Dish4YouDish4You

System GroundingSystem Grounding

System GroundingSystem Grounding This section is going to explore how an This section is going to explore how an

electrical ground works, why grounding our electrical ground works, why grounding our satellite system is so important, and what satellite system is so important, and what represents a properly grounded represents a properly grounded installation.installation.

The NEC defines grounding as:The NEC defines grounding as: A source intentionally connected to the earth A source intentionally connected to the earth

through a ground connection, or connections of through a ground connection, or connections of sufficiently low impedance and having sufficient sufficiently low impedance and having sufficient current carrying capacity to prevent the build-current carrying capacity to prevent the build-up of voltages that may result in undue hazard up of voltages that may result in undue hazard to connected equipment or personsto connected equipment or persons..

Reasons to Ground Each Reasons to Ground Each SystemSystem

Electrical systems that are grounded Electrical systems that are grounded shall be connected to earth in a manner shall be connected to earth in a manner that will limit the voltage imposed by that will limit the voltage imposed by lightning, line surges, or unintentional lightning, line surges, or unintentional contact with higher-voltage lines and contact with higher-voltage lines and that will stabilize the voltage to earth that will stabilize the voltage to earth during normal operation.during normal operation.

The intent of the grounding provisions of The intent of the grounding provisions of the NEC is to ensure that electrical the NEC is to ensure that electrical systems are as safe as possible to the systems are as safe as possible to the individuals that use them.individuals that use them.

Lightning & SurgeLightning & Surge

For electricity to flow, it has to have a For electricity to flow, it has to have a complete circle or circuit. complete circle or circuit.

The ground connection to Earth gives the The ground connection to Earth gives the excessive electricity or over current excessive electricity or over current conditions a quick path away from conditions a quick path away from equipment and the people inside the house equipment and the people inside the house and allows it to dissipate through the earth.and allows it to dissipate through the earth.

By the time the surge gets in the ground By the time the surge gets in the ground and travels a bit, it loses much of its and travels a bit, it loses much of its strength and becomes harmless.strength and becomes harmless.

Important NoteImportant Note

This does not guarantee complete This does not guarantee complete protection from lightening / surge protection from lightening / surge damage or injury. As it states, it damage or injury. As it states, it reduces the likelihood of such reduces the likelihood of such damage or injury.damage or injury.

StaticStatic Static can build up on the dish like it builds up Static can build up on the dish like it builds up

in you when you walk across a carpet. in you when you walk across a carpet. When the static electricity build-up exceeds When the static electricity build-up exceeds

what the antenna can store, it discharges what the antenna can store, it discharges wherever it can.wherever it can.

If this static gets to the receiver or LNBF, it If this static gets to the receiver or LNBF, it could damage internal electronic components. could damage internal electronic components. A common symptom of this is a temporary A common symptom of this is a temporary

interruption of signal which leads to a call from the interruption of signal which leads to a call from the customer requesting a technician to correct the customer requesting a technician to correct the problem.problem.

Radio Frequency Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)Interference (RFI)

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) occurs when stray RF signals are picked occurs when stray RF signals are picked up by the cables and, if not grounded, up by the cables and, if not grounded, can find their way onto a customer’s TV.can find their way onto a customer’s TV.

This can cause a disturbance or This can cause a disturbance or distortion of the satellite signal.distortion of the satellite signal.

Without a proper ground, the wires Without a proper ground, the wires outside the house work like a big coat outside the house work like a big coat hanger antenna.hanger antenna.

Grounding LocationsGrounding Locations

Identify the Identify the acceptable acceptable grounding grounding locations in the locations in the diagram.diagram.

Acceptable Grounding Acceptable Grounding LocationsLocations

1. A properly installed grounding rod. This is the 1. A properly installed grounding rod. This is the grounding electrode system.grounding electrode system.

2. A grounded interior metal water pipe within 5 ft 2. A grounded interior metal water pipe within 5 ft from the point of entrance into the building and in from the point of entrance into the building and in contact with soil. contact with soil. No external water pipes should No external water pipes should be usedbe used!!

3. The exterior of a main power service entry 3. The exterior of a main power service entry enclosure.enclosure.

4. The power service metal conduit (sometimes called 4. The power service metal conduit (sometimes called a “metallic raceway”).a “metallic raceway”).

5. Steel structure of a mobile home frame.5. Steel structure of a mobile home frame.

The bonding must be separate – it cannot share the The bonding must be separate – it cannot share the same clampsame clamp

with telephone or cable companies.with telephone or cable companies.

Grounding Block Grounding Block InstallationInstallation

The following EchoStar installation The following EchoStar installation standards must be followed:standards must be followed: Ground blocks are always mounted Ground blocks are always mounted

vertically with connectors facing left and vertically with connectors facing left and right. This helps prevent water from right. This helps prevent water from dripping directly into the connector.dripping directly into the connector.

Ground the dish antenna and all cables.Ground the dish antenna and all cables. Only one wire is to be used per lug Only one wire is to be used per lug

screw on the ground block. screw on the ground block. Do notDo not stack stack wires.wires.

Grounding Block Grounding Block Installation (Pg 2)Installation (Pg 2)

Use 10AWG ground wire Use 10AWG ground wire from the ground block(s) from the ground block(s) to the ground source.to the ground source.

17AWG copper glad steel 17AWG copper glad steel may be used between the may be used between the dish and ground block.dish and ground block.

Ensure the distance from Ensure the distance from the ground block(s) to the ground block(s) to the ground source is not the ground source is not more than 20 feet.more than 20 feet.

A grounding block is A grounding block is acceptable for DNS acceptable for DNS installation if it is installation if it is stamped with a UL label stamped with a UL label and have blue plastic in and have blue plastic in the ports.the ports.

Messenger CableMessenger Cable The messenger ground wire is an NEC-approved The messenger ground wire is an NEC-approved

17AWG ground wire molded into the jacket of the 17AWG ground wire molded into the jacket of the coaxial cable to simplify the grounding of the satellite coaxial cable to simplify the grounding of the satellite dish. The messenger cable eliminates the need to run dish. The messenger cable eliminates the need to run a separate wire from the dish to ground. When using a separate wire from the dish to ground. When using the messenger wire to ground, wrapping the ground the messenger wire to ground, wrapping the ground wire through the drip loops minimizes the grounding wire through the drip loops minimizes the grounding effectiveness and violates NEC code.effectiveness and violates NEC code.

Ground Lugs / Ground Ground Lugs / Ground ScrewsScrews

When grounding the mast, When grounding the mast, the green ground screw is the green ground screw is to be used in the small to be used in the small holes in the side of the holes in the side of the mast footplate.mast footplate.

If a pole mount is used, If a pole mount is used, the hole for the green the hole for the green screw screw mustmust be predrilled be predrilled with a 11/64” drill bit and with a 11/64” drill bit and the ground screw is to be the ground screw is to be installed on the base of the installed on the base of the skew plate.skew plate.

When using a 1000.2 dish, When using a 1000.2 dish, one of the 3 holes at the one of the 3 holes at the top of the skew plate can top of the skew plate can be used.be used.

Multiple Dish GroundingMultiple Dish Grounding

When grounding multiple dishes, there are When grounding multiple dishes, there are two available options depending on where the two available options depending on where the dishes are.dishes are.

If the dishes are within 10 feet of each other:If the dishes are within 10 feet of each other: The 10AWG wire can be run from a ground The 10AWG wire can be run from a ground

lug/screw on the footplate to another ground lug/screw on the footplate to another ground lug/screw on the other footplate. Then using a lug/screw on the other footplate. Then using a separateseparate ground lug/screw use the 17AWG ground lug/screw use the 17AWG messenger wire to the ground block.messenger wire to the ground block.

Do not stack the ground wires on the same ground Do not stack the ground wires on the same ground lug/screw.lug/screw.

Multiple Dish Grounding Multiple Dish Grounding (Pg 2)(Pg 2)

If the dishes are If the dishes are located over 10 feet located over 10 feet apart:apart: A separate messenger A separate messenger

wire is run from each wire is run from each dish to a separate dish to a separate ground block.ground block.

These ground blocks are These ground blocks are then bonded together by then bonded together by a piece of 10 AWG wire.a piece of 10 AWG wire.

A separate piece of 10 A separate piece of 10 AWG is connected from AWG is connected from one of the ground blocks one of the ground blocks to the ground source.to the ground source.

Multiple Dish Grounding Multiple Dish Grounding (Pg 3)(Pg 3)

Connecting Multiple Connecting Multiple Ground BlocksGround Blocks

All wires coming down All wires coming down from the dish must be from the dish must be grounded. Sometimes the grounded. Sometimes the use of multiple ground use of multiple ground blocks is required to blocks is required to accomplish this. accomplish this. Grounding multiple Grounding multiple ground blocks is done ground blocks is done following the same rules following the same rules as grounding multiple as grounding multiple dishes that are over 10 dishes that are over 10 feet apart.feet apart.

Remember to use a Remember to use a separate piece of 10 AWG separate piece of 10 AWG from one ground block to from one ground block to the next.the next.