[Boatanchors] Ground Rod

[Greg Mijal]

I use a water hose fitting to run water thru a hollow 10 foot copper pipe
for use as ground rods on a L antenna.  With the water trick the rods go all
the way in in 30 seconds or less.  People tell me that it is not a good way
to install ground rods because the flowing water displaces too much earth
and causes a weak ground. A gentleman that works for the phone company said
that in a month or so the soft ground dries and then re-packs itself around
the ground rod so the ground is good after a month or so of "seasoning".
73's
Greg
WA7LYO
in sunny Feenix
----- Original Message -----
From: <AB3L1 at aol.com>
To: <garyschafer at comcast.net>; <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Ground Rod


> The idea that if you can push the ground rod in by hand may not
necessarily mean that it isn't making contact.
>
> By using the water  to aid in pushing the rod, I would look at it as using
the resulting mud, as being the "oil", to lubricate the rod as it is pushed
in. The water will displace the air from the dirt so that when the water
dissipates you will have rod to dirt contact. The idea is to move the rod
straight up and down as much as possible cuz if you start to push it side to
side the hole elongates and there will be an air void.
>
> I replaced the gas service to a prior house. Had to dig a hole at the curb
to work the hookup at the valve. Naturally there was a good sized hole to
fill. My plumber buddy told me how to do it without having a huge hump as
the groung gradually settled. Water the bottom of the hole, put a four inch
layer of soil on top and walk over it to pack it in. More water, more dirt,
pack. By the time I was done all the dirt was back in and the sod was back
on top, level with the rest and never settled after that.
> No air, all dirt.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Have fun,
>
> Bob AB3L
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