When I was learning the electrician’s trade in central Illinois, I was shown a method of installing ground rods that is fast and easy. First, dig a small hole about a spade deep and a spade wide. Fill the hole with water, and push the rod into the hole. At first you’ll only go in a couple of inches. When you meet resistance, pull the rod out and then push it back in the same spot. The second time the water creates a suction action that helps push the rod into the ground. In the rock-free clay soils common in my area, I don’t even need a hammer to drive rods home. I simply shove them in by hand.
David C. Volker, Angola, NY
View Comments
If only. Where I live there are tree roots and rocks everywhere. Bosch rotohammer, $60 ground rod pusher, ladder with extenders for the uneven ground, hearing and eye protection and done in 5 minutes.
There's a huge downside with this method. The surrounding dirt, once dried, tends to pull back from the ground rod thereby reducing grounding efficiency tremendously. I found this out the hard way from an electrical inspector. Overall, is it worth the family's (or your) safety to save a few minutes??