| Author |
Message |
    
Streaky
Junior Member
Username: Streaky
Post Number: 28
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 10:56 pm: | 
|
Has anyone ever used copper pipe instead of solid copper ground rods? Do you think it would work ?
Streaky
CEF #805 |
Coyote
Advanced Member
Username: Coyote
Post Number: 882
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 8:51 am: |
|
Never tried but I don't see why it wouldn't work. May be a bit harder getting into the ground unless it's pretty soft. |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 525
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 5:54 pm: |
|
Actually you get more surface area form a copper pipe that from a copper rod. Work it out - you have the outside areas and then the area inside the pipe.
However a 12" sq of flat plate works even better because you get better area. A 8ft pipe has less than 100" of surface are in contact with the ground but a 12 x 12 inch plate has over 288 square inches of surface. Another bonus is a flat plate is easier to add ground radials to than a pipe. |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 434
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 6:19 pm: |
|
a 5/8" diameter,8' long copper-clad groundrod has 188.4 sq inches of surface area.
.625(dia in inches)x3.14(pi)=1.9625(circumfrence)x96(lengh in inches)=188.4 sq inches........(I think that is correct)
tech291
cef#291/cvc#6
kc8zpj |
Streaky
Junior Member
Username: Streaky
Post Number: 30
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 6:20 pm: |
|
Tech237 would you have to bury the plates as deep as the ground rods can go?
Streaky
CEF #805 |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 527
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 9:00 am: |
|
I have, in the past buried the plate at the point where the soil is moist so that would depend on your location.
Tech291 true but you generally have a foot or more of the rod above ground which deducts from the surface area of the ground.
Also the plate is good in areas where you cannot drive a rod due to near the surface rock formations. |
Streaky
Junior Member
Username: Streaky
Post Number: 36
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 9:53 am: |
|
Thanks for the info the plates may be the way to go as we are moving to an acreage and I really don't know what the soil composition is.
Streaky
CEF #805 |
1861
Advanced Member
Username: 1861
Post Number: 561
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 12:45 pm: |
|
Where would you get these plates ? |
Streaky
Junior Member
Username: Streaky
Post Number: 37
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 6:57 pm: |
|
1861
I found them in an industrial supply shop in the electrical section, But I think I will make my own.
Streaky
CEF #805 |
