Finally got around to putting up the larger dish this afternoon. The LNB gave me a much bigger electric shock than I remember from the old Sky receiver. Had to put on an insulated glove ![]()
. 90% signal strength with 100% quality, never had that before. Mind you I spent half an hour on the wrong satellite
before finding the right one.
How is Zillon TV these days? Are they still broadcasting those Betelgeusian soap operas? ![]()
Did you touch the centre contact on one of the coax cables going to the receiver? The newer 4K satellite receivers provide up to 18V DC tuning voltage to the LNB these days.
I have a new LNB to fit myself when the weather calms down again.
DC? That wouldn’t give me a shock, this was definitely a wave form so it shocks.
Never bothered me before but this time it seemed far more powerful, I couldn’t keep hold so had to get a glove
Satellite receivers have done that for over 30 years. They output 13V or 18V to select between vertical and horizontal polarisation. The voltage supply also powers the LNB itself. The main reason for getting shocks froman LNB feed is that 0V is generally floating and not fixed to earth.
In systems with no earth reference, electrical conductors can float to half mains voltage due to capacitive coupling and give you a shock. It’s not dangerous but can be uncomfortable. It’s the reason why many connectors used on consumer equipment connect to earth before any of the conductors. I assume you connected the STB end first and then theLNB ? You should do it the other way round to avoid any shock.
Yes I would guestimate about half mains voltage shock. I was being lazy as its a walk back indoors from the aerial as I am not climbing in and of of the window like I used to, so an insulated gloved hand did the connecting. Hopefully serving as a warning to others, possibly up a ladder etc. The old sky box was only a tingle ![]()
Possibly.
The usual culprit is actually not accidental at all. Open up most modern switch mode power supplies, and you will find a small capacitor placed between the DC rails and the mains - it’s job is to shunt all that high frequency switching noise that they generate away from the cables to stop them radiating it like antennae.
Typical values will be about 1nF (and they have to be “Class Y” capacitors for safety) - that has an impedance of about 3.2MΩ and will produce a leakage current of about 70μA. Some people can feel this but not everyone.