Do Attic Antennas Need To Be Grounded

Antennas mine are receive only for fm tv and public safety bands will be generally restricted to the attic.

Do attic antennas need to be grounded.

The antenna is essentially designed to capture that electricity. Will their location in the attic reduce their tendency to build a charge and attract lightning. A tv antenna then there is no need for an rf ground. Furthermore tv signals are made of electricity.

If it is just for reception e g. But this wouldn t apply to most attic antennas i would think. How important is it to ground them. There is an nec requirement to ground metallic objects in a structure likely to become energized such as metal water pipes appliances gas lines etc.

Yes all outdoor tv antennas should be grounded. If it is important should i just tap the coax or is a separate grounding wire needed. Check to ensure that the vent tube is firmly grounded before connecting the wire. Even if you have a newer plastic antenna there is metal inside.

Transmission antennas and cables i d have to pull the code books and check but i m fairly certain they do not require grounding as well. If it needs grounding it can t go in the attic because code requires that grounded antennae be on the edge of the roof and that the wire from the antenna to the ground follow a straight line path or something like that i m not the electrician. The copper wire at the base of the antenna mast attaches to the copper vent tube that runs to the roof through the attic in a 55 year old house. There is no requirement to do this for indoor antennas.

For electrical saftey the antenna should be connected to a lightening arrestor and that connected to ground. I found that a firm grounding of antenna mast gave a better reception as well. Note that the coax is going to be grounded at the receiver anyway.