120 volts from antenna

[zamoht]

Hi!

When connecting my TV-antenna coax cable through a diode into a capacitor and then to ground, the capacitor charges up to 120 volts. No signal amplifiers etc connected, just the coax to the antenna.

What is it I'm receiving? Explenation someone?

Z

[alexandre]

Hi, very interesting.
What is the value of the cap in uF, and what is the charge time?

[sucahyo]

That is good result .

You are capturing earth to atmosphere potential. Example reference:
Radiant Energy Diatribe

[ibpointless2]

Hi!

When connecting my TV-antenna coax cable through a diode into a capacitor and then to ground, the capacitor charges up to 120 volts. No signal amplifiers etc connected, just the coax to the antenna.

What is it I'm receiving? Explenation someone?

Z

if its around 120 volts then its the power from your house. The Antenna picks it up and the diode turns it into DC and that charges the capacitor.

Don't tell the power company what you're doing because they consider it stealing.

[sucahyo]

if its around 120 volts then its the power from your house. The Antenna picks it up and the diode turns it into DC and that charges the capacitor.

Don't tell the power company what you're doing because they consider it stealing.

If it happen because the antenna is in parallel with house electric wire, then it will run the meter too.

[redeagle]

Votage is not a direct indication of where it comes from. I would advise you to consider what you are using as a ground. If you are using a ground to your electrical system it will behave differently than. I would suggest to try using an isolated ground if you have one available.

Specifically though you may be picking up a number of things. First and most important there are natural potentials between the air and the ground. Secondly you are probably picking up some of the radio/tv waves that the antenna is designed to pickup. But as others have pointed out it is possible for you to be picking up power from the grid that surrounds you.

[toranarod]

Hi, very interesting.
What is the value of the cap in uF, and what is the charge time?

Yes What is the value of the cap and charge time good question.
I have heard of people building large antennas near power lines and steeling power buy RF induction. they find it very hard to trace.
thats How I feel when it come to the corperation

[zamoht]

Sorry, don't know the value of the cap. It's an old three phase motor start cap, not labeled. It takes like 10 seconds for the cap to reach 100 Volts. I'll get some caps with known values later.