ground rod question [RE-wrenches]

Mon Jun 5 05:16:01 PDT 2006

Last week we finished a net meter install--pole mount-- and as usual worked
with a local electrician for the AC connections, since they're familiar with
conditions and inspectors, as well as specialized tools and supplies ! The
shale began about 2 ' down, so standard practice, including the utility co.,
is to drive at an angle. We placed two rods at the arrays-- 1 at ea. pole--
and tied into the utility ground at the meter base. Our rods went in with a
roto hammer with ground rod attachment-- hammer only, no roto--
Both rods about 15 min.

At the other end of the scale, and in sandy soil near the coast, we were
rebuilding a power panel thoroughly zapped when we noticed that the 2 8'
rods could be pulled up by hand, easily! After some research, we decided to
use a plate type ground. About 10 sq.ft. of used copper roofing with
strapping attached to ground the array. Off grid . We've also used this
approach for a site on the Equator which was built on a slab of rock . The
plate was placed at the edge of the forest under as much moist cover as they
could get.
Does anyone else have experience with this approach ?

Thanks !

Ken

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Duchon" <info at asappower.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2006 12:27 PM
Subject: RE: ground rod question [RE-wrenches]

>
> Dear all,
> Wow, some pretty gruesome stories related to ground rods.  I've certainly
> missed a few times with the ol' sledge hammer technique and the idea of a
> simple enlarged contact area (made of titanium?) that could serve as the
> strike zone seems fitting, but what do you about the "schwiing" effect
after
> every hit?  Twine and belt loops?  Yeah, ok, maybe.   The water jet idea
is
> also kind of appealing but not sure if that would work in all
circumstance.
> Miller's pilot hole certainly seems plausible, but might need a tiny
> diamond-bit core-drilling head/device to break through the tough stuff and
> send up small particles center of shaft?
>
> Well, with all the suggestions I did settle on a Hiliti roto-hammer, their
> largest model (15A max), rented from Home Debit, with ground rod
attachment.
> Went in like butter for four feet, met the same bedrock of solid granite
> (not decomposed in this area) and stopped and then burned up the Xantrex
> 1500 w portable power on wheels (about 250 feet from nearest outlet,
> fortunately, the unit kicks itself off before any damage is done).  But it
> wasn't going anywhere anyway (and yes I knew I was pushin' it with only
1350
> continuous watts on the power supply).  So it did work nicely for a while.
> I was so excited!  But alas, will have to dig this one out like the others
> left poking out and cut off below grade and cover.
>
> So...got job permitted yesterday as inspector watched my guys finish
digging
> an 8' trench with heavy pike and spade shovel, achieving 30" below grade
> (inspector didn't even bother to measure as he knew what we were going
> through, seemed like 3 feet we had, and felt like 4!).  Laid the ground
rod
> horizontal to granite slate bed, after removing many large pieces of
broken
> up rock as we went.   The area stays relatively moist and they were ok
with
> it and the array performed nicely upon commissioning.   We'll see what
> happens if lightning strikes.
>
> Moral of my story?   Do whatever works OR whatever is easiest until you
> git'r'done...
>
> Thanks again to everyone.  I love this list and all of you.
>
> Peter Duchon
> asappower.com
> 1auinc.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at charter.net]
> Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 1:23 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: ground rod question [RE-wrenches]
>
>
>
> Friends:
>
> A good friend of mine injured his thumb very badly with a ground rod
> driver-- I assume it was a slide type driver from his description of the
> accident.  I will not use one.
>
> We have a large Bosch rotary hammer with the ground rod attachment.  With
> our sandstone soil it frequently fails the test.  I was developing at one
> time an eight foot by 1/2" masonry drill to drill a pilot hole.  I think
> this might be the ticket.  My design bogged down in that I was unable to
> figure out how to create flutes all the way up to clear material....
>
> William Miller
>
>
>
> At 07:54 PM 5/31/2006, you wrote:
>
> >A similar story:
> >The apprentice of an electrician we work with (his daughter) put a ground
> >rod right through her hand using a fence-post driver. Came up off the top
> >and on the way down.....:(
> >
> >I don't mind the sledge hammer so much, but sometimes wish for larger
> >surface contact area to the head :)
> >
> >-Kelly
> >Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
> >Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
> >Renewable Energy Systems
> >NABCEP Certified PV Installer
> >987 Wanamaker Rd,
> >Coupeville, WA 98239
> >PH & FAX 360-678-7131
> >sunwind at whidbeysunwind.com
> >
> >On 5/31/06 6:52 AM, "Dan Whigham, SC Solar" <DWhigham at scsolar.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Todd,
> > >
> > > I will concur, but take it a step further. I lifted one up too high
and
> my
> > > finger was caught between top of the ground rod and the handle of the
> > driver
> > > when it came down full thrust. If it were not for gloves, I would have
> lost
> > > the finger for good. The finger to be re-attached, it cut through the
> bone
> > > and 2 stainless steel pins held my finger together while it healed-
> which
> > > took many months. I personally stopped driving the ground rods with
the
> > > fence post driver method- however my helpers still use the method.
> > >
> > > Best Regards,
> > >
> > > Dan Whigham
> > >
> > > SC Solar
> > > Lighting The Way
> > >
> > > www.scsolar.com
> > > 803-802-5522  Phone
> > > 803-233-1750 Fax
> > >
>
> --
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>
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