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Message-ID: <3.0.1.16.20010130114756.310fbbd2@mail.cc.kuleuven.ac.be>
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 11:47:56
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
From: "Rik Strobbe" <rik.strobbe@fys.kuleuven.ac.be>
Subject: Re: LF: Earth Rods / Spectrograms
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>I found an easy way to drive in earth rods made from copper water 
>pipe is like this: I found a steel rod of a slightly bigger diameter than 
>the pipe, put a point on the end, and hammered it in to the ground. 
>When it is in deep enough, it can be pulled out, and the copper pipe 
>tapped into the hole. When driving the steel rod, it helps to pull it 
>out occasionally, and pour some soapy water into the hole. This 
>makes it easier to drive in, and easier to get the rod out 
>afterwards. You need to fix something to the rod to hold on to when 
>you are pulling it out. I used "Mole grips".

Al alternative to 'brute force' to get a pipe in the ground is to use water :
connect one end to a garden hose, put the pipe vertical (with the garden
hose end up) and let the water flow. The pipe will gently slide into the
ground, unles you have a very 'rocky' ground. Reduce the water flow for
when you get the last meter in the ground and secure the pipe for some days
(weeks) to avoid a 'China syndrome'.
For a picture of this procedure have a look at :
http://www.qsl.net/on7yd/136ant.htm#Radials

BTW : if prefer galvanized iron pipes, if you have 'acid soil' it will
'eat' your copper pipe.

73, Rik  ON7YD