ground rods (again) but different

I've seen several references to ground rods here, and a lot of other places on the 'net.

Most refer to a copper ground rod.

I haven't seen one of those around here since the 60's. All that are available are copper plated steel, pointed on both ends and 8' long.

That's what I used on my recent house service change and had no problems (other than having to rent a electric jack hammer to get through the rock) Neither my sledge hammer nor hammer drill was no match for that!

Inspector was happy with 8' plated steel, solid #6 copper from rod to meter can and panel.

Is this a regional thing??

YOUR QUESTION

Is this a regional thing??

ANSWER

Yes to some extent, it depends on which version, if any, the local authority, may or may not have adopted, or maybe they have their own code...Or heck maybe there are no requirements where you live and you can do as you see fit and as you consider safe, ground rods or no ground rods at electrical services????? Its your call not mine

That being said, heres information taken from

"Design, Selection and Installation of Electrical Wiring and Equipment" by LaVerne E. Stetson, P.E., Agricultural Engineer
USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE

Grounding
A grounding electrode is required at every service entrance. Rods of 8 ft length (minimum) are commonly used, but the NEC (250-81) does allow other methods. Resistance from the grounding electrode to surrounding soil must be 25 ohms or less (NEC 250-84). If more than one rod must be used to get 25 ohms or less, additional rods should be spaced at least twice the length of the ground rods (e.g., two 8 ft rods should be at least 16 ft apart) and interconnected with a copper conductor and ground rod clamps approved for direct burial

When I was a secondary power distribution design enginner it wasnt so much if the rods were pure copper or copper clad etc. (I saw them 8 ft and 10 feet) IT WAS IF THEY TESTED TO BE 25 OHMS OR LESS if we drove one and it didnt pass then we drove another rod.

So again YES its a regional thing as different jurisdictions have different requirements BUT THE 25 OHMS SEEMS TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THEN IF THEY WERE PURE COPPER OR COPPER CLAD

NOTE proper Grounding of a buildings electrical service is essential to protect against lightning and surges and thats what the panel of experts that write the NEC say and based on my education and years of experience as a design engineer, I AM OF THE SAME OPINION and in good faith have to advise proper grounding electrode earth grounding at every buildings electrical service (subject ONLY to the single branch circuit exception and even if untrained unprofessional Billy Bob and Bubba think its not necessary lol).....

HOWEVER yall feel free to do it however you please even if in disagreement with what the NEC requires, its you and your familys lives at risk not mine.

Best wishes yall keep safe now

John T BSEE Purdue University 1969/1970

Next time you"re at a Barnes & Nobles or some big bookstore, find a latest version of a National Electric Code HANDBOOK. Not just a Code book, but a handbook. There ought to be a complete picture and description in there in the Grounding section. Very informative.
Yep, it"s copper-coated steel, can be driven vertically down, at 45" angle, or laid in a trench as I remember.

We are now on NEC2008 and I'm sort of familiar with the grounding rules for residential service.

I asked mostly because I saw a post recently stating the cost of a copper ground rod to be in the order of $15. Thought to myself, that isn't even scrap copper price! Then realized the poster was likely talking about a clad rod.

Our locals don't measure resistance or require two rods, and I don't have the necessary meter to measure. But I have two anyway since they're cheap and I had the jack hammer on hand to drive one so the second was quick and easy.

I know just enough about electricity to be dangerous, but I do know this- you'll never be wrong adding another ground rod to a barn or home or electric fence installation.

around here we can use ground plates buried three feet, usualy just throw them in the same ditch as the cable

John, I think the thing is solid or copper clad steel. Have never heard of anything but the copper clad and just being refered to as copper instead of plain steel. I don't think a solid copper rod would be strong enough to be able to be driven at least around here. I have still the same equipment there that was installed in 1946 when the farm was wired and then I don't think there were even copper clad, just steel.