ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Ground Rod Woes...

OK, I tried to drive a 5/8" rod with a 11233 TVS Bosch SDS Rotary Hammer today (I paid the damage waiver on the rental and used a core bit, didn't seem to hurt it...) and it drove the rod disappointingly slowly about two feet until stopping completely... in back-fill! I tried four different places!

The only device I've seen that's impressed me around here is a Bosch Electric Jackhammer, and I don't want to lift that kind of weight that high!

Hmm, you guys might like to ponder that the average residential ground rod here is only 4 to 5 ft.

In some parts of the country it's quite rocky, but here in the east rods go in easily with just a few taps on a hammer.

Drove the rods in my normal way with post driver for the first 6 ft and sledge for the final... I'd call the difficulty a 5 or 6 in a scale to 10, about average, I'd say an hour to drive two of them...

The Bosch was very disappointing for a tool that weighs 30 lbs!

I've been simply layin' the rods in the service lateral's ditch lately.

Sparky,
You can't lay them in the ditch unless you have tried to drive them and encountered rock. See 250-52(c)(3).
Don(resqcapt19)

I suppose then one would have to drive six rods here...

First rod strikes bedrock at, say, 5 ft verticle, can't pull it out, so cut it flush and abandon.

Second attempt at first rod at a 45ºangle (got to try it too before you lay it down, right?) hit bed at 6 to 6-1/2 ft, cut it flush and abandon...

Third attempt at first rod, dig 18" x 8' trench, (2002 it will have to be 30") a days work later you're half finished...

Now start the process over for the second rod...

Hmmmm...



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 10-26-2001).]

Or.... go get a rock, place the rod vertically on the rock, strike once with hammer, you've hit rock...

Lay at a 45º with tip on the rock, strike once with hammer, you've hit rock...

Lay the friggin' thing in the ditch...

Sorry if I sound a little facetious here...