Earth Rods

[FionaZuppa]

this video is a must watch (TY to MH for doing this video)
it shows why earth rods are good to use.

i give two warnings with the methods shown
1) stacking the rods, i might suggest to properly solder the ends
2) these thin rods past 10ft can easily bend and traverse the earth in not vertical fashion. so you may think you are 30ft down, but could be 15ft down and 15ft lateral.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

this video is a must watch (TY to MH for doing this video)
it shows why earth rods are good to use.

i give two warnings with the methods shown
1) stacking the rods, i might suggest to properly solder the ends

I have never seen sectional ground rods that were designed for a solder connection. They are either a threaded connection or wedge connection.

2) these thin rods past 10ft can easily bend and traverse the earth in not vertical fashion. so you may think you are 30ft down, but could be 15ft down and 15ft lateral.

Very true, but I think that the amount of area in contact with the earth is more important than the depth after you are down a few feet.

 

[electrofelon]

it shows why earth rods are good to use.

Lets just be careful about the conclusions we draw: the video doesn't claim, nor is there any significant benefit to a "good" or "better" ground for most applications

 

[FionaZuppa]

I have never seen sectional ground rods that were designed for a solder connection. They are either a threaded connection or wedge connection.

Very true, but I think that the amount of area in contact with the earth is more important than the depth after you are down a few feet.

i not sure because joe does mention that the deeper you go the lower the R we expect. 10ft down and 20ft laterally, is that better than 30ft straight down where at 28ft is very wet soil? the best i think i can say is, it depends.

the more rods used the closer you'll get to a single bushing transformer N-to-earth voltage. if adding more gnd rods (bonded to each other) reduces overall to-earth ohms, thats better for you.

as for soldering, well, NEC requires lubricating threaded conduit fittings to protect against corrosion (in ground) to help preserve electrical continuance. threading two ground rods together will cause ohms to rise there as the threads oxidize over time. a quick brush, a little flux, some solder, threaded or otherwise, you have just now extended the time before corrosion cause R to rise there. i guess at bare min, some form of anti-corrosion paste i would use, a nickel based anti-seize, etc.

 

[K8MHZ]

i not sure because joe does mention that the deeper you go the lower the R we expect. 10ft down and 20ft laterally, is that better than 30ft straight down where at 28ft is very wet soil? the best i think i can say is, it depends.

the more rods used the closer you'll get to a single bushing transformer N-to-earth voltage. if adding more gnd rods (bonded to each other) reduces overall to-earth ohms, thats better for you.

as for soldering, well, NEC requires lubricating threaded conduit fittings to protect against corrosion (in ground) to help preserve electrical continuance. threading two ground rods together will cause ohms to rise there as the threads oxidize over time. a quick brush, a little flux, some solder, threaded or otherwise, you have just now extended the time before corrosion cause R to rise there. i guess at bare min, some form of anti-corrosion paste i would use, a nickel based anti-seize, etc.

Have you actually successfully soldered 1/2" - 5/8" threaded metal rod together?

 

[iwire]

Have you actually successfully soldered 1/2" - 5/8" threaded metal rod together?

Of course not, and it is not even close to a needed action

 

[FionaZuppa]

Have you actually successfully soldered 1/2" - 5/8" threaded metal rod together?

the copper plated ones solder fine. the female threads are a tad harder to clean though. a std copper pipe brush works well. some std flux, std solder. just a little solder is used, heat pulls the solder up into the threads, etc.

i solder my copper bonding wire to earth rods (and use the nec required bond clamp). solders just fine.

 

[tom baker]

"it shows why earth rods are good to use"
Well not really. Out here in Washington we will typically have 3,000 ohms resistance. And I have had contractors tell me of installing a ground rod in hard soil to have it do a u turn and come out of the ground.
What is good to use is a ufer.

 

[iwire]

the copper plated ones solder fine. the female threads are a tad harder to clean though. a std copper pipe brush works well. some std flux, std solder. just a little solder is used, heat pulls the solder up into the threads, etc.

i solder my copper bonding wire to earth rods (and use the nec required bond clamp). solders just fine.

Call me doubtful