Installing earth rod

[Plonker 3]

Cutting a long story short, I may need to install a earth rod soon at a domestic property but have never installed one before, I am more than happy to carry it out, I know about the regs side of things, but I would like some pointers as to what to look out for how to do it and any surveys that may need to be carried (like finding underground services etc) before I commence with the job.

 

[DurhamSparky]

get rod..

get lump hammer..

hit into ground

pray you dont hit anything!

 

[robsparky1975]

have you done a pme enquiry? or is it right in the sticks

 

[Marvo]

It might be different in the UK but here the records of buried services are hit and miss. To play it safe we usually dig a hole about a meter deep then start whacking in 2.3 meter rods one after another with brass couplings. We test after the first four rods are in and formulate a plan from there depending on what readings we get.

 

[Rockingit]

go deep to be of any use (as in 2-3m min)

and don't mushroom the heads or you won't get the next rod or clamp on!

 

[cbw]

Urine is apparently better than a watering can full of water....

Drink much coffee,

Then proceed as DS says,

Then relieve yourself all over the spike.

 

[cbw]

On a serious note, rarley have I had to go deeper than 4 foot here, infact only twice in the last year have I had to go 8 foot.

As also mentioned, dont mushroom the end, just incase you need to connect that second rod. (Good advice!!!)

 

[DurhamSparky]

unless you hit an incoming service then relive your self in your trousers..!!

 

[Plonker 3]

have you done a pme enquiry? or is it right in the sticks

Bit of a rush job, currently no earth at premises, had a extension built and certified 5 years ago said it was a PME but earth coiled up under DB . Asked customer to enquire but may need to be done sooner rather than later unfortunately.

 

[Guitarist]

Bit of a rush job, currently no earth at premises, had a extension built and certified 5 years ago said it was a PME but earth coiled up under DB . Asked customer to enquire but may need to be done sooner rather than later unfortunately.

Interesting to see what readings were recorded on that certificate...

 

[Marvo]

On a serious note, rarley have I had to go deeper than 4 foot here, infact only twice in the last year have I had to go 8 foot.

I'm not sure 4 foot depth is going to give sufficient earth stability. The shortest rod we would ever use is 4.4 meters.

 

[Plonker 3]

They are good, I have photos of the install, will upload them tomorrow if I get a chance. Ze of 0.2 ohms very good for just a gas pipe providing the earth.

 

[cbw]

Thats amazing!!!

As I said 4 foot round this way usually gives a reading below 50 ohms.

 

[Plonker 3]

I know, just realised that it was a PIR they gave the customer not a EIC but still no remedials on it, makes you wonder what some people actually do with certs, even ticked the box saying Suppliers Facility for earthing arrangement.

 

[Engineer54]

On a serious note, rarley have I had to go deeper than 4 foot here, infact only twice in the last year have I had to go 8 foot.

As also mentioned, dont mushroom the end, just incase you need to connect that second rod. (Good advice!!!)

4 foot?? lol!! And what sort of Ra values do you get with 4 foot of rod in the ground then?? I won't even ask whether you have checked on, or confident on the stability of those values, because unless your going into salt or brackish marshland it's unlikely you'll have any....