[Lowfer] Pounding in a ground rod - NOT FUN

[Paul Daulton]

A quick way to get a rod into the ground is to drill it with a water 
drill. Take a section of 1/2 copper pipe and slip a cut off garden hose 
over it and use water pressure to drill the ground. I used this method 
to put my grounds in. I also used the water drill to run under my side 
walk at the back of the house to run #8 three wire romex (burrial 
rated) out to my wood shop. If you encounter a rock pull it up and move 
over. You can either leave the copper pipe in the ground or pull it out 
and replace it with a ground rod. 

Codes here require 8ft grounds at the service entrance. I suspect most 
were driven down and sawed off. Ground here is clay down three feet 
then shale. I bought an 8ft ground rod and sawed it in half and have 
two grounds about 3feet apart at the base of my verticle. 

Another option is to catch a mole, tie a spool of wire to his hind leg 
and let him pull it underground. But watch out for PETA and SPCA. 

Paul



Quoting "Charlie , W5COV" <cvest at cox.net>:
> 8 Foot rods are the standard and I think may be what is required in the code
> . Haven't worked in that field in long enough to know the current codes . 
>
> Don't waste your time with those 4 foot or 6 foot ones that Radio Shack and
> other places sell . 
>
> Besides hopefully it is not something that you are going to be doing for a
> living so go for the 8 foot ones . 
>
> I get mine for free . When our power company takes out an installation or
> completely does one over , they just pull the old ground rods and put them
> in their "pit" for scrap . They aren't worth anything to thieves , because
> they are copper clad steel . 
>
>  I carry 2 or 3 in the back of my truck all the time , and you would be
> surprised how many I give away to hams that aren't using one !!
>
> Charlie , W5COV
>
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Paul Daulton K5WMS
beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
Jacksonville,Ar 72076
em34wu