Driving ground rods, power vs sledge

[SmithBuilt]

Don't scimp on the hammerdrill bigger is better. I have the biggest Dewalt and sometimes it's not enough. Of course we do have plenty of rocks and extremely hard ground.


When the hammerdrill won't do it I use an extra heavy homemade T-post driver.

 

[Greg Swartz]

...however, it wasn't all bad... jill was grumbling about having to build excel
spreadsheets for work, so i had her come in and scrape a couple 4" passes.
she did it for 5 minutes, announced "this sucks. you're crazy to do this",
and went back to her spreadsheets, happy as a clam to be doing them
instead of the floor.
randy

Randy,
You really ARE a wise man.

Show ME the way of the Force, Obi Wan!
Greg

 

[Greg Swartz]

Typically 30 to 45 seconds. About 2 minutes was the longest. I have a Bosch SDS-Max rotary hammer. I'm not sure of the model number.

I have a driver bit for 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4" rods. I had a 1/2" galvanized rod get stuck in the driver once, but I got it out. Copper fits great.

It's also great for drilling and boring 3/4""-and-up holes in masonry and concrete. Core bits (basically percussion carbide holesaws) are the greatest.

Imagine making an all-but-polished 4" hole through a 1'-thick concrete or brick wall, or through a concrete floor.

I have a Bosch SDS-Max as well. Fleabay had a smoking deal for a new one... since the last one grew legs!
I try to get ones that have at least 1 9/16" rating, and up to a 4" dry core rating as well.
Bosch makes good hammer drills... not as good as Hilti, but I'd think they are #2.

Larry,
what is the model of the attachment you have. I want one!

 

[Greg Swartz]

I really feel for you guys

I don't! I was young once too!
In fact, we didn't have 'lectric tools around, and had to install a ground rod... through asphault. (That was back with Unky Sam) I remember getting a rickety old wooden ladder and starting the process!

Still waiting to find some average soil.

I use the binford 3000 automatic rock detecting ground rods. Haven't missed a rock yet! :grin:

Come to Colorado! You can find LOTS of average soil: Average of 90% rock!
And yes, I like ANYTHING Binford makes. :grin::grin::grin:

I think they make all our ground rods too! Haven't missed a single rock yet either. :grin:
In fact, I think they actually have homing devices installed, that aim for rocks, when underground! :roll:

 

[buddhakii]

Took the end of my index finger off driving a rod with a post driver last year. I only use a hammer drill now.

 

[hillbilly]

I've been on both sides of the equation. Summit County, CO you couldn't really go more then 3-4" in some spots w/o hitting BIG ROCKS. Mostly driven in by hand with a sledge. Now, here in WI I've used the Dewalt corded rotary hammer w/ the driver bit. There too, it can still hang up on rocks & such, but will usually break on thru after a while. Had one with a rock shelf going from about 4' down. Inspector told us there's a big rock shelf in that area, that no one could pound an 8' rod in that part of the county...
We tried anyway, we failed...

A 8' rod driven at a 45 degree angle will go down about 5 1/2 ft. vertical depth.

Usually, if you keep pounding (and pounding), the rod will bend and follow along the rock base, and you can get it all the way in.

I know that you probably already knew that, but I've had a lot of experience driving rods into rock bottoms, and just wanted to comment.

steve

 

[hillbilly]

Took the end of my index finger off driving a rod with a post driver last year. I only use a hammer drill now.

Owwww!

Man, that hurts my parts just hearing that.

steve

 

[220/221]

I haven't used a sledge since 1973.

I have always used a hammer drill to drive ground rods without the rod driver.. they were not always around. Can you harm your hammer drill doing that??

Yes, you can. I messed up one years ago.

We use a demo hammer now with a ground rod bit. 1 minute in good soil.

After 5 minutes in extreme soil I break out the length adjusting tool.

 

[zappy]

I haven't used a sledge since 1973.



Yes, you can. I messed up one years ago.

We use a demo hammer now with a ground rod bit. 1 minute in good soil.

After 5 minutes in extreme soil I break out the length adjusting tool.

Doesn't the inspector see you hacked off some of the grd. rod??

 

[zappy]

Laying it horizonally

Laying it horizonally

Whats the depth 2 feet?Anyone ever have to resort to doing it this way?

 

[220/221]

Whats the depth 2 feet?

Come on, it's only like 6"

Anyone ever have to resort to doing it this way?

No one....ever.

Two pics, two different jobs. First ones went in like butter. Second one, not so much.

 

[480sparky]

You all have to remember 480sparky is in central Iowa. I have more rocks in my front flower bed than he will find in a 40 acre field. They don't call it Limestone County Alabama for nothing.

That's what you think..... that we're all cornfield and nothing else. Every drive by a typical farm field around here? They all have a huge pile of rocks the farmer has drug out of the field to protect his discing equipment, and it sure don't go down eight feet!

The reason I got this critter is because we're littered with rocks below grade. Most are immigrants from Canada from the last Ice Age. I drove a rod last summer and it popped back up about 30" away from where I was driving it.

Hit a rock just right and started to do a nice concentric bend on the rod.

 

[LarryFine]

Larry, what is the model of the attachment you have. I want one!

I don't really know. I bought one at a local Hilti store, and the other two, I don't remember.

I imagine your favorite supply house or industrial tool seller would have, or can get, them.

 

[B4T]

there was a EC by me who only needed a 1/2 inch bender and a shovel to drive a ground rod till an inspector kicked the ground rod and the other end moved also. The guy was a hack.. I think he works in Home Depot now giving advice to homeowners

 

[LarryFine]

there was a EC by me who only needed a 1/2 inch bender and a shovel to drive a ground rod till an inspector kicked the ground rod and the other end moved also.

The other end? Underground?


Added: Oh, wait, I'm getting the picture: He bent a pair of back-to-back 90's in a single rod and buried the rod 6" deep with both ends poked up.

You meant that the "other rod" also moved, right?

 

[Greg Swartz]

Doesn't the inspector see you hacked off some of the grd. rod??

Well, you put the acorn on, and then hammer the piss out of it. Ya can't very much tell then!
Be sure to pick up your adjusted length and call it in.

Notice there were 2 ground rods too...
We have to install 2 as well.

I guess urine and rock salt just don't go as far as they used to...
I used to get less than 1 ohm resistance to the ground that way.
Even in the sands of Yuma!

Put a good many ground rods out there!

 

[wirebender]

Come on, it's only like 6"





No one....ever.

Two pics, two different jobs. First ones went in like butter. Second one, not so much.

I think he was talking about laying it in a ditch.
Not about your install.

 

[B4T]

The other end? Underground?


Added: Oh, wait, I'm getting the picture: He bent a pair of back-to-back 90's in a single rod and buried the rod 6" deep with both ends poked up.

You meant that the "other rod" also moved, right?

YES.. thanks for pointing that out :grin:

 

[LarryFine]

YES.. thanks for pointing that out :grin:

Well, at least he had 7' in contact with earth. :roll:


He probably noticed one day that the rod was longer than the required 6' minimum spacing. "Hmmm."

 

[Fulthrotl]

Randy,
You really ARE a wise man.

Show ME the way of the Force, Obi Wan!
Greg

grasshopper, it's like this... when momma's not happy, nobody's happy.

when you can snatch the three wago's from my hand, it's time for you
to leave.....