DirecTV lightning risk? (1 Viewer)

[Dan.K]

There are a few large trees right behind my house (one on my property, a few that are not) blocking the line-of-sight for my multi-sat DirecTV dish. I had an installer out to check out the situation, and he said he could clear the trees by mounting the dish on a tripod and 10' pole attached to the side of my house.

I'm resigned to the additional cost and to the less-than-optimal aesthetics associated with this installation, but I'm concerned about lightning. Attaching a 10' pole to the side of my house seems a bit risky.

Is anyone familiar with this type of installation, and can you confirm or assuage my fears?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[TomCW]

I wouldn't be too concerned about increasing your risk of a lightning strike, unless this addition will be the highest thing around. How much higher than the roof peak of your house would the pole be? Is there anyone else in your immediate area with something (an antenna, a flagpole etc.) that is higher? If so, have they ever been hit? What does your insurance policy say? How much would it cost for more insurance? Everything in life is a risk. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances...

 

[StephenL]

Make sure that the system is properly grounded.
National Electrical Code - Search for "dish"
Link Removed
Preventing Damage Due to Ground Potential Difference
http://www.cinergy.com/surge/ttip08.htm
PSIHQ - Grounding Requirements
http://www.psihq.com/iread/strpgrnd.htm
PolyPhaser Technical Information
http://www.polyphaser.com/ppc_technical.asp
Tower Page - see N1LO's GUYED TOWER TOPIC SUMMARY
http://www.qsl.net/n1lo/tower.htm

 

[Lee Petty]

yeah, i wouldnt worry too much about it. by code your dish is grounded to a ground rod, so if it is up in the air a bit, and lightning hits it, it should ground itself out. wouldnt hurt to put a coax surge protector on your satellite receiver though.