I have concluded that if more than 8 foot ground rods were required
for effect or code, the supply houses would be selling them. I cannot
argue with redundancy though. THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH GROUND
RODS THAT ARE NOT BONDED WITH AT LEAST #6 WIRE! Common sense dictates
that protective system be continuously bled to a common level rather
than allowed to build up a differential charge.


This is actually a big problem.. counterfeit rods with UL markings on
them, and rods that are too small in diameter or too short to meet NEC
requirements.

Electrical Supply places (not the home improvement stores) have had 10
foot rods for a long time.

The NEC has required 8 feet *in the ground* for years and years (at
least 20, I think), so the only way to do that with an 8 foot rod is to
do your exothermic bond to the rod and completely bury it.

The home improvement stores don't like to stock longer rods because most
of the buyers are not "code-aware" and buy on price (hey, an 8 foot rod
is cheaper than a 10 foot rod, I'll use that). Besides, for new
construction in a lot of places, a rod isn't an acceptable primary
grounding means anyway.

And we won't even get into the grounding/bonding practices of satellite
dish and Cable TV installers. There's a great website out there with
pictures of truly lame installations.