On 1/16/01 11:50 AM, Avila, Edward at EAvila@caiso.com wrote:
>There was an short article in QST years ago that described solution....dig
>as wide and deep a hole as you can, then pour a small amount of water into
>hole, let it soak in then start driving the ground into the ground.....when
>it stops going easily, repeater the water soaking and drive the rod down
>some more until it stops going easily.
>
>Jim, since I read this idea I've been very successful installing 8' rods in
>nasty hardpan in our part of the world with a lot less effort and pain!
This has been brought up over and over on TowerTalk.
While using water methods (either the puddle technique described above,
or the attach-a-hose-to-copper-pipe and push it in method) may be an easy
way to install a ground rod -- it suffers from one failing: the water
displaces the soil, which destroys the effective contact of the rod with
the ground.
The whole idea of putting in a ground rod is to get good contact with the
soil. Since this method destroys contact with the soil, I wouldn't
recommend it.
I've built a ground-rod driver using a 12" steel nipple, some fittings
and some hand weights and collars from a weight set. It allows you to
drive the ground rod in without missing. When you get it within 1 foot of
the surface, drive it the rest of the way with a sledgehammer.
The alternatives of using a jackhammer, hammer drill or other power
driver, or even a fence post driver will ensure much better soil contact
with the rod compared with the water methods, and they aren't any harder.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: aa4lr@arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
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