Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Reading voltage in RG6 cable
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BriCK LL928
05-02-04, 09:04 PM
I was seeing tiny, static-like sparks when I brushed the threaded female wall connector with the inner wire (I don't know what it's called) of one of the cables connected to my TV. I read 19 V between the inner wire and the screw connector of the cable (which I guess is connected to the outer shielding) and between the inner wire and the female wall connector (which is eventually connected to a grounding block outside). As I haven't seen this with the other cables in the house, I don't suppose this is normal.
The way it's set up is satellite dish via RG6 to grounding block, via RG6 to wall connector, via RG6 to surge suppressor, via RG6 to satellite box, then via S-Video to TV and RG6 to VCR. (The components in bold are where I was seeing sparks.) Of note, there's a significant amout of excess cable which is sitting in loops on the floor behind the TV, along with all the various power cords into the surge suppressor, but I can't see where there would be any contact between conductors. My crackpot theories are as follows: a fault somewhere in the surge suppressor is letting voltage into the cable, or maybe all the loops of cable are setting up some kind of induction current? I'm fairly certain the source is somewhere amongst the connections near the TV rather than outside the house, as I have three cables going into the house from the grounding block to 3 different TVs, and I also saw some sparks outside between the grounding block and only one of those 3 cables, presumably the one that goes to the TV in question. Thanks again!
The way it's set up is satellite dish via RG6 to grounding block, via RG6 to wall connector, via RG6 to surge suppressor, via RG6 to satellite box, then via S-Video to TV and RG6 to VCR. (The components in bold are where I was seeing sparks.) Of note, there's a significant amout of excess cable which is sitting in loops on the floor behind the TV, along with all the various power cords into the surge suppressor, but I can't see where there would be any contact between conductors. My crackpot theories are as follows: a fault somewhere in the surge suppressor is letting voltage into the cable, or maybe all the loops of cable are setting up some kind of induction current? I'm fairly certain the source is somewhere amongst the connections near the TV rather than outside the house, as I have three cables going into the house from the grounding block to 3 different TVs, and I also saw some sparks outside between the grounding block and only one of those 3 cables, presumably the one that goes to the TV in question. Thanks again!
fewalt
05-03-04, 06:38 AM
Don't fret!
Your satellite receiver normally puts out 12 to 20 volts to operate the lnbf switches. It's normal.
fred
Your satellite receiver normally puts out 12 to 20 volts to operate the lnbf switches. It's normal.
fred
BriCK LL928
05-03-04, 06:43 AM
Wow, really? I always wondered if the LNBs required power, but I figured they must not. It never occured to me they could be powered through the coax.
Thank you!
Thank you!
fewalt
05-03-04, 06:52 AM
That's why spliiters aren't used in sat sytems between dish and reciever, most all splitters do not pass current.
enjoy your dish,
fred
enjoy your dish,
fred