ground rod pounder

[e67]

I have a Very strong Dewalt auto impact driver. Hardly ever use it. Can I get a pounder socket tool that works on an impact driver and drives in a ground rod?
It would have to take the impact and direct it down I guess....what do you know??

 

[Q-Dog]

Internet search ... It is called a ground rod driver. Just have to match it to your machine.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-10-in-Alloy-Steel-Masonry-Drill-Bit-for-SDS-MaDrill/50430940

 

[Snaketzu]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bosch-10-in-Alloy-Steel-Masonry-Drill-Bit-for-SDS-MaDrill/50430940

I use something similar to that but in SDS-Max for a much larger drill.
Any drill that can use a standard SDS bit isn't going to do much for putting in a ground rod, except in very loose soil.
Not sure an impact tool would work very good either, but it is worth a try. Buy a cheap impact rated socket adapter and 5/8 deep impact socket and let her rip.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Not sure an impact tool would work very good either, but it is worth a try. Buy a cheap impact rated socket adapter and 5/8 deep impact socket and let her rip.

I used a hex adapter and socket in my hammer drill years ago when I was wiring my garage, it worked but was extremely slow going.
I suspect results with an impact gun will be similar, regardless it sure beat swinging a sledge standing on a ladder on uneven ground.

 

[Snaketzu]

I used a hex adapter and socket in my hammer drill years ago when I was wiring my garage, it worked but was extremely slow going.
I suspect results with an impact gun will be similar, regardless it sure beat swinging a sledge standing on a ladder on uneven ground.

I may or may not have ever locked the trigger on my SDS Max drill with a cable tie and walked away to do other things while the drill drives the ground rod.

 

[marionw]

T-Post or fence post driver.

Kids or wife can also be used....

 

[seneysolar]

Yep, fence post driver. Just have to sledgehammer the last 18"

 

[SparkyJJO]

Dampening the dirt around the rod helps. Driving into dry ground really sucks.

 

[cs1234]

Why do you want to put in a ground rod? You aren't putting in additional ones at a property that already has an existing building ground, are you? If so, let us know exactly what you're planning to do, so we can stop you.

 

[SomethingAppropriate]

Yep, fence post driver. Just have to sledgehammer the last 18"
View attachment 223466

That is how I did it. Last 18 was tough tho!

 

[Steve_W]

My local rentals shop has a ground rod driver compatible with the SDS Max hammer drill. $8.99 for the day.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

My local rentals shop has a ground rod driver compatible with the SDS Max hammer drill. $8.99 for the day

I welded a peice of spring steel to a broken sds bit then welded some steel conduit to that took 5mins and about $0.20 of welding rod, might start renting it out if i can get $9 a day for it, any takers?

 

[Crowz]

My Milwaukee sds hammer drill drives grounding rods like its going thru butter. Of course there will probably come a time I run into uber dirt which stumps it but so far its been a breeze.

 

[Skypower]

Around here, the ground is loaded with “Folsom potatoes”. Let’s just they ain’t organic. If you hit one, stop, move it and try again. No fence post driver, jack hammer driver, sledge, curse or prayer is going to put a ground rod through those.

 

[glandpuck]

Folks, here in So Cal where the ground can be rock hard and even with rocks in the way and granite formations, the tool of choice is to rent a large 105 lb jack hammer and a ground rod bit. Then try to pound it into the ground. Failing this, you can try a jack hammer on the end of a min Excavator or if able, a front loader. If that doesn't work, there are usually alternatives like laying the rod horizontally 36 inches deep or putting in the ground on an angle. Can also be put into a trench and covered with concrete. DO NOT CUT OFF THE GROUND ROD. Inspectors have impedance devices and can easily identify a ground rod that has been cut off to shorten length. Ask the inspector what to do.

 

[glandpuck]

Around here, the ground is loaded with “Folsom potatoes”. Let’s just they ain’t organic. If you hit one, stop, move it and try again. No fence post driver, jack hammer driver, sledge, curse or prayer is going to put a ground rod through those.

This is correct. Hence the large concrete ballast block to hold down ground array in place of 36 inch deep sonotubes.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

Just clay here , haven't seen a chunk of rock in almost a decade. Just dig a small hole fill it with water and by the end of the day you can tap in 9ft of rod with a toffee hammer.

 

[glandpuck]

Just clay here , haven't seen a chunk of rock in almost a decade. Just dig a small hole fill it with water and by the end of the day you can tap in 9ft of rod with a toffee hammer.

I am jealous!

 

[ThaiTaffy]

I am jealous!

Don't be foundations on pretty much every building are almost non existent even massive piles sink we ended up building the whole house on a 24"floating slab the locals were very confused as they normally deal in 3inch slabs and pig wire used as rebar.

 

[e67]

Why do you want to put in a ground rod? You aren't putting in additional ones at a property that already has an existing building ground, are you? If so, let us know exactly what you're planning to do, so we can stop you.

bolt on ground when in use only

 

[cs1234]

bolt on ground when in use only

I'm not grasping what you're doing there.

Do you have more than one ground rod installed at your property?

If so, how far apart are these ground rods?

Are the rods used for systems that are completely independent of one another, with no connecting wires between them?

 

[ThaiTaffy]

I'm not grasping what you're doing there.

Do you have more than one ground rod installed at your property?

If so, how far apart are these ground rods?

Are the rods used for systems that are completely independent of one another, with no connecting wires between them?

Wow your that far ahead in thinking I'm still focused on trying to work out what the ball is attached to the cable on the right.

 

[time2roll]

Wow your that far ahead in thinking I'm still focused on trying to work out what the ball is attached to the cable on the right.

Need a close up but it looks like a makeshift clamp to connect the wires.

 

[ThaiTaffy]

Need a close up but it looks like a makeshift clamp to connect the wires.

Bit it's spherical unless they didn't have a bolt and used some form of threaded ball joint.

 

[cs1234]

Bit it's spherical unless they didn't have a bolt and used some form of threaded ball joint.

I think it's two wires with terminal ends. One of them has a bolt through it, the other isn't connected. When he wants to couple them, he is attaching a nut on the other side of the bolt with both terminal ends touching each other.

I'm just trying to figure out if he is putting in a second ground rod at his solar array or something.. and determining whether he should be doing that or not.