Pole Attached to Shed - Ground it?

[DRP6833]

I installed a weather station with the sensor on a 5-foot iron pipe attached to the peak of my shed. This puts the top of the pole about 13 feet above ground level. Is this tall enough that I ought to drive a ground rod and ground the thing?

 

[06 DIESEL]

How close are the trees? I have my weather station 10' above my lowest part of the roof, about 5' above the peak of the roof and I do not have mine grounded. That being said it is only 40' to a tree that is twice as tall as the house and 150' to high tension power lines that should draw all lightning their way.

 

[DRP6833]

There aren't many big trees around (relatively new neighborhood). There's one maybe 25' tall within 20' or so.

 

[arkieguide]

Don't gamble !!! Drive a ground rod 8' deep. Ground the mast to to it.

 

[PoorOwner]

this is my understanding. I just took this reference
"Grounding bleeds off static charge from air passing over antenna ..."

so.. correct me if I am wrong, this is not a height issue.. the more charge it has it may become a lightning rod.. so it is not about if you have trees that are higher or not.

That said, 5 feet is not much. When I had my OTA antenna was 10 feet up the peak, all I did was run a ground wire, about 10 gauge or so, and tied it to the house grounding rod.

 

[DRP6833]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll err on the side of caution and ground the sucker!

 

[lakelandcat]

Here in Memphis I just had my final inspection on my shop, from what I can gather ground rods are for nothing more than for lightning strikes, My inspector made me pound in 2 rods, one 6 feet from the other because the ground is not a good ground. That keeps lightning from going back into the grid. If this is relevant to your situation I hope it helps.