[Antennas] Ground rod questions

[rbethman]

Phil,

The ground rods at Lowe's are great!

The reality of grounds, is that it is ALMOST a "guarantee" that grounds 
ARE copper clad steel!

Every one of mine is a "Copperweld" rod.  Those are ALL steel cored 
copper clad rods.

Powerplants and substations use these also.

Your idea of driving copper pipe into the ground WILL work, *IF* you 
fill the pipe with sand, cut and bend one end into being pointy, solder 
it shut, put a cap on the top where you'll be driving it.  The issue of 
watering to get better ground is common in MANY areas!  It just means 
the water table is NOT close to the surface.

So you have options to look at and consider.

Bob - N0DGN

Philip (KO6BB) wrote:
> <snip>
>
> This ground system DOES seem to be effective as I haven't had a problem with 
> RF in the shack affecting anything (or biting my lip ;-)  HOWEVER, when the 
> soil dries out in the summer the noise in both HF and 2 M rigs rises very 
> significantly (have to turn squelch up all the way on 2M).  Watering the 
> grounds always quiets the equipment down again.  I suspect that at least 
> part of the problem is due to the fact that two rods are very short (4 foot 
> rods, sticking out 12 inches).  I forgot to mention that this is a mobile 
> home with a two by four yard area, so doing a large elaborate ground system 
> of buried wires etc is NOT practical (I wish it were).
>   

> <SNIP>  For the same reason, driving copper pipe into the 
> ground probably isn't going to work as it'd likely bend and collapse (I 
> haven't tried that here though).
>
> My intent is to 'pull' the two short rods out with a jack, install new 
> longer ones in those places and drive perhaps two more into the ground as 
> well.  With the existing 8 foot R/S rod that will give me five long ones.
>
> QUESTIONS:
> 1.  From what I recall of the R/S "Phones are us" product, the rods were 
> very expensive, just copper clad (how long does that last) and I'd probably 
> have to "mail-order" them from the local store now.  What is the best and 
> economical source for ground rods, perhaps "Lowes" or similar, electrical 
> supply store etc?  Ideas?
>
>
> 3.  The present system has the rods tied together with individual ground 
> clamps and heavy gauge wire.  This of course requires at least annual 
> maintenance to insure good connections.  I'm considering hiring someone to 
> braze or weld the connections to them.  Something I've considered is, if the 
> ground rods are galvanized, tie them together with a length of "re-bar" (is 
> that the term) welded to the rods.  I realize that steel isn't as good as 
> copper, but it would HAVE to be better than what I have now.  Does that 
> sound reasonable?
>
> Ideas anyone?  (COST IS A MAJOR CONSIDERATION HERE as there are budget 
> restraints).
>
>
>   

-- 
Bob - NØDGN