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#1
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Phil, get a piece of PVC or ABS pipe, large enough to slide the ground rod
into. Glue an adapter to the pipe that will allow you to connect it to a garden hose. With the ground rod inside the pipe, turn the water on, and let it drill the ground rod in for you. Unless we're talking solid rock, this works pretty well even with hardpan. Uh, BTW, what are you grounding? 73, Mike KI6PR El Rancho R.F., CA "Northern Lights" wrote I have a mundane question. Does anyone have suggestions for installing ground rods in rocky soil? The topsoil on my property tends to be very shallow, at times only 12 in. deep. I would rather use earth ground and not go the route of an artificial ground. I think I know the answer to my question but wanted to see if anyone out there had a silver bullet solution. Phil, K4NE |
#2
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Mikey wrote:
Phil, get a piece of PVC or ABS pipe, large enough to slide the ground rod into. Glue an adapter to the pipe that will allow you to connect it to a garden hose. With the ground rod inside the pipe, turn the water on, and let it drill the ground rod in for you. Unless we're talking solid rock, this works pretty well even with hardpan. Uh, BTW, what are you grounding? 73, Mike KI6PR El Rancho R.F., CA "Northern Lights" wrote I have a mundane question. Does anyone have suggestions for installing ground rods in rocky soil? The topsoil on my property tends to be very shallow, at times only 12 in. deep. I would rather use earth ground and not go the route of an artificial ground. I think I know the answer to my question but wanted to see if anyone out there had a silver bullet solution. I hear people speaking of simply laying wire on the ground being better than a rod type ground. Is this serious? I'm trying to envision this, and even if it works electrically, it seems like rather dangerous advice in many ways. - Mike KB3EIA - |
#3
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![]() Mike, Yes, it's serious, many times a ground radial system will be 'better' than a ground rod(s). Given the rocky ground as in the original post, a radial system would be much preferable to ground rods. Given that you get the wires deep enough to be missed by the lawn mower, what's so dangerous about it? 'Doc |
#4
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Two possibilities:
1. Try a ground plate. They have the same surface area as the rod, but you still have to bury it. However, you will still have to find an area you can dig a hole 1' x 1.5' x (as deep as you can get it, but deeper than 3' should not be necessary.) How is the moisture in the earth? If it's dry, you have yet another problem. 2. Buy a 1/2" x 10' copper pipe, thick wall. Solder on a tee (sideways) and cap the top side, and mount a hose fitting on the perpendicular opening and attach your garden hose. Cut the 'drilling' end of the pipe off on a slight angle. (30 degrees?) Now, use a rubber mallet and some finesse, turn on the water and see if you can coax it down as far as possible. If you hit a big flat rock surface, you're buggered, but if with a little luck you might get at least 8+ feet of it into the earth. Good luck! Pat |
#5
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'Doc wrote:
Mike, Yes, it's serious, many times a ground radial system will be 'better' than a ground rod(s). Given the rocky ground as in the original post, a radial system would be much preferable to ground rods. Given that you get the wires deep enough to be missed by the lawn mower, what's so dangerous about it? 'Doc If it is under the surface, then no problem. But I'm referring to the laying the wires on the ground comment I've heard of a few times here. And that would be dangerous for people crossing the lawn, and myself, after the XYL is done with me! 8^) - Mike KB3EIA - |
#6
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Simply lay the wires on the ground. Take old coat hangers and cut 6" pieces
from them. Fold in half and place over the radial wire stapling it to the ground. By next spring you will not be able to find a wire let alone trip over it. "Mike Coslo" wrote in message t... 'Doc wrote: Mike, Yes, it's serious, many times a ground radial system will be 'better' than a ground rod(s). Given the rocky ground as in the original post, a radial system would be much preferable to ground rods. Given that you get the wires deep enough to be missed by the lawn mower, what's so dangerous about it? 'Doc If it is under the surface, then no problem. But I'm referring to the laying the wires on the ground comment I've heard of a few times here. And that would be dangerous for people crossing the lawn, and myself, after the XYL is done with me! 8^) - Mike KB3EIA - |
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