OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote:

OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

Go long.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:18:34 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:

So, what do I do next?

Ask your neighbor where they got dispensation.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
news

OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

Rick

Check out some new builds in the area and see what earthing arrangements are
being put in there. The new properties will obviously have to conform with
the latest regulations. If the builders have to use a specially long drill
rig, you might be able to bribe them to come and drill you a few new holes.
Failing that, its welding a long tube onto whatever you have that will drill
through granite and then spending a couple of days drilling downwards. Radio
hams are supposed to be renowned for their ingenuity and determination when
faced with tricky situations. Build an echosounder or ground resistivity
meter and scour the plot looking for a crack you can drive rods down
through? The possibilities for experimentation are endless.

Mike G0ULI

Mike Kaliski wrote:

"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
news

OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

Rick

Check out some new builds in the area and see what earthing arrangements are
being put in there. The new properties will obviously have to conform with
the latest regulations. If the builders have to use a specially long drill
rig, you might be able to bribe them to come and drill you a few new holes.
Failing that, its welding a long tube onto whatever you have that will drill
through granite and then spending a couple of days drilling downwards. Radio
hams are supposed to be renowned for their ingenuity and determination when
faced with tricky situations. Build an echosounder or ground resistivity
meter and scour the plot looking for a crack you can drive rods down
through? The possibilities for experimentation are endless.


What purpose would be served by putting a grounding rod in solid rock?

All codes/regs I've seen have alternatives for special situations like
this, such as buried plates or several horizontal, interconnected,
buried rods.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:18:34 -0400, "Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)"
wrote:


OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

My house came with 4-foot rods driven at an angle. I wasn't sure why
until I tried driving an 8-foot rod straight down. It stopped at about
one foot, even using a special ground rod driver from Glen Martin. So
I put in a shorty rod, and attached a few buried wire radials, running
them across the yard. Ya do what's ya got to do...

If you try the Polyphaser web site, they have a pretty good technical
paper on putting in a series of short rods.

bob
k5qwg

wrote in message
...
Mike Kaliski wrote:

"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
news

OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to
use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can
see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire
the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running
into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground
rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod
to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

Rick

Check out some new builds in the area and see what earthing arrangements
are
being put in there. The new properties will obviously have to conform
with
the latest regulations. If the builders have to use a specially long
drill
rig, you might be able to bribe them to come and drill you a few new
holes.
Failing that, its welding a long tube onto whatever you have that will
drill
through granite and then spending a couple of days drilling downwards.
Radio
hams are supposed to be renowned for their ingenuity and determination
when
faced with tricky situations. Build an echosounder or ground resistivity
meter and scour the plot looking for a crack you can drive rods down
through? The possibilities for experimentation are endless.


What purpose would be served by putting a grounding rod in solid rock?

All codes/regs I've seen have alternatives for special situations like
this, such as buried plates or several horizontal, interconnected,
buried rods.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Jim

Yes, you're absolutely right. I was just thinking about how to punch down
through 8 feet of rock rather than the end purpose. Ground radials, plates
or earth mats buried as well as possible in the soil make a lot more sense.

Mike G0ULI

Mike Kaliski wrote:

wrote in message
...
Mike Kaliski wrote:

"Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T)" wrote in message
news
OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to
use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can
see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire
the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running
into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground
rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod
to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

Rick

Check out some new builds in the area and see what earthing arrangements
are
being put in there. The new properties will obviously have to conform
with
the latest regulations. If the builders have to use a specially long
drill
rig, you might be able to bribe them to come and drill you a few new
holes.
Failing that, its welding a long tube onto whatever you have that will
drill
through granite and then spending a couple of days drilling downwards.
Radio
hams are supposed to be renowned for their ingenuity and determination
when
faced with tricky situations. Build an echosounder or ground resistivity
meter and scour the plot looking for a crack you can drive rods down
through? The possibilities for experimentation are endless.


What purpose would be served by putting a grounding rod in solid rock?

All codes/regs I've seen have alternatives for special situations like
this, such as buried plates or several horizontal, interconnected,
buried rods.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Jim

Yes, you're absolutely right. I was just thinking about how to punch down
through 8 feet of rock rather than the end purpose. Ground radials, plates
or earth mats buried as well as possible in the soil make a lot more sense.

Mike G0ULI

There are other conciderations as well such as is this an electrical
ground to meet some code, a lightning protection ground to keep your
insurance in force, or an RF ground to make your antenna work?

--
Jim Pennino

Remove .spam.sux to reply.

Rick (W-A-one-R-K-T) wrote:
OK, per the thread on "Question on grounding rods", I'm supposed to use
8-foot grounding rods rather than twice as many 4-foot rods. I can see
that.

But, we're built on a ledge, one big wide rock that stretches from the
seacoast to the Vermont state line (that's why they call New Hampshire the
"Granite State"). I can get three feet depth at best before running into
solid rock. An electrician friend of mine says I can drive the ground rod
in at a 45-degree angle, but that would still run an 8-foot ground rod to
a depth of more than 5.5 feet below the surface.

Can't be done.

So, what do I do next?

======================================
Don't know your private land situation , but instead of the
'prescribed' 8ft rods you can obtain an excellent rf earthing system by
covering an area with 'galvanised chicken wire mesh 'pegging the mesh to
1 or more short rods or stainless steel pins as used for the BBQ

If you have a grass lawn in your garden cover an area ,the larger the
better, with the above mesh. Within a few weeks ,if not earlier ,the
grass will make the mesh invisible and you will be able to apply a
lawnmower over the mesh to cut the grass.

Ensure the mesh is well connected to a rod via a jubilee clip which also
connected to the shortest possible length of insulated ,thick wire to
the shack. The jubilee clip with mesh and wire connected should be
protected against corrosion by means of self-amalgamating tape

The wire mesh is also a good alternative to multiple radials when using
a vertical antenna

I remember the situation with a Butternut vertical antenna which
initially only had 1 ground spike ,but when surrounded by wire mesh
,signal reports improved by 1 to 2 S-points.


Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Buncha papers...

http://www.polyphaser.com/technical_notes.aspx