Earthing and lightning

[imported_Newbee]

Hi folks, thanks for the previous advice I set up my Lidl's 57cm set at the weekend and bingo perfect reception for 28.2, although following instructions is not my strong point especially the translation!
I've yet to fully set it up for this sat (Auto scan).

They mention hard earthing and lightning protection in the instructions, I've no idea how to
deal with this, any advice out there if this is needed. This set won't be active during the winter.

Also I don't understand the need for a software update, is this to help it receive different frequency's?

I like this forum, I've been picking snippets from other postings.



Newbee

[Analoguesat]

Unless you happen to live on top of a hill and the dish is exposed then dont fret too much about earthing the dish. Ive never seen an earthed dish in the 15 years Ive been interested in sat tv.

Anyway if lightning hits your dish, a fritzed satellite receiver will be the least of your problems.

If you want to earth it then you need a proper earth braid bolted to a earth post knocked a couple of feet into the ground.

[BGonaSTICK]

Hey, congratulations!

Now, the earthing/lightning issue is a very interesting one. :spite:

I'm no electrical engineer, and FAR from being qualified to give advice on this matter, but I did spend plenty of time researching this and asking lots of questions of those that are qualified because I thought it was important.

Wanna know what they advised me to do?

Nothing.

Cool!

Why nothing?

Well, unless you have a massive mast that extends well above the roof line, the chances of being struck by lightning are no more than with any other part of your property. The mast will be earthed to ground as much as anything else out there in the storm.

If you were going to specifically try to protect your mast against the possibility of a lightning strike using a cable, you would have to use a massive one to handle a lightning bolt.

Now, from a general electrical earthing point of view I was advised against earthing the external components because they are already earthed!

The coaxial cable shield is connected to the chassis of the receiver, and this sits at its natural potential - a 'floating' earth.

Here was the description I was given:

Originally Posted by spiney

All the sat receivers are "class 2", ie, each one is isolated from ground potential, and each other, and the electrical potential on the metal case/coax outer of each receiver is allowed to "float". THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE.

If you touch the floating earth of any sat receiver, and at the same time any earthed object - eg your dishes mast - then you will get a tingle, due to slightly differing potentials. This is normal and quite ok.

It would be a very bad idea - and pointless - to connect the mast to any local mains earth, regardless of which type that is.

Even if you don't understand the detail, it might put your mind at rest.

STICK