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Esthy

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What is more effective?... ground rods buried vertical 8' down or ground rods buried horizontal. I am installing new underground service (200 amps), the conduit is 2 1/2 HDPE, Wave-Rib, flexible schedule 40 (red)...and because by mistake, the digger made a trench of 5'+ I would like to take the advantage and position the rods vertically along the trench....also we will use "part of the trench" for a PVC gas line (yellow) Any sugestions? Louis Duke
 
I would drive the rods vertically into the bottom of the trench, placing the tips at 13' depth, and I'd Cadweld the connections if possible.
 
The code requires the ground rods to be installed vertically per the above referenced section however, lightning / grounding studies have indicated deep driven vertical rods are not all that effective versus short lengthed rods driven slightly angled from 90? to earth. This is due to surface arcing generally associated with lightning currents as they encounter the earth.

But the code is code. Drive your 8' rods straight down.
 
bphgravity said:
But the code is code. Drive your 8' rods straight down.
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I agree.

You must hit rock before you have any options other than vertical.

Part of 250.53(G)

It shall be driven to a depth of not less than 2.44 m (8 ft) except that, where rock bottom is encountered, the electrode shall be driven at an oblique angle not to exceed 45 degrees from the vertical or, where rock bottom is encountered at an angle up to 45 degrees, the electrode shall be permitted to be buried in a trench that is at least 750 mm (30 in.) deep.
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