scooterspal wrote:
Hello Jim:

I appreciate the detailed reply and I have printed out the Low Voltage
Handbook and will read it over this weekend.

When I started doing research I found this web site for dish
installations. Can you comment on what it describes as the "5
suitable grounding locations". They seem to indicate that you can use
an electrical panel and or the "raceway" as a ground. I'm confused.

http://www.dbsinstall.com/whatis/Whatisgood-5.htm

You're talking about #2 and #3 in the referenced page?

If the panel provides a designated grounding point that's fine.. but
that's the "electrical service panel", not just any old panel in the
system.. it's the one where the service entrance is, and where the
building grounding system is bonded to the earth ground.

Likewise, that picture of the conduit is most likely the service
entrance. As the text says, the "conduit running to the service panel"
or "between sub panels". The conduit running between the main panel and
sub panels is often used as the main grounding conductor, in which case
it would be acceptable.

As far as water pipes go.. in many jurisdictions, the water pipe ground
isn't allowed any more (because of the prevalence of plastic pipes and
various and sundry electrical isolation joints to prevent galvanic
corrosion).

One wants to look at the nice disclaimer at the bottom too.. "your local
codes may vary" and that's the real kicker.. what the code says is sort
of a starting point.. it's your inspector that makes the difference.


Also, why is there a mention for separate grounding of the mast
and the coax?

In many cases, one can't guarantee that the coax can serve as an
appropriate grounding conductor (i.e. it's not big enough, or there are
removable connectors, etc.), so in that case, you need a separate
grounding conductor. (You'll notice that the code requires that the
bonding conductors essentially be permanently attached. hard to do that
with removable connectors, like you usually find on coax)


Do I need to provide one ground for the mounting pipe (mast) that
secures the base of the antenna (the aluminum sleeve that contains the
connector at the base) to the brick wall and a second ground to the
grounding lug on the inline gas discharge unit?

Not necessarily. You can daisy chain to a certain extent, but you
should consider the implications for your overvoltage protection. Too
much running hither and yon will increase the inductance of the
grounding line, and depending on what your equipment is grounded to,
that can actually make things worse. (i.e. if your internal equipment is
grounded to the "green wire ground" in the wall receptacle, and the
transient suppressor is grounded to a different wire following a
different path, then you can have pretty big voltages between the two.)


Thanks for the help on this. I want to get this right!