unwanted voltage on coax

sat-man · 09-18-2008, 09:59 PM

upon completing a satellite tv installation , as I went to cut the ground wire coming from the coax ground block, I had a large arc when my cutters also touched the weatherhead. I then got my voltage tester and the coax read 110 volts. I plugged the receiver into a couple other outlets and got a reading of about 50 volts. This is a real old house with only hot and neutral wiring and round screw in fuses. I know we need a electrican but what is the probable cause of this?

theatretch85 · 09-18-2008, 11:34 PM

Ok, first of all, why were you going to cut the ground wire? The ground wire is there for a reason! Second, take a look at the following thread, someone else had a similar issue with finding power on the coax cable.....

Cable issue or wiring issue?

sat-man · 09-19-2008, 05:47 AM

I was cutting it from my spool to attach it to the service ground to complete the installation. I read the other thread , I think I will print it off and give it to the homeowner to give to their electrican. As of now they are using the satellite system with it plugged into a outlet that causes the coax to read 50 volts instead of the outlet right behind the tv which causes the coax to read 110 volts. And the coax ground wire is not hooked up. When it was plugged up behind the tv was when I ruined two satellite lnbs and I could have died.

rgsgww · 09-19-2008, 08:31 AM

Ah, it sounds like a possible loose neutral...the return current has nowhere to go but ground.... this mostly happens on newer panels, with a ground block...

theatretch85 · 09-19-2008, 08:36 AM

This was the end result in the thread mentioned above:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duchey

Wow, took me a while to digg this one back up.
I cornered the LL a few days ago and finally got him to give me the whole story. Apparently the ground had been wired hot the whole time

. He said that the wires had gotten "mixed up" at the main box back when the place was re-wired.
Darn lucky the place never burnt down.

There were quite a few things several electricians and cable guys tried, each one saying it was the other ones fault/problem.

09-18-2008, 09:59 PM	#1
sat-man Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2	unwanted voltage on coax upon completing a satellite tv installation , as I went to cut the ground wire coming from the coax ground block, I had a large arc when my cutters also touched the weatherhead. I then got my voltage tester and the coax read 110 volts. I plugged the receiver into a couple other outlets and got a reading of about 50 volts. This is a real old house with only hot and neutral wiring and round screw in fuses. I know we need a electrican but what is the probable cause of this?

09-18-2008, 11:34 PM	#2
theatretch85 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Apple Valley, MN, USA Posts: 970	unwanted voltage on coax Ok, first of all, why were you going to cut the ground wire? The ground wire is there for a reason! Second, take a look at the following thread, someone else had a similar issue with finding power on the coax cable..... Cable issue or wiring issue?

09-19-2008, 05:47 AM	#3
sat-man Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2	unwanted voltage on coax I was cutting it from my spool to attach it to the service ground to complete the installation. I read the other thread , I think I will print it off and give it to the homeowner to give to their electrican. As of now they are using the satellite system with it plugged into a outlet that causes the coax to read 50 volts instead of the outlet right behind the tv which causes the coax to read 110 volts. And the coax ground wire is not hooked up. When it was plugged up behind the tv was when I ruined two satellite lnbs and I could have died. Last edited by sat-man; 09-19-2008 at 07:17 AM.

09-19-2008, 08:31 AM	#4
rgsgww Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,543	unwanted voltage on coax Ah, it sounds like a possible loose neutral...the return current has nowhere to go but ground.... this mostly happens on newer panels, with a ground block...

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unwanted voltage on coax