If it's that hard to pound a ground rod in this "soil", can it really be
conductive enough for a useful ground? If there are enough of them, I think
your lengths of 1 1/2" strap will do a much better job (Polyphaser's book on
lightening protection recommends this approach for mountaintop installation
where there's nothing but rock.)
73, Dick, WC1M
-----Original Message-----
From: Dick.Flanagan. <dick@libelle.com>
To: Bruce Goldstein . <wa3afs@soli.inav.net>
Cc: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: (Fwd) [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods
>At 10:25 AM -0700 9/15/97, Bruce Goldstein wrote:
>>I used the water method and was able to drive the 8 foot rod in less
>>than 10 minutes without even using a ladder. Just stuffed the hose
>>down and kept alternately pushing and pulling the rod.
>
>And then there is western hardpan. Two "professional" laborers were able
>to drive in two 10' ground rods with sledgehammers in only three-hours
>time. Since my planned ground field called for 35 rods, I was looking at
>two man weeks of professional labor.
>
>We tried water-drilling (nothing), small electric jack hammers (nothing),
>large pneumatic jack hammers (bent the rods) and carbide masonry drills
>with 6-foot shafts (bound up).
>
>Now, I know in my heart that the next step would have worked--namely
>pneumatic drilling--but I admitted defeat first. I ended up trenching,
>flooding and burying fifty-foot lengths of 1-1/2 inch copper strap.
>
>At some point one needs to listen to the Gods when they say "No." :)
>
>73, Dick
>
>--
>Dick Flanagan W6OLD CFII Minden, Nevada (South of Reno)
>
>
>
>--
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