MR. S
Member
- Location
- Connecticut
Is there anywhere in the 2011 NEC that states a nonferrous ground rod only needs to be 1/2" in diameter?
nonferrous
- Thread starter MR. S
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jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Maybe. See 250.52(A)(5)(b)
Rod-type grounding electrodes of stainless steel
and copper or zinc coated steel shall be at least 15.87 mm
(5⁄8 in.) in diameter, unless listed.
Rod-type grounding electrodes of stainless steel
and copper or zinc coated steel shall be at least 15.87 mm
(5⁄8 in.) in diameter, unless listed.
Last edited:
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
Trying to drive a 1/2" aluminum ground rod in most soils will be frustrating at best.
MR. S
Member
- Location
- Connecticut
you can't use aluminum as a ground rod, I'M thinking more of a solid copper rod
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
That would be a little soft too. A bronze or brass alloy could be made stiffer and more likely to survive being driven.
Also bronze would be more corrosion resistant.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
That would be a little soft too. A bronze or brass alloy could be made stiffer and more likely to survive being driven.
Also bronze would be more corrosion resistant. But on the expensive side.
Cavie
Senior Member
- Location
- SW Florida
That would be a little soft too. A bronze or brass alloy could be made stiffer and more likely to survive being driven.
Also bronze would be more corrosion resistant. But on the expensive side.
1/2 copper ground rod is very common. Google is your friend.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
I will not say there is no copper ground rods, but most common 1/2 inch rod found is steel with copper coating. If it were solid copper you would smash it very easily even in moderately soft soil when driving it. You would never drive it in hard soil, it would just smash it.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
On the first two pages of my search, each and every unqualified reference to "1/2 inch copper ground rod" turned out on closer inspection of the linked page to be "copper clad", "copper coated" or "copper plated" in the specs, even though the first page often just said "copper rod".
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