Quick Hits

Article 810 (Part 1 of 2)
Antenna Systems — Receiving Stations!

SLIDE 1 — Scope & General (810.1, 810.4, 810.5)
🏗️ WHAT DOES ARTICLE 810 COVER?
Antenna systems for radio and TV receiving equipment, amateur and CB radio transmitting/receiving equipment, and certain transmitter safety features. Covers wire-strung, multi-element, vertical rod, flat, and parabolic antennas, plus the wiring/cabling that connects them to equipment.
🚫 NOT covered: equipment/antennas used for coupling carrier current to power line conductors.
🆕 With the 2026 NEC restructuring, the general requirements of Chapters 1–4 now apply to this article.
📺 COMMUNITY TV ANTENNA (810.4)
The antenna install follows Article 810; the distribution system follows the appropriate Chapter 8 article.
📻 RADIO NOISE SUPPRESSION (810.5)
Interference eliminators, capacitors, and noise suppressors on power-supply leads must be LISTED and not exposed to physical damage.

SLIDE 2 — Material, Supports & Avoiding Contact (810.11, 810.12, 810.13)
🔩 MATERIAL (810.11)
Antennas and lead-ins must be hard-drawn copper, bronze, aluminum alloy, copper-clad steel, or other high-strength, corrosion-resistant material.
🔹 Exception: soft- or medium-drawn copper OK for lead-ins if max span between supports is under 11m (35 ft)
🏗️ SUPPORTS (810.12)
🔹 Outdoor antennas/lead-ins securely supported
🔹 NEVER attach to the electric service mast
🔹 NEVER attach to poles carrying open light/power wires or trolley wires over 250V between conductors
⚡ AVOIDING CONTACT (810.13)
🔹 Must NOT cross over open light/power conductors, and stay> 600 mm (2 ft) from them
🔹 Where practicable, don’t cross UNDER them either
⚠️ Accidental contact of antennas and ladders with overhead conductors is a leading cause of electrocution.

SLIDE 3 — Splices & Conductor Sizing (810.14, 810.16, 810.17)
🔗 SPLICES (810.14)
Mechanically secure, using approved splicing devices or other suitable means per 110.14(A) and (B).
📏 WIRE-STRUNG ANTENNA SIZE (810.16(A), Table 810.16(A))
Minimum AWG by max open span:
🔹 Aluminum alloy / hard-drawn copper → 19 AWG (<35 ft), 14 AWG (35–150 ft), 12 AWG (>150 ft)
🔹 Copper-clad steel, bronze, high-strength → 20 AWG (<35 ft), 17 AWG (35–150 ft), 14 AWG (>150 ft)
🗼 SELF-SUPPORTING ANTENNAS (810.16(B))
Vertical rods, flat, parabolic, and dipole structures must be corrosion resistant, strong enough for ice and wind loading, and located well away from overhead conductors over 150V to ground.
📡 LEAD-IN SIZE (810.17)
Tensile strength must be at least equal to the antenna conductors in 810.16 (combined tensile strength counts for twisted, shared-covering, or concentric lead-ins).

SLIDE 4 — Clearances & Supply Circuits + Final Exam (810.18, 810.19)
📏 OUTSIDE BUILDINGS (810.18(A))
🔹 Lead-ins can’t swing closer than 600mm (2 ft) to circuits < 250 V, or 3.0m (10 ft) to circuits> 250 V
🔹 Circuits < 150 V with permanently supported conductors → reduced clearance, but never less than 100mm (4 in.)
🔹 Lightning protection conductors →> 1.8 m (6 ft)
🔹 Underground →> 300 mm (12 in.) from light/power/Class 1
🔹 Exception: not required if the power, Class 1, or lead-in conductors are in a raceway or metal cable armor
🏠 INDOORS (810.18(B)–(C))
🔹 Indoor antennas/lead-ins> 50 mm (2 in.) from other wiring unless in metal raceway/armor or permanently separated by a fixed nonconductor
🔹 Can share a box/enclosure with other wiring only with an effective permanent barrier
🔌 SUPPLY CIRCUIT INSTEAD OF ANTENNA (810.19)
The device connecting the receiver to the supply circuit must be LISTED.

🧠 FINAL EXAM QUESTION FOR ARTICLE 810 (Part 1)
Q: Per 810.13, outdoor antennas and lead-ins must be at least how far from open electric light or power conductors?
A) 6 in.
B) 1 ft
C) 2 ft
D) 6 ft
(Drop your final answer 👇)

Article 810 Part 1 = DONE ✅ Part 2 drops next — amateur/CB transmitting stations: conductor sizing, building clearance, entrance & interior separation! ⚡ #JoshTheSparky #NEC2026 #ElectricianLife

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