How Far Out From House To Locate Earth Rod?

[HappyHippyDad]

A few days ago I went to a house which had no main earth and no main bonding.

I have now installed the bonding and also an earth rod and managed to get a satisfactory Ra. I did have a couple of failed attempts at getting the earth rod in as I just hit rock (or at least something very hard) and it was a right pain to get the rod out again to relocate.

I have a few questions..

1. Is there generally builders rubble close to the house underground? If so how far out do you generally locate the rod from the side of the house?
2. Any tips for getting that rod through anything hard? I drilled down a bit (400mm) but there were still hard objects in the places that I failed to locate the rod in initially.

Cheers.

 

[Knobhead]

Rods should be as close as possible to the house.

Why?

 

[ruston]

If you can get down two of these close to the house there is usually nothing below that, as any service will usually rise to enter the house. Within reason services will come in in straight lines.
Save yourself worry and dig a cross trench if it is possible.
If you get down to clay and there is no 'mix' ( mixed excavated materials) in it ; it is usually an indication of undisturbed ground.

 

[Midwest]

Can you expand more on why you have stated this and the advantages it may have?
This runs counter to my understanding of maintaining ground quality and soil dampness for a rod.

Can you expand more on why you have stated this and the advantages it may have?
This runs counter to my understanding of maintaining ground quality and soil dampness for a rod.

Perhaps he's concerned the same as I would be on puncturing another service.

 

[Knobhead]

I still want to know why the rods should be close to the house.


The wider the spread of the rods the more stable and efficient the earth nest. Rods as in plural.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I still want to know why the rods should be close to the house.


The wider the spread of the rods the more stable and efficient the earth nest. Rods as in plural.

I would be interested to know as well...

 

[ruston]

Usually because there is no choice , up here many of the terraced house (ex NCB ) have no , or very small gardens. Some the back and front doors are stepped straight onto the pavement.
In an perfect situation Tony's post is ideal.
My post was mainly aimed at finding the services where worry about damage knocking rods in ,as asked in an earlier post.