Putting up a Rohn H40 telescoping tower for TV, scanner and future expansion. Existing TV antenna that I plan to relocate to the tower has a USB powered amp. Conduit from house to tower is about 130'. Any recommendations for running power to the tower for this amp or others? The trench is still open.
Power to Tower?
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
If it was me….
I'd put in a NEMA 4R rated box at the base of the tower.
I'd run a PVC conduit in your open trench back to the house with a 110vac 15 amp circuit in it.
Inside the NEMA box would be an outlet.
Back of the NEMA box would be a plywood backboard.
Getting 110 volts AC that far to the tower is easy. Trying to run USB that far is going to be an issue. 110vac is much more useful.
Run your coax down the tower to the box. Put your amplifier in the box. Run your coax from the box/amplifier back to the house.
Don't forget proper grounding.
I'd put in a NEMA 4R rated box at the base of the tower.
I'd run a PVC conduit in your open trench back to the house with a 110vac 15 amp circuit in it.
Inside the NEMA box would be an outlet.
Back of the NEMA box would be a plywood backboard.
Getting 110 volts AC that far to the tower is easy. Trying to run USB that far is going to be an issue. 110vac is much more useful.
Run your coax down the tower to the box. Put your amplifier in the box. Run your coax from the box/amplifier back to the house.
Don't forget proper grounding.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Something like this, or larger:
Cantex 12 in. x 12 in. x 6 in. Junction Box R5133713 - The Home Depot
A surface mounted enclosure without entrance hubs which allows multiple conduits to be connected and wire splices made within. Appropriate round hole for conduit entrance must be cut. Male adapters or
www.homedepot.com
I would loose the USB powered amp and get a more conventional TV amp with power inserter. Why do possibly hundreds of $$ of labor and parts to accommodate a $5 amplifier?
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RFI-EMI-GUY
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You want to ground that mast to a 8' ground rod(s) at the base of the mast and bond that back to your house electrical ground rod and lightning protectors with #6 solid copper. Having the trench open, you might want to put a 4 or 6 inch PVC thin wall drain pipe for future lines in case you put a substantial tower out where you have already trenched. At the low point of the pipe, install a "T" fitting into a bed of gravel for a drain.
That USB powered TV amp might not have enough oomph for the long run of cable you propose. Check insertion loss of cable, gain of preamp, DC recommendations.
That USB powered TV amp might not have enough oomph for the long run of cable you propose. Check insertion loss of cable, gain of preamp, DC recommendations.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Pipe is cheap, compared to the cost of trenching.
No matter what solution you use, be it running power to the tower base, or just using a power injector at your house, give thought to adding conduit to the trench.
I trenched from my garage to my back yard about 10 years ago. I was putting in 3/4" PVC conduit for my spinkler valves. I threw in a 2" PVC pipe stubbed into the garage and into a PVC terminal box in the back yard. Still haven't put it to use, but the cost of conduit is much cheaper than trenching all that again if I ever decide too.
No matter what solution you use, be it running power to the tower base, or just using a power injector at your house, give thought to adding conduit to the trench.
I trenched from my garage to my back yard about 10 years ago. I was putting in 3/4" PVC conduit for my spinkler valves. I threw in a 2" PVC pipe stubbed into the garage and into a PVC terminal box in the back yard. Still haven't put it to use, but the cost of conduit is much cheaper than trenching all that again if I ever decide too.
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