earth rod help

[a1]

If you want to call it that kme.

 

[NozSpark]

The only things I have ever hit when whacking a rod in are my fingers or stones..

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

The only things I have ever hit when whacking a rod in are my fingers or stones..

You do need to hit the Rod as well NOZ..

you will be there ALL day bashing your fingers and stones and the rod won't budge an inch!!!

] ] ] ]

:slap :slap:slapROTFWLROTFWLROTFWLROTFWL

 

[muffin]

hi

if you have a clamp that is in one part it is always easier to put the earth rod box on the floor, put the clamp on the rod(loose), and hit it in. if you dont then the end will burr over and you will have to cut off the burr or file it.

also if your next to a building then allow for footings come away a good 12" or so.

most stones will break in half given enough effort but you can easily pull it back up and trry 6" either side of where you were to advoide it.

things do go wrong so not a bad idea of finding stop taps in the road, look for directions of drains and if any underground cables for shed or mains in.

 

[kme]

hiif you have a clamp that is in one part it is always easier to put the earth rod box on the floor, put the clamp on the rod(loose), and hit it in. if you dont then the end will burr over and you will have to cut off the burr or file it.

Can I just say that, if the clamp has a brass nut & bolt on it, it is a REALLY good idea to take `em off first. I do as MCBfinder says; but if you leave the nut & bolt in, the brass bolt can snap when you try & tighten it; which seems to be a direct result of the vibrations in the metal from the hammering of the rod.........

KME

 

[NozSpark]

Yep, put the clamp on first...

The last rod I put in was a 3/4 inch, had a coupler and bolt on top and couldn't remove them afterwards

 

[Apache]

Yep, put the clamp on first...

Can I just say that, if the clamp has a brass nut & bolt on it, it is a REALLY good idea to take `em off first.

put the clamp on the rod(loose), and hit it in.

You can see how the newbies get confused!

 

[Lurch]

You can see how the newbies get confused!

Put clamp on, take out nut and bolt, hit rod. Done.

 

[PIP IOM]

We put loads of these in nearly all doubled up or trebled sometimes. I've put 16 in once and still couldn't get 200ohm. Had to explain to MEA (supply authority) that everything tripped/tested OK and I had applied the 50 volt calc. (It was not far off)

Just a tip if you are doubling, when you are coupling the rods damage the last few threads a bit so that you really have to double pipe grip it to tighten it. This stops it coming loose when you're bashing it in (extremely frustrating)

Does anybody know if there is a maximum distance from the house/building that your chain of rods can travel as ours do sometimes have to, to get any decent readings.

 

[batty]

We put loads of these in nearly all doubled up or trebled sometimes. I've put 16 in once and still couldn't get 200ohm. Had to explain to MEA (supply authority) that everything tripped/tested OK and I had applied the 50 volt calc. (It was not far off)Just a tip if you are doubling, when you are coupling the rods damage the last few threads a bit so that you really have to double pipe grip it to tighten it. This stops it coming loose when you're bashing it in (extremely frustrating)

Does anybody know if there is a maximum distance from the house/building that your chain of rods can travel as ours do sometimes have to, to get any decent readings.

I think you can go up to a mile but cable gets expensive.

(just kidding)

 

[steptoe]

We put loads of these in nearly all doubled up or trebled sometimes. I've put 16 in once and still couldn't get 200ohm. Had to explain to MEA (supply authority) that everything tripped/tested OK and I had applied the 50 volt calc. (It was not far off)Just a tip if you are doubling, when you are coupling the rods damage the last few threads a bit so that you really have to double pipe grip it to tighten it. This stops it coming loose when you're bashing it in (extremely frustrating)

Does anybody know if there is a maximum distance from the house/building that your chain of rods can travel as ours do sometimes have to, to get any decent readings.

No max distance away, but there is a distance between the rods otherwise they are not as effective,

basically twice the depth of the deepest rod between any two,

another tip I have used a lot(esp round Laxey) is to double up the cable between the rods and strip the outer sheath off one of them, can sometimes make a major difference.

HTH.

EDIT,- keep heading towards Douglas, you will be getting closer to star point then.

 

[muffin]

the 200 is a recommended reading not the max, this is suggested that it is a satble reading. however if you are getting 300-400 when the ground is dry then its not likly to get any worse. the max for 30ma is 1666 ohms and for 100ma 500 ohms.

my nic guy has said you can go back to a job a few months later and retest if you realy want to make a point of it, just to show it hasnt changed much.

 

[muffin]

re brass bolts, they are just cheap rubbish imo

 

[steptoe]

re brass bolts, they are just cheap rubbish imo

legally its all you are allowed to use though.

the copper ones are so bad you are not (AFAIK) allowed them anymore, they simply stretch and snap.

 

[wozz]

the 200 is a recommended reading not the max, this is suggested that it is a satble reading. however if you are getting 300-400 when the ground is dry then its not likly to get any worse. the max for 30ma is 1666 ohms and for 100ma 500 ohms.my nic guy has said you can go back to a job a few months later and retest if you realy want to make a point of it, just to show it hasnt changed much.

GN3 says something along the lines of electrodes should be tested (or installed??) when ground is driest.

 

[batty]

GN3 says something along the lines of electrodes should be tested (or installed??) when ground is driest.

Bu..er if you want to do a job in the summer though.

 

[Apache]

Bu..er if you want to do a job in the summer though.

Sorry Batty, I didn't know you've moved to Spain.............

Wet Fish

 

[wozz]

Bu..er if you want to do a job in the summer though.

GN3 is only guidance of course ; \

 

[steptoe]

maybe the posh people can order dry days for when they are working outside driving rods in.

 

[PIP IOM]

No max distance away, but there is a distance between the rods otherwise they are not as effective,

basically twice the depth of the deepest rod between any two,

another tip I have used a lot(esp round Laxey) is to double up the cable between the rods and strip the outer sheath off one of them, can sometimes make a major difference.

HTH.

EDIT,- keep heading towards Douglas, you will be getting closer to star point then.

Yes this was an old trick that we used to do, but ECA frowned (as they do) their advice is that vertical good readings are more stable than horizontal (suppose it makes sense) They don't have to put rods in on our east coast (stone/rock,then more stone!!!!)

Plus we have to use 16mm GY for all earths TNS and TT and 2 of those isn't fun through a 20mm HI plastic conduit. That's what I use the full length of any runs/ buried as far as I can get it with tape a bit above. I take it that's the norm?