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

open the windows and stick them out for the drive. this works best if you
open both the driver and passenger windows on the front doors and put the
rods sideways across the car, this way they won't rub against any upholstery
and you can keep a close eye on them the whole way.'

"Brian Kelly" wrote in message
ups.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

Dave wrote:
open the windows and stick them out for the drive. this works best if you
open both the driver and passenger windows on the front doors and put the
rods sideways across the car, this way they won't rub against any upholstery
and you can keep a close eye on them the whole way.'

I should have explained that that's what I want to avoid. I boogered
it. Sorry Dave.

I took the out-the-window approach a couple years ago and got whacked
by somebody in a van who came very close to side-swiping me. Shoved the
rod back into my upholstery and dinged it and I almost lost my
passenger-side mirror. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and car-top
the full-length versions Tnx.

Brian w3rv

Dave wrote:

open the windows and stick them out for the drive. this works best if you
open both the driver and passenger windows on the front doors and put the
rods sideways across the car, this way they won't rub against any upholstery
and you can keep a close eye on them the whole way.'

"Brian Kelly" wrote in message
ups.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
....

Roller skates and a tow line.
Seriously though,
Into the car through the driver side rear window and
across the car to the floor on thepassenger side.
You'll always have a nagging doubt if you cut them.

Irv VE6BP
--
--------------------------------------
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Beating it with diet and exercise!
297/215/210 (to be revised lower)
58"/43"(!)/44" (already lower too!)
--------------------------------------
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--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

On 20 Jul 2006 16:12:56 -0700, "Brian Kelly" wrote:

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

Stick 'em in the back side window, over the front passenger seat, stab
'em in on the front floor, blunt end down. Maybe you could also lower
the front seat back. A few towels would protect things.

bob
k5qwg

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:32:36 GMT, Bob Miller
Stick 'em in the back side window, over the front passenger seat, stab
'em in on the front floor, blunt end down. Maybe you could also lower
the front seat back. A few towels would protect things.

bob
k5qwg
Flag the end of the rods.


--
73 for now
Buck
N4PGW

Bob Miller wrote:
On 20 Jul 2006 16:12:56 -0700, "Brian Kelly" wrote:

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

Stick 'em in the back side window, over the front passenger seat, stab
'em in on the front floor, blunt end down. Maybe you could also lower
the front seat back. A few towels would protect things.

The brochure for our European subcompact hatchback showed a photograph
with a surf-board inside. They folded down half the rear seat, reclined
the front seat back until it was flat, and then pushed the pointy end of
the board all the way into the glovebox.

It was all highly contrived, and of course "your car may vary", but
maybe some of those ideas will help.


--
73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

If not on the roof, then go UNDER the vehicle!
secure them with many 1/2 hitches, around the
bundle, and then tie off to the vehicle frame,
on the front , and back bumpers (I'm assumeing
that the roads you are paved (nothing to snag
these on). IF light enough load, have also
laid antennad, grounds, ect, in the saddle of the
rear view mirror, attaching the other end to the
rear bumper. Jim NN7K

Bob Miller wrote:
On 20 Jul 2006 16:12:56 -0700, "Brian Kelly" wrote:


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

"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

On 20 Jul 2006 16:12:56 -0700, "Brian Kelly" wrote:

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.


In this part of the world one can buy joiners for the rods. The idea
would be you cut them in two, then when you install them, drive the
first rod, put the joiner on, place the second rod in the joiner,
drive it etc. That's how rods of tens of metres are driven in.

Maybe those joiners are available from you electrical contractors
suppliers.

Owen

Brian w3rv
--