Lightning Arrestor Installation

Lightning arrestors won’t work unless they are connected to a properly installed ground system. Lightning arrestors should be placed in the coax as close to where the cable enters the building as possible. Typically, a ground bus bar exists inside the building, at the cable entry point. The coaxial cable coming into the building from the outside should be terminated at that point just inside the building and connected to a lightning arrestor which is grounded to the bus bar. The cable can then continue to the equipment rack.

Ground wires must be low impedance to provide the best possible path to ground. Use at least #6 AWG wire. #2 AWG is even better. Copper strap is best. Keep the length as short as possible. Minimize the number of bends. Where bends are necessary, keep bends to a minimum radius of 8 inches.

Ensure that the single point ground for your equipment is also bonded to the cable entrance bus bar and the building electrical ground. Establishing a proper ground system for your home or building is beyond the scope of this web page. See the references for detail.