surge protector. They will help for spikes and surges. SQD, Cutler-Hammer/Eaton, GE and others. You still need the point of use ones as well. I have the one from CH/Eaton. Cable tv goes through the protector and then into my home. I feel a bit safer. Nothing is bullet proof for lightning. It is a best guess. I have seen finials ( the spikes on the roof ) and the ground leads burned away all the way to the ground on a 5 story building. Saved the building, but a lot of the electrical equipment in the building that was on was toast. 20% of the electrical wiring had to be replaced, conduit and wire, it was fused inside the conduit. Just in the area of the strike.
Make them do it right, call the local code folks and get the authority having jurisdiction to make the call. Then your covered for your home insurance and liability.
SQLit is correct about taking a larger perspective. You want undamaged transistors? Then a protection system is necessary because we still build new homes as if the transistor did not exist.
Earthing a dish at the dish is better than nothing. But incoming dish wire must make a connection to same earthing as AC disconnect - as even required by code for human safety. No way around that installer's mistake. They don't write the code only for fun.
Posts addressed both you and your sister's problems. Damage is avoidable; not acceptable for most homeowners. Unfortunately, nothing - even a light switch - is so simple. Light switches appear simple because someone else is required to solve complexities. Earthing, unfortunately, is not required to protect transistors. Therefore a homeowner must learn and execute basics concepts to obtain minimally acceptable protection.
Every incoming utility requires 'whole house' protection as SQLit notes. Telco already installs it standard and for free. CATV and satellite dish coax also make a direct connection to central earth ground (if properly installed because homeowner demands installer meet code requirements).
For a most common source of destructive transients (even to computer modems and portable phone base stations), AC electric must make a less than 10 foot connection to earth ground. Simple and necessary connecting device is called a 'whole house' protector. It costs typically less than $1 per protected appliance. Necessary in every residence since
1970s because transistors now exist (including transistors in those GFCI receptacles). It's not complex, but protection is not installed in most homes due to lack of information combined with deception from plug-in protector manufacturers.
Again, risk is your judgment. Your sister needs these things; due to a problem that occurs typically once every eight years. You may not want to bother. Yes, you only want to watch TV and have working lights. Both are that complicated (or that simple). We require someone else to solve light switch problems; but still don't even build new homes as if the transistor exists. Your call. How much unnecessary risk are you willing to accept.
Your original post said you did not want damage. Now implied is that minimal protection is too complex; damage is acceptable. Again, your call. But at least your decision is not made in a vacuum. Little devices properly installed and at small cost provide massive lightning protection.
I do not, but there is lightning protection on the overhead lines behind my home on 2 sides. I live in the corner of the alley. I do have a electrical service surge protection device as well as at least one surge strip before any electronic equipment. I personally will deal with the damage once the lightning hits. I have a dishnetwork on my chimney. I grounded it to the my electrical service through the wiring in my home. Had several storms before I disconnected the service and never had any problems, except for pay per view when the rain clouds that got in the way a couple of times. I was not able to watch the movie all day for the same price then.
The point I was trying to make is that a ground rod for your dish might be more of a problem than not installing one. The issue you, as I understood it, was that you were concerned that the ground wire was not a good enough ground. The ground wire should be enough if installed correctly. Driving a ground rod indiscriminately can be trouble. I was trying to steer you in the right direction. I apologize for any confusion.
You have to appreciate the OP frustration of not being particularly versed in the technical aspects of the issue, and having to rely on installers that may not be particularly capable, or motivated to complete the jop in the approprite manner.
This thread sparked my interest in whether the CATV/Dish systems in my neighborhood were installed correctly, and meet the requirements of the NEC.
In EVERY case, EVEN my home, each installation violated at least one provision of the NEC requirements! Some were minor issues, but others were unbelievable (cable drooping directly across power lines, ground/bond wires wrapped around service conduits and other electrical enclosures or water faucets, etc.). I was shocked at the finding, and embarrassed at the problems with the installation at my home. I called the cable company, and both the dish vendors serving my area, and the response was one of denial of responsibility by the dish companies, but the cable company indicated they would have one of their engineers contact me to discuss my concerns. I also inquired if it was customary to have each installation inspected. The answer was no as it was their understanding it wasn't required due to them being a utility.
Very interesting! I guess I will contact the electrical inspector, and get his view on the situation, and if he's willing to get involved.
Louis--
********************************************* Remove the two fish in address to respond
That doesn't mean it is not complicated. The hardest part is having to switch sections. I think an electronic version where you can just click on the other sections would make it much easier.
Please tell me how you have grounded your dish. If I understand, you are asking .... was I concerned that the ground prong on the satellite receiver box power cord was not adequate. It is not and it says so in the packing instructions. It clearly states install according to NEC 820-40
My sister's receiver had a 3 prong plug and she still was hit twice. Because it is grounded with a ground rod at the dish now doesn't mean that solved the problem but I hasn't happened again.
I know that what the installers have done is wrong. I intend to learn as much about what the proper way is in the 3 free months of service I am getting and at the end of that time they can either come out and fix it or I am changing providers.
It is nice to have options. I wish I had more than one choice for broadband.
My Dish Network installer grounded the outdoor dish to the center screw of one of my (outdoor) electrical outets, which is grounded. Is that legal? Did he do it correctly?
Of course. But then not a typical answer since I was building this stuff even before the PC existed.
Basic concept. You asked about protection. That is earth ground. Protectors are only effective when connected short to protection. Did you mean to ask about protectors; or protection?
Is protection working? Who knows? Effective protection (and associated protectors where required) works by not failing; not leaving an indication of the transient. Since nothing is damaged, then did a destructive transient exist?
Previous experiments demonstrated how undersized protectors can even be effective. In one early experiment, the protector was simply one Radio Shack MOVs that now sells for maybe less than $2. This undersized protector was effective because of unusual earthing. A less than 3 foot connection to protection
- conductive earth ground - made it that much more effective. Experimented with protectors in many locations with interesting results. Have been learning about this stuff for decades.
BTW, why is that receptacle ground not earth ground? Again, the connection to earth is more than 10 feet, many sharp bends and splices, bundled with other non-grounding wires, etc. Too many reasons why plug-in protectors provide no protection - no earth ground. Earthing a utility at the service entrance is so easy with no sharp bends, no splices, dedicated 'less than
10 foot' wire, not bundled with other wires, and every earth ground wire meeting at a single point earth ground. Those are the simple principles that demonstrate why faucets or receptacle safety ground do not provide sufficient protection; not an effective connection to earth.
This modem was damaged where surge protectors (on AC electric) were not installed. I recommend protectors and upgraded protection (and none have since suffered damage), AND also repaired surge damaged devices (such as this modem) by tracing the path of that destructive surge, then replacing damaged transistor and ICs. Cited is experience as well as professional training which is why my answer would not be representative of the public. Most homeowners are missing effective protection because we still build homes as if the transistor did not exist.
Minimally effective protector for AC electric is sold in Home Depot as Intermatic EG240RC or IG1240RC. Every residence should have, at minimum, that protector and a single point earth ground that meets or exceeds post 1990 NEC earthing requirements. AC electric (wires highest on poles) being the most common source of destructive transients even to computer modems and portable phone base stations.
BTW, another important part of a protection system is that wire from pole transformer to earth ground. Visual inspection required to verify a stray automobile did not severe your 'primary' protection.
Earthing is protection; something different from yet required by protectors. Yes I have earthing. But I also have protectors connected short to that protection. I am not a typical response.
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