ECN Electrical Forum
Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals

Somebody once said something about the less work you do, the more you get paid....

Hey again Bill A. and C.Urch, man do I envy you two. I also live in NC outside Charlotte. I always have to place my clamp on ahead of time cause the rod head mushrooms on me. When I lived in Florida it was as easy to drive something into the ground. Personally I hate ground rods!

Oh Yeah... Definitely gotta put the acorn on before you hammer...

Or break out the Dremel... (I've done that too, to grind the 'shroom down small enough to get the acorn on)

>I always have to place my clamp on ahead of time
Those other guys need to do that too... and clamp on the wire so they don't lose the rod when it sinks into the earth almost by just its own weight. Oh, joy!

well....the 'sliding hammer' is working well, the trick being the threaded sections taken off 1 by 1.

i'm merrily beatin the He** out of it as curiuos onlookers ask why...
Q with no rational answer, i like to tell them it's a tornado tie down

maybe i'll join a geological society..

Anyone worry about service laterals while driving ground rods? Sometimes there's just no way to determine which direction they're coming from. The rirst few feet always make me cringe.

Redsy,

I worry about water and gas lines. Especially now that they are using some type of plastic tubing for the Gas.

Bill

Don't you have a Miss Utility? In Pennsylvania we are required to place a dig notification 72 hours in advance and to be aware of what utilities might be in the area that are not covered by the One Call System.

I use the PA one-call system, when required, which contacts all local utility companies, but not to install a ground rod. Maybe I should. Do you use One-call to install ground rods?

I use the PA one-call system, when required,
What do you mean "when required"?
If you are disturbing the earth, which by law (Act 287 includes drilling, driving-in, scraping, and trenching), then by law you are required to place the notification at least three working days in advance.

Is your view that your equipment is not "powered"? Does an 8' steel rod being driven by a sledge hammer fall into the exemption for excavation with hand tools? Perhaps it's a grey area. I hope it is exempt; but I treat it like it is required unless I am sure of the facilities myself, such as a recently expired marking.

When I call in I just say I'm driving grounding electrodes to a depth of 100". No one has ever argued with me that I don't need to place a dig notification for that. (Are you just using hand tools for that, sir?)

It costs nothing to have facilities marked. It could cost a lot if you damage something when you could have called instead.

Anyone who is worried about hitting something knows he should have made the telephone call.