How to put pipe into ground the easy way.....

[KG4JJS]

Thought I would post my solution to getting poles into ground for horz loop....

Ok so I bought 4 3/4 inch galvanized water pipes, took my water hose hooked up to the end of the pipe,placed the pipe in the spot I wanted it. turned the water on full and presto pipe went into the ground 5 feet in around a minute.No pounding or effort needed.Wow I couldn't believe it.

So if you want place a ground rod or poles for an antenna into the ground with NO effort try it it works.
73
kg4jjs
Tim

[WN9HJW]

People have been using this trick for decades.

It is a really bad way to put in ground rods.

[K9STH]

You might get away with it for putting in poles that won't have much of a load. However, that is absolutely NOT the way to put in a ground rod. A ground rod has to be against UNDISTURBED soil to be an effective ground. Now tamping down the surface "may" help for the first 6 inches to a foot. But, for anything lower than that and it will take YEARS, if ever in your lifetime, for the rod to make a good connection.

Glen, K9STH

[AC0FP]

You might get away with it for putting in poles that won't have much of a load. However, that is absolutely NOT the way to put in a ground rod. A ground rod has to be against UNDISTURBED soil to be an effective ground. Now tamping down the surface "may" help for the first 6 inches to a foot. But, for anything lower than that and it will take YEARS, if ever in your lifetime, for the rod to make a good connection.

Glen, K9STH

Is there any test data to backup that opinion?

fp

[K9KJM]

Yes, In fact there is lots of test data to prove that "washing in" ground rods is NOT the way to do it. You want good firm contact with the earth for a good ground connection. The easy, Correct way to do it is with a "Hilti" or other powered jackhammer type tool.

[KB1CKT]

I wonder if the method would work better, with lower ground resistance that is, if salt water or some other conductive fluid was used, instead of plain tap water. [Of course, the salt water would probably kill the grass, and eat the copper pipe away in short order; I'm strictly wondering if something other than tap water would result in the desired low ground resistance, at least in the short run. Last couple I put in I just pounded in; a nuisance but that's life.]

[KG4JJS]

You might get away with it for putting in poles that won't have much of a load. However, that is absolutely NOT the way to put in a ground rod. A ground rod has to be against UNDISTURBED soil to be an effective ground. Now tamping down the surface "may" help for the first 6 inches to a foot. But, for anything lower than that and it will take YEARS, if ever in your lifetime, for the rod to make a good connection.

Glen, K9STH

You know I never thought of that it makes good sense.Thanks for mentioning it Glen.
At this point I have the 80 meter loop up on the new poles, so far so good we will see in time how it holds up.Nice to have it off the wood fence posts where it was previously mounted the wood was rotting and it wasn't very stable.

[K8ERV]

I think you could get the dirt to compact tightly around the rod if you get Pat to stomp on it.

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[WA6MHZ]

You aint gonna go down 6 inches with ANY METHOD other than DYNAMITE in Crest. SOLID ROCK here!

if this is what is ABOVE ground, you can imagine what is BELOW!

[K9STH]

CKT:

It might work for a few nanoseconds!

Saltwater won't "eat away" copper! It has been used for centuries to protect the hulls of sailing ships!

Rock salt is often used in "chemical" ground rods to improve grounding. However, the hollow rod still has to be driven, not "washed".

Glen, K9STH