[TowerTalk] Copper pipe for ground rods?...YES

[Bob Eslaire]

I use a 1/2" galvanized water pipe as the drill pipe and 3/4" copper
pipe as the ground rod.  Using the larger copper pipe fits in the
resulting hole but maintains good contact with earth around it.  

Bob, W9UI.

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of JC Smith
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 1:52 PM
To: Cqtestk4xs at aol.com; TOWERTALK at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Copper pipe for ground rods?...YES

Seems like we just discussed this, but maybe I'm thinking of another
reflector??  Anyhow, the "water drill" method is usually discouraged as
all
that water going in washes out the dirt around the pipe as it comes back
out
and reduces the contact between the ground rod and the earth.  The rebar
trick sounds good though.  Also (sorry if I'm repeating myself here) I
have
found that a large impact wrench or roto-hammer with a socket large
enough
to fit over the ground rod makes a slick driver.  The rod just zips on
in.
Pounding with a sledgehammer in the same dense clay soil is serious work
here.

73 - JC, k0hps at amsat.org


-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Cqtestk4xs at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 3:42 AM
To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Copper pipe for ground rods?...YES

In a message dated 6/11/05 7:56:29 AM Greenwich Standard Time,
jc-smith at comcast.net writes:
Depending on your soil, you probably won't be able to get it in as deep
as a
real ground rod before you start to smash the copper; at least that was
my
experience with one I use for an electric fence around my tomatoes (I
have
Labradors).  It only went in three or four feet, but it works fine for
my
purpose.

You sure can use copper pipe for ground rods.  I've posted this one
before,
two ways to do it.

Easiest way is to connect a female hose end to the half inch copper
pipe,
connect the hose to it and usually all ten feet go down like a knife in
butter.
The other way is to get 3/8 inch rebar, insert it inside the 1/2 inch
copper
and bang away.  Usually the copper doesn't wind up crumpling more than
an
inch
or so.  I've used this method on the towers located far from the house
and
the
hose bibs.

Bill K4XS