"Brian Kelly" wrote in news:1153437176.242544.67620
@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com:

I have to transport four U.S. standard 5/8" dia x 8' long ground rods
35 miles in my four door compact car. Do not want to carry them on the
roof. If I cut them to six feet long I can load them inside the car.
Ignoring any code compliance issues would there be any reason the
shortened rods would not work as well as full-length rods for purposes
of ligtning protection and the usual HF station RF grounding? Soil here
is probably very conductive (damp heavy loam). Thanks.

Brian w3rv



If you are doing this for someone else, or a contractor, I'd talk to
them first. While you could easily make up the difference in ground
effectiveness by simply adding another one or two 6' long rods to the
system with those shortened rods, some codes do require 8' in their
language..... not that anyone is really going to pull them out to check!

Or you can do as Dave suggested in his reply to you and just open your
car windows and stick them crosswise.... should be little sticking out of
either side that way.... especially if they are diagonally across.

Personally, I think one can never have a good enough ground where
lightning is concerned.... but I'd say you probably won't significantly
be lessening your effectiveness with 6' rods vs. 8' rods.


Ed K7AAT




Ed K7AAT