Protecting your home or shed from electrical surges and lightning strikes is important. Using a grounding rod is needed for this to work properly. It is easy to install, though it does take a bit of effort and some special tools. There may be specific rules in your area on how and where they need to be installed, so be sure to check with a local utility company. It is also very important to have them come out and mark where other lines are to avoid electrocution or damaging other lines.
Being by obtaining the right tools. These will include getting a shovel, a post hole digger, a driving tool, and a hammer or mallet. The rod itself is about eight feet long and made of copper. Make sure to check that it is for grounding electricity or it may not provide the protection that you need. Without the right type, you could be in danger of a house fire.
The next step is to dig the hole. Avoid rocky areas or any places that the utility company marked for other lines. The spot you pick should be between one and two feet from the building for it to work the best. If it is too close, it can reduce the effectiveness by putting the surge back into the building.
With the spot selected you can begin to dig. If you have a post hole digger, you can dig a couple of feet down easily. Using a shovel is fine, but you do not need to dig a wide hole. Dig the hole as deep as you can before moving to the next step.
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.
Once it is a few feet in the ground, grab the other tools to get it to go the rest of the way. The best is a pile driver. This is designed to fit over the pole and allow you to push it in with less effort by lifting and slamming it back down onto the pole. If you do not have one, you might use a two by four to make the surface easier to hit with a hammer or rubber mallet. Hammer the pole until it is either a couple of inches above or level with the hole.
Now you want to attach a ground wire. This will also be attached to your electrical panel, so be sure to handle with care. Some are shielded wires, so you will need to cut the end and expose the copper wire. Use a special clamp to connect to the pole. Make sure there is enough slack in the wire that bumping it will not disconnect it from the rod. You may want to dig a small trench to bury the wire it if is in an area that will be mowed and away from the house a few feet.
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.
Being by obtaining the right tools. These will include getting a shovel, a post hole digger, a driving tool, and a hammer or mallet. The rod itself is about eight feet long and made of copper. Make sure to check that it is for grounding electricity or it may not provide the protection that you need. Without the right type, you could be in danger of a house fire.
The next step is to dig the hole. Avoid rocky areas or any places that the utility company marked for other lines. The spot you pick should be between one and two feet from the building for it to work the best. If it is too close, it can reduce the effectiveness by putting the surge back into the building.
With the spot selected you can begin to dig. If you have a post hole digger, you can dig a couple of feet down easily. Using a shovel is fine, but you do not need to dig a wide hole. Dig the hole as deep as you can before moving to the next step.
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.
Once it is a few feet in the ground, grab the other tools to get it to go the rest of the way. The best is a pile driver. This is designed to fit over the pole and allow you to push it in with less effort by lifting and slamming it back down onto the pole. If you do not have one, you might use a two by four to make the surface easier to hit with a hammer or rubber mallet. Hammer the pole until it is either a couple of inches above or level with the hole.
Now you want to attach a ground wire. This will also be attached to your electrical panel, so be sure to handle with care. Some are shielded wires, so you will need to cut the end and expose the copper wire. Use a special clamp to connect to the pole. Make sure there is enough slack in the wire that bumping it will not disconnect it from the rod. You may want to dig a small trench to bury the wire it if is in an area that will be mowed and away from the house a few feet.
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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