Re: [TowerTalk] Station and tower grounding

[Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>]

I found that really difficult to drive rods would tend to bend when hit 
really hard with  a sledge so... I cut a couple lengths of tubing, one 
about a foot and the other a couple feet. They are sized to let the rod 
go inside easily, a tight fit is not required.  With one of these over 
the ground rod where it would bend it doesn't bend and it keeps the 
force of the blows aligned with driving the rod, keeping it "in column" 
and not being wasted flexing or bending the rod.
I have also used an electric "demo" (demolition) hammer with a rod 
driving bit and with patience could drive rods where hammering was 
nearly impossible. I climb up a ladder to balance the electric demo 
hammer on the rod. I don't have to support the hammer just balance it 
and experiment with applying down force or just letting the hammer's 
weight do the job.  Sometimes one works better than the other.

Patrick        NJ5G


On 12/3/2016 11:22 AM, StellarCAT wrote:
> I did just that - borrowed a hammer drill - after 30 minutes it got me 
> maybe, maybe 1/2".... I went back to hammering. It was more effective. 
> The clay and sandstone here is terrible. More than likely the one that 
> I borrowed wasn't big enough - although it was pretty darn substantial.
> Gary
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Richard Thorne
> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2016 11:40 AM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Station and tower grounding
>
> Go rent a hammer drill and purchase a ground rod adapter for installing
> ground rods.
>
> Makes quick work of installing an 8' ground rod.
>
> I had 5 ground rods installed in less than 30 minutes.  We have clay and
> cliche here in the Amarillo panhandle.
>
> Rich - N5ZC
>
> On 12/3/2016 10:07 AM, Jeff Draughn wrote:
> > I live in Kansas in an area that has some of the worst clay that I have
> > ever had to deal with.
> > It's sticky gooey terrible stuff, sticks to everything like epoxy!
> > Trying to drive eight-foot ground rods's in the ground is near 
> > impossible,
> > I think the stickiness just builds to a point where it's near impossible
> > even using a 10 pound sledge.
> >
> > So my question is would several 4 foot rods placed approximately 4 feet
> > apart be satisfactory?
> >
> > Thanks for your thoughts and inputs.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jeff
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