[TowerTalk] Copper Pipe Ground Rods - Driving them in - How ?

[Grant Saviers]

Unless the ground is very soft, the copper pipe will mushroom and not 
drive in, so a regular ground rod is the way to go as Jim mentioned.

For SDS and spline hammer/chipper drills (e.g. Bosch), you can get a 
ground rod drive bit that fits over the end of the rod.  If you have 
several rods to drive they are a worthwhile tool to rent at your local 
rental yard.  (or find an electrician that will loan you his) I doubt 
that a lesser hammer drill has enough power and mass to drive a rod 
through any challenging soils.  While you will be on a stepladder with a 
fairly heavy tool, it's a lot better than swinging a sledge hammer from 
that height!

Grant KZ1W

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-11240-16-Inch-SDS-Max-Combination/dp/B0000695HG/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1306335451&sr=8-13

On 5/25/2011 6:16 AM, Jim Lux wrote:
> On 5/25/11 5:28 AM, Dan Bookwalter wrote:
>> Ok , I have most of my ground system planned out , my plan is to use copper pipe
>> (type "L") and silver solder flashing to them from the tower etc...  my issue is
>> how in the world do you guys drive copper pipe into the ground , I have access
>> to a 1/2" hammer drill , but , the pipe is too large for that , I am going to
>> check into a ground rod bit for it , but , I am still not so sure if that will
>> work.
>>
> Any particular reason why you're using pipe rather than rods?  The rods
> are copper plated steel and usually much cheaper, as well as being
> easier to drive.
>
> As far as flashing goes, why not use copper wire?  Inductance is roughly
> the same, and the increased AC resistance from skin effect is small
> compared to the inductive voltage drop.  Then you can use standard
> clamps/exothermic welding, etc.
>
> Unless you happen to have flashing, then, by all means, use it.
>
>
> (Flashing is good for RF grounds where you want to minimize power
> losses, but in a lightning protection situation, the power dissipation
> in the conductor isn't a huge deal)
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