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Grounding the antenna/tuner

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Posted on November 11, 2015 at 15:51:18
Kenny255
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Joined: November 11, 2015
 Hi. I recently bought an Akai AT-93 tuner and a yagi antenna. I'm in the process of installing the antenna and am not 100% certain about how to ground things properly. My plan is to run a ground wire from the antenna mast to my ground rod. I intend to run a second ground wire from the grounding terminal (on the rear of the tuner) to the same grounding rod. Is this sufficient, or should I also be using a coax grounding block at the entry point to the house? Seems to me that perhaps the grounding block is unnecessary or overkill, but I'm a bit of a novice and would really appreciate any advice. Thanks very much. -Ken

 

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Antenna grounding proceedures, posted on November 12, 2015 at 00:58:03
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 Welcome.

You have the first part correct, grounding the mast to the ground rod. It's your other intent I don't agree with, which is running a wire from your tuner to the ground rod. If memory serves me, grounding the system (tuner or no tuner) to the ground rod via wire may actually be dangerous, from what I read. You can do an Asylum search for this information.

A grounding block isn't at all superfluous. You are trying to protect your house, your system, and most importantly you from lightning strikes. The cable is a fine way for lightning to enter your house if you skip the grounding block. Don't cut corners, use the grounding block.

Below is a link to just one article I found. Google "grounding outdoor antennas" and that should give you plenty of results, including diagrams. You'll find far more results for TV antennas than you will if you search FM antennas, but it doesn't matter. For the purposes of safe grounding practices, they are one and the same.

Play it safe, and good luck!

 

RE: Antenna grounding proceedures, posted on November 12, 2015 at 06:21:55
Kenny255
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Joined: November 11, 2015



Thanks very much for the advice. Sounds like a grounding block is important. I was planning on grounding the tuner directly because it advises to do so in the tuner manual (see attached pic). Perhaps I need to rethink that.

 

Interesting, posted on November 12, 2015 at 10:37:37
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 I'd never seen that suggested in a component's manual before.

The subject of system grounding can be complex. I did more reading on it this morning, attempting to find where I'd read about the dangers associated with improper grounding. Although I was unable to relocate what I was looking for, I did find many posts on the dangers of using a separate ground rod (meaning a second rod, in addition to your home electrical service rod).

I use a ground block for my outdoor antenna, in addition to a mast ground. My system is grounded using a power cord with a three prong plug, to make a ground back to the AC service panel. I've never had an issue with hum, except with phono, and that gets a separate ground wire, but it's attached to the component with the three prong plug (i.e. my preamp).

There's quite a bit of information out there regarding grounding. Search, and prepare to be busy reading for a while! The most important part is to verify the source, and don't follow the instructions of lunatics here on the Asylum. The advice might be great, but verify it! Don't trust your house or your life to a poster who may mean well, but has no clue.

Consult an electrician, if necessary. Be safe!

 

RE: Interesting, posted on November 12, 2015 at 20:52:37
Kenny255
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Joined: November 11, 2015
 Thanks again for taking the time to offer advice. Looks like I have a little more reading to do. Cheers.

 

RE: Grounding the antenna/tuner, posted on November 13, 2015 at 03:58:59
cdb
Audiophile

Posts: 2948
Joined: April 6, 2001
 Antenna mast and lead-in grounding is required by NEC Article 810. Incoming coax from a cable company is also required to have shield grounding per NEC Article 820.

Those odd ground terminals on the back of the Akai I would presume are just connections to the incoming antenna A & B shields. You could easily check with an ohmmeter. (Are those antenna connectors normal 75-ohm threaded F-connectors on your unit or some other Euro/Asia weirdness? If not, are you sure you have a 120VAC unit?)

IF those are just shield grounds as I suspect they are, since there are 2 of them, along with 2 antenna inputs (an excellent feature, BTW) and you install a grounding block for the lead-in, you can safely ignore the instructions. In fact, the use of a lead-in grounding block/antenna discharge unit should be considered non-negotiable.

We'll assume that "my ground rod" is legal and safe and in good working order.

 

RE: Grounding the antenna/tuner, posted on November 13, 2015 at 06:31:15
Kenny255
Audiophile

Posts: 4
Joined: November 11, 2015
 The coax ports on the tuner are the Euro PAL type. I have adapters so that I can connect the normal "F-type" threaded connectors. It's a 120v unit. A really nice tuner overall. I appreciate your tips. I'm going to get out my ohmmeter later today and check that out. I suspect you're correct and that the use of a grounding block would render the tuner ground terminals superfluous. Thanks!

 

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