[TowerTalk] Re: I'll bite, how does it work

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

On 5/12/00 2:00 PM, Al Williams at alwilliams@olywa.net wrote:

>Check out this soil type!
>
>I can push an 10' copper pipe (1/2") all the way down by hand!  It doesnt
>come back up that easily though.
>
>However, I gave up trying to hammer a ground rod by the shack after about 2
>feet!

This topic has been covered before on TowerTalk, but it merits revisiting.

One problem with any ground rod driving method using water is that the 
ground may not be in solid contact with the rod, and this can reduce 
ground conductivity somewhat. This is especially true of connecting a 
hose to a hollow pipe and pushing it into the ground.

Driving a ground rod with a sledgehammer isn't very fun, but does produce 
good results. My biggest problem was breaking handles when I would miss 
with the hammer.

My solution was to build a ground rod driver. I used a 1" steel water 
pipe nipple with couplers on both ends. One end is closed with a solid 
plug. I cannabalized a dumbell weight set for 15 lbs of weights and the 
weight collars. So, now I have a 15 lb hammer with a 1 foot drop that 
never misses. You can even use it while standing on a short ladder.

It only takes a few minutes to drive a 10 foot ground rod to within 1 
foot of the ground. I drive it the rest of the way with a sledgehammer. 


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
            -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales


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