Ground rods

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resistance

Senior Member
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WA
Our jurisdiction now allows us to cut ground rods.......
If you:
forget to put the ground rod clamp on the rod before driving it and mushroom the rod?s head, you may cut
no more than 1? off the top of the rod using an angled cut (i.e. 20
? to 45? across the rod) if you leave the
cut piece attached (e.g. tape or other method) to the grounding electrode conductor just above the
connection to the electrode. The inspector will use the cut piece to determine if the rod is full length.

For my Washington gurus: If this was always a rule, then excuse me for missing it:grin:

 
because Washington electricians don't own files or grinders :grin:
 
infinity said:
What is the reason for this?

If you mushroom the ground rod and you forgot to put the acorn clamp on it you would have to drive another rod or file the head down. I guess they are giving the installers a way out. Hell- that concept isn't new. Talk to electricians-- I know one guy who cuts them in half to begin with and then hammers the end to a mushroom. Not advocating but why would you need to leave the piece there if you only cut off an inch. They wouldn't know if you cut an inch or 4 feet in many cases.
 
1 rod=2 rods

1 rod=2 rods

Dennis Alwon said:
If you mushroom the ground rod and you forgot to put the acorn clamp on it you would have to drive another rod or file the head down. I guess they are giving the installers a way out. Hell- that concept isn't new. Talk to electricians-- I know one guy who cuts them in half to begin with and then hammers the end to a mushroom. Not advocating but why would you need to leave the piece there if you only cut off an inch. They wouldn't know if you cut an inch or 4 feet in many cases.
2 Rod requirement...buy 1 rod, make one cut..drive 2 rods!!:grin:
 
didn't anyone in this state hear of ground clamps that are 2-piece ? (or the cad-weld one-shots ?)
 
Last edited:
Dennis,
99.9 % of the jobs in this area are with the acorn, but, since it was mentioned, I went to Arlington Industries web site and they showed two "split" clamps listed for direct burial for rod,ipe or rebar.
 
hurumppph! next thing you know they will be making outlet boxes out of plastic and plastic conduit !! what's this world coming to.
ain't nutin wrong with an acorn clamp. didn't need fixin' :D
 
If you cut an 8' ground rod it is no longer code compliant since it's too short. So how does this pass inspection?
 
infinity said:
If you cut an 8' ground rod it is no longer code compliant since it's too short. So how does this pass inspection?

By inspectors taking it upon themselves to enforce their own interpretation of the code.
 
augie47 said:
hurumppph! next thing you know they will be making outlet boxes out of plastic and plastic conduit !! what's this world coming to.
ain't nutin wrong with an acorn clamp. didn't need fixin' :D


Gus
The "hurumppph" fittings have not been designed to replace acorn fittings, they are designed to take larger size conductors than the acorn is listed for without the need for cadwelding.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Gus
The "hurumppph" fittings have not been designed to replace acorn fittings, they are designed to take larger size conductors than the acorn is listed for without the need for cadwelding.

Why would you need a larger than #6 wire to a ground rod?
 
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