It is important to have your house or permanent structure properly grounded if you have electricity in the building. This can help prevent a fire should lightning strike or some other electrical surge be sent towards the building. Installing a grounding rod properly is very important but also much easier than you might think. There are some regulations in areas on what the requirements are, so be sure to check and see what the rules are in your area. You will also want to ask your utility company to mark where any underground lines are so you avoid hitting them when installing the rod.
First, you need to gather the equipment needed. This will include a shovel or post hole digger, a driving tool, hammer or mallet, and the proper type of rod. They are eight feet long and usually made of copper. Ask your hardware store to point you to the right type of rods for the job. Using the wrong material will not protect your home from a surge.
Next, start digging the hole. It is important to mention again that the utility company should mark the locations of other wires so you can safely dig before starting. You will also need to select a spot near the electrical panel on the outside of the house. If you are too close to the building you may reduce its effectiveness. Being placed one to two feet away is about right, but not a requirement.
Next, start digging. If you have the post hole digger, you can use it to get a few feet down. These are better than shovels because you do not need a wide hole, but a deep one. If you only have a shovel it will do, but the hole won't be as deep. Either way, you will get a good start and be on your way.
When the hole is dug, add water. This is to help soften the ground so it will be easier to push the pole into the ground. Being by pushing it by hand. You may have to move it around in a circle to help get it through the packed dirt. There will be one end that is pointed and that one should go into the ground. At some point, you won't be able to hand push it in and will need to move to the next step with the tools.
The pole driver works best. It is designed to fit over the pole, making it easy to pound it into the ground without using a hammer, which can miss and hit your hand. If you don't have one, use a two by four or other board to give yourself a larger surface to hit. Keep pounding and driving the pole into the ground until it is just above the hole.
Attach the ground wire. It is best to use the special ground clamp that usually comes with the pole. Make sure the end of the ground wire is exposed if it is a shielded wire. Give it enough slack from the electrical panel so it will not come loose if the pole or wire is hit or bumped.
Finally, fill in the hole. If the rules require the pole to be completely underground, finish hammering it down and fill it in. In any case, it is best to keep it low enough that a lawn mower blade will not hit is. If you placed it a couple of feet from the building, you might consider burying the wire until it comes up next to the building to protect it from weed eaters and lawn mowers.
First, you need to gather the equipment needed. This will include a shovel or post hole digger, a driving tool, hammer or mallet, and the proper type of rod. They are eight feet long and usually made of copper. Ask your hardware store to point you to the right type of rods for the job. Using the wrong material will not protect your home from a surge.
Next, start digging the hole. It is important to mention again that the utility company should mark the locations of other wires so you can safely dig before starting. You will also need to select a spot near the electrical panel on the outside of the house. If you are too close to the building you may reduce its effectiveness. Being placed one to two feet away is about right, but not a requirement.
Next, start digging. If you have the post hole digger, you can use it to get a few feet down. These are better than shovels because you do not need a wide hole, but a deep one. If you only have a shovel it will do, but the hole won't be as deep. Either way, you will get a good start and be on your way.
When the hole is dug, add water. This is to help soften the ground so it will be easier to push the pole into the ground. Being by pushing it by hand. You may have to move it around in a circle to help get it through the packed dirt. There will be one end that is pointed and that one should go into the ground. At some point, you won't be able to hand push it in and will need to move to the next step with the tools.
The pole driver works best. It is designed to fit over the pole, making it easy to pound it into the ground without using a hammer, which can miss and hit your hand. If you don't have one, use a two by four or other board to give yourself a larger surface to hit. Keep pounding and driving the pole into the ground until it is just above the hole.
Attach the ground wire. It is best to use the special ground clamp that usually comes with the pole. Make sure the end of the ground wire is exposed if it is a shielded wire. Give it enough slack from the electrical panel so it will not come loose if the pole or wire is hit or bumped.
Finally, fill in the hole. If the rules require the pole to be completely underground, finish hammering it down and fill it in. In any case, it is best to keep it low enough that a lawn mower blade will not hit is. If you placed it a couple of feet from the building, you might consider burying the wire until it comes up next to the building to protect it from weed eaters and lawn mowers.
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