Table of Contents
Where should I put the lightning arrester on my antenna?
Install the lightning surge protector near the outside antenna. To do this, attach the cable from the outside antenna to the lightning surge protector. A 2-foot cable is available from weBoost for this purpose, or you can use a short cable from any source.
Do you need a lightning arrestor on antenna?
To completely protect your device from lightning, two layers of protection are recommended: installing an in-line lightning surge arrestor and grounding the antenna mast.
How do antenna lightning arrestors work?
A lightning arrestor connects the antenna to the antenna cable. It passes the RF signal from one to the other through a medium that, when it gets too much power, it breaks, just like a fuse.
Do outdoor TV antennas need to be grounded?
Yes, all outdoor TV antennas should be grounded. Even if you have a newer plastic antenna, there is metal inside. Furthermore, TV signals are made of electricity. The antenna is essentially designed to capture that electricity.
How does a lightning arrestor work antenna?
Does an antenna mast need to be grounded?
What are the basic requirements of a lightning arrester?
Common Features of a Good Quality Arrester
- Excellent Protection Levels. Good lightning and switching protection is what you are paying for when you purchase an arrester.
- Good Quality Disk. The metal-oxide varistor (MOV) disk is essentially the heart of any arrester.
- Reliable Venting.
- Safety Label.
What happens if I dont ground my antenna?
During a Thunderstorm, anything conductive that is not grounded, will collect a static charge… as the charge builds up, it’ll attract lightning to it. So grounding the antenna, drains off any charge that might build up attracting a strike.
Does grounding prevent lightning strikes?
Do grounded weather vanes or antennas protect against lightning? No. A single path to ground is not adequate to conduct the current involved with a lightning discharge.
Where do you ground antenna mast?
Grounding the mast is easy. Simply attach an 8 or 10 AWG copper wire to the mast using a mast ground clamp and run the other end of the copper wire to the house ground. It’s recommended to use a separate clamp, and not the one used to ground the coaxial to the house ground.
How do I protect my radio antenna from lightning?
You need to install lightning protection to your antenna system. This will (hopefully) channel that energy to “ground”. It will (hopefully) protect your radio and your home. Better stated, it will help minimize the damage. You want a lightning arrestor for protection. There are many brands and types that can get the job done.
How to connect a lightning surge protector to an antenna?
After connecting your lightning surge protector to the donor antenna, connect one end of the coax cable connect to the amplifier to the surge protector. Since this cable is the one that runs inside your home, make sure the lightning surge protector is located outside your home, near the point of entry to mitigate fire hazards.
Do I need a lightning arrestor for my Radio?
First, to be clear, a direct strike has way too much energy to be completely stopped by an ordinary feed line lightning arrestor. However it will most certainly help with lesser lightning. It will help protect your radio from damaging static electricity and lightning induced surge.
Can I operate my antenna during a thunderstorm?
Finally, if you must operate during a thunderstorm, I recommend using a protected antenna, maybe in your attic or located inside your home. Your house will act like a Faraday cage and provide natural protection from the lightning, allowing you to operate without fear of lightning hitting the antenna.