There are various laws and requirements for grounding antennas outdoors in the United States. Laws vary in each state. For most individuals, nevertheless, following the instruction below will be quite useful. Ensure you familiarize yourself with state and provincial laws and guidelines before proceeding since some acts may be unlawful or restricted in your region.
There are numerous things to take into consideration and address while installing an antenna. A typical individual may have little understanding of how to complete the job. It is always a good idea to have a professional perform the task for you.
Still interested? Then read this complete guide to learn more.
Table of Contents
What Does Ground an Antenna Mean?
It indicates that the metallic part of the electrical device or gadget has been connected with the earth or ground. If the equipment is not ‘grounded’ correctly, a high voltage is applied in the event of lightning.
The grounding process also entails connecting the equipment to the earth, thereby making the connection temporary. The earth or ground works as an electrical conductor.
Why Do Antennas Have to Be Grounded?
The two primary reasons for grounding the antennas are safety and lightning. An antenna made of metal is considered a dangerous possibility. The antenna might be linked to a piece of malfunctioning equipment that is producing live electricity. This could cause damage to the live electrical line. These events have occurred before, and it is quite risky.
Lightning can strike anywhere, and you cannot predict the outcome. The grounding conductor’s electrical resistance is greatly reduced if the antenna, pole, and cable are correctly bonded. Without the route, lightning can enter the home.
The antenna does not assure that lightning will not impact. Still, though, lightning strikes are less risky if you have a properly grounded antenna.
How to Ground an Antenna?
NCE says all antenna poles must be grounded directly to the earth. To help you out, you should use copper wire and clamps. I already said that regulations in different locations might vary, but the fundamental concepts are identical in any location.
Step 1:
Begin with, everyone who plans to install an antenna should examine the image provided by NCE as a guide. This picture will give you an idea of how your finished installation should appear.
Step 2:
In the beginning, choose where you want to install your TV antenna. The antenna needs adequate structural support. Also, it’s critical to think about where you’ll be getting the finest signal from the broadcast transmitting tower.
Step 3:
Once the preceding step is completed, you may safely attach the antenna. The device always comes with mounting accessories, so utilize them. To attach the antenna, use the tools provided with it.
You can see all the steps in the image above. Furthermore, make sure to check the instructions in the handbook.
Step 4:
Next, you must locate your home’s service grounding conductor. You can now identify the conductor near the electric meter. A copper wire is usually found in the panel’s enclosure that goes thru the wall. This wire must be linked to the ground.
Step 5:
After you figure out where your home grounding conductor is, you must attach a ground clamp to it. You can always find these clamps at any hardware shop. Get a clamp that matches the size of your wire. Many tables are available online to help you choose the clamp for your wire.
Step 6:
For grounding an antenna, you must use a solid copper wire, which is a #10 AWG (American Wire Gauge) minimum. It is 0.1-inch in diameter. Use a more durable wire over time since a regular wire will become brittle.
Step 7:
After this step, you now have to connect the antenna to the ground. Just attach a coax grounding block to one end of the wire you have. A block is required as the coaxial wire becomes statically charged. It helps to remove the charge.
This block will likely have two coaxial connections and one slot where you’ll have to place the ground wire.
Now one of the plugs should link to the antenna on the roof and the other one to the tuner, which is within the house.
Be sure to check the TV for any variation in reception. TV. If the procedure is done properly, then the TV should emit a low-frequency sound.
Step 8:
A helpful tip: ensure that wires are not being positioned vertically, since water could drip down and get into the connector.
Lastly, you must ground the antenna’s mast, which is one of the more straightforward procedures.
Attach an AWG wire ground clip to the mast. You should connect the other end of the copper wire to the ground. Always use two separate clamps.
And you’ve finished your job.
What if Coaxial Joint Get Locked?
To connect the coax cable, you must have the correct tools. You’ll need several male connectors and coaxial tools. Ensure you use RG-6 connections, as these cause less noise.
While cutting the cord, give some space for mistakes. In the center of the cable is a very thin copper wire that has copper foil shielding.
A stripper is included with the coaxial cable you purchased at the hardware shop or online. Squeeze the tool’s stripper and use it to spin the cable around.
After a couple of rotations, you should be able to pull off some outer layer of the cable. After removing the outer cover, you should now be able to view the copper wire’s foil.
Now you should repeat the same to remove the foil layer. Grip the foil and roll it around a couple of times. The tiny wire inside will break if you put too much pressure on it. That will prolong the process.
Ensure the cable end is pushed up to the connection after you have the copper wire poking out of the cable. Until the copper wire is completely inserted, you must do this.
That’s all you have to do now—compress the connector as hard as you can. Make sure it stays in place.
Helpful Tips for Grounding the Antenna
- Avoid antennas that have paint or coating on them. Be sure to wipe it off where the metal components connect. Bonding could not be achieved otherwise. You can repaint it anytime.
- Tightly connect the conducting cable to the side of your house.
Conclusion
Use the information above as a reference or guideline while grounding your TV antenna.
Previously, I recommended consulting someone who has already done this. You’ll able to determine what specific equipment and tools you may require. They can also point you to places that sell those items.
Hope the ideas presented here were helpful and offered you a solid starting point.
