Installed a new outdoor antenna at the back of the house. This location is away from the existing electrical boxes that enter the house. I've tried reading up on it but a little confused.
I was hoping to be able to drive a ground rod at the back of the house then attach a ground wire from the antenna and one from the coax cable to the ground rod.
Reading up on the NEC code the ground rod must be bonded to the house. They suggest using the existing house ground system at the incoming panel to the house.
My plan was to drive an 8' copper rod into the ground and attach the coax and antenna grounds to that. They say if you do that it must be bonded to the house, not sure how to achieve that.

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by notsince98

KC, MO

Member since Oct 2012

19956 posts

Posted on 4/18/25 at 7:29 am to justjoe906

you connect the new ground rod and wire to the existing ground rod and wire with a wire. the intent is to avoid circulating ground currents.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by CleverUserName

Member since Oct 2016

14352 posts

Posted on 4/18/25 at 9:34 am to justjoe906

You are going way further by grounding the setup than most DIYers.

I’d drive a rod and just ground it. Is it code? No. Will it hurt a thing? Nope. Just don’t connect anything else to it.

Unless you live somewhere that would require an inspection at some point.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by justjoe906

Member since Oct 2013

1745 posts

Posted on 4/18/25 at 10:21 am to notsince98

quote:
you connect the new ground rod and wire to the existing ground rod and wire with a wire.

Their is no existing ground rod and wire in the back of the house. The only existing ground rod is on the side of the house where the house electric panel is located. About 50' or so away.

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by dakarx

Member since Sep 2018

7822 posts

Posted on 4/18/25 at 10:42 am to justjoe906

Bonding the ground rods would be recommended, although for just a receiving antenna a local ground will suffice. If it's for transmitting, bonding is advised.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by notsince98

KC, MO

Member since Oct 2012

19956 posts

Posted on 4/18/25 at 12:27 pm to justjoe906

quote:
Their is no existing ground rod and wire in the back of the house. The only existing ground rod is on the side of the house where the house electric panel is located. About 50' or so away.

yup and you'd bond them together with wire. You could do it all outside around the exterior of the house or connect them somehow going through the house.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by justjoe906

Member since Oct 2013

1745 posts

Posted on 4/18/25 at 2:09 pm to notsince98

quote:
yup and you'd bond them together with wire.

Ok, I got it now and understand the point.
Thanks

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by mdomingue

Lafayette, LA

Member since Nov 2010

37426 posts

Posted on 4/19/25 at 9:52 am to justjoe906

quote:
quote:
yup and you'd bond them together with wire.

Ok, I got it now and understand the point.
Thanks

You could just run the wire back to your grounding rod at the panel without driving a new rod. That is the preferred recommendation under NEC 810. If you want to add another grounding rod or that is simpler for you, then bonding it to the existing rod is an acceptable solution.

It would be cheaper to ground directly to your rod at the panel. If you run it directly, you would run a 10 AWG wire as directly as possible. If you added a rod, you would have the cost of the rod plus you should use 6 AWG wire between the rods.

Channel Master - Can I use a Ground Rod to Ground my Antenna System?

Page 1