I have heard a lot of pros and cons about hydro-drilling. I believe that
people who use one over the other will not notice what they have or don't
have until they compare the two. If you hydro-drill, your ground will
eventually pack back around the pipe. If you drop a solid rod, you will add
a lot of elbow grease.
If money is an issue, use the copper pipe and the water hose. If not, then
plan on buying a short piece (about 24") of heavy-gauge steel pipe with
threads and an end cap. The heavy pipe will make for a rod hammer that is
easy to use. Just place the ground rod where you want it to go in with the
pipe on top. Lift the pipe and let go. It will stay over the ground rod
and the weight will drive the pole into the ground. If you are feeling
really good, life the pipe and pull it down hard over the rod while holding
onto the pipe. This could make the job go faster. Around here, the pipe is
usually able to do the job. When the pipe gets close to the ground, use a
sledge hammer.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
>
> Alan,
> I have used both the copper clad steel rod, and copper 3/4" copper pipe on
> several grounding applications in different soil textures. (from rocky
> clay to loam)
> Aside from the obvious cost advantage of copper pipe, I really prefer the
> pipe for it's ease of installation. If you have a source of pressurized
> water and a hose, it is a piece of cake to hydro-jet a 10 foot section
> into just about any soil including dense clay or fiable rocky material
> including granular volcanic material on the the Big island of Hawaii.
> (about 3" minus)
> Once you try this method, you will never go back to any other.
>
> Jon
> K6EL
> --
>
>
> > Alan,
> >
> > Depending on your soil, you probably won't be able to get it in as deep
> as a
> > real ground rod before you start to smash the copper; at least that was
> my
> > experience with one I use for an electric fence around my tomatoes (I
> have
> > Labradors). It only went in three or four feet, but it works fine for
> my
> > purpose.
> >
> > 73 - JC, k0hps@amsat.org
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Alan NV8A (ex.
> AB2OS)
> > Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 8:24 PM
> > To: towertalk reflector
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Copper pipe for ground rods?
> >
> > Any reason not to use copper pipe for ground rods instead of the
> > outrageously expensive copper-clad steel ones that have almost doubled
> > in price over the last year or so?
> >
> > They may not comply with the NEC, but they would only be supplementary
> > to the existing NEC-compliant grounding system anyway.
> >
> > Alan NV8A
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> > Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any
> > questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather
> > Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions
> > and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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