How-To-drive🤔ground rods🔨better ways then the hammer

Thanks for watching 👍
I'm a Master Electrician on Maryland 's Eastern Shore do electrical, equipment and other related videos for the you Tube community. There's more then one the getting things done an be proficient at what you're doing! I hope this video content helps you 🤔 If it did please consider the👍 and subscribing for future content. Thanks so much an God Bless 🙏

[@nate43data]

Thanks for putting thousands of dollars of expertise into a free video. I'm an amateur radio operator that watches many videos of this nature. Thanks for not editing out the little details, and thanks for sharing your skills to pay the bills. 22 minutes well spent and thank you. Bill me for your time :)

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting 👍. I greatly appreciate you. I'm glad you found the video helpful. Hopefully one day this KZbin thing, will pay me a little 🤔 to help.

[@UltraLimitedHD]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 If your doing grounding for RF for "ham radio" , there are no sharp bends- no 90's. For RF grounding methods refer to Motorola R71 specs that's viewable online. We were responsible for grounding and maintaining 30 VHF radio sites for a 3 letter govt organization that were prone to lightning strikes.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

@@UltraLimitedHD Thanks for watching and the reply. Good sounds information that maybe beneficial to some of my viewers. I thank you for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻. Please comment anytime.

[@pfmcdermott1]

Amateur radio operator warning too! We love this grounding stuff. Also thank you to later comment on no 90 degree bends and Motorola publication info. I came mostly because somehow the ground beneath my yard is just all 1/2 baseball size-baseball size rocks and I’m looking for any help to get a ground rod in. Thank you for the video!

[@MasterRayX]

Very helpful, great video, thank you! I appreciate how you explained everything.

[@garbo8962]

Once spent five hours trying to get one ground rod in a commercial truck garage and not one inch of exposed dirt on the property. Service was at ramp where tractor trailers drove up & down. They poured around 16" of concrete & loads of rebar. Had to leave a 18" long 5/8" diameter spline drive hammer bit stuck in the ground . Could not rotate it with a 24" pipe wrench. Driving ground rods can be a real pain. Nice vidio.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Wow, that worse then a tire shop that I had to drive a few rods into years ago 🤯

[@baitnothing8456]

what a wonderful guy! genius!

[@sparkycampbell6493]

It's nice to see a real professional at work. Very informative.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting sparky. I appreciate it 👍👍

[@gatspilla2916]

Thank you for the info buying mine now Home Depot has a great deal on 2 battery’s and a rotary hammer for 200 bucks I wanna budge but it doesn’t hVs the hammer only feature

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Sounds like your looking at a standard (rotary hammer drill) wich is much to light weight for driving in ground rods. FYI: I wished I bought the next size bigger then the one I bought shown in this video. Always buy the bigger one that has more impact force is key in driving rods.

[@goneboating123]

no more coffee before vids....

[@davidgettman4695]

Well done. It is great fun to watch a pro. Thank you.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting David. I appreciate it 👍

[@detroitjohn4724]

25 OHM resistance per NEC code ?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Yes, code is 25 ohm's or less.

[@apackwestbound5946]

Thank you sir.

[@HotHammster]

Ha ha. Speeded up video makes it look quick!

[@alfonso704]

Play it in 0.75X for the real speed.

[@tiggeroush]

any idea where I could find the buchanan?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and replying. I've had that for many years now. I've recently done a few searches and I'm not finding anything. I'll be doing another video of cheaper alternatives to drive ground rods this year.

[@dirtyblonde1707]

Hey there! Where can you get that Buchanan Ground pounder? I work in telecom and installing grounding rods are practically the staple of this industry 🤣

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I've had that thing, so many years now. Let me look and see if I can come up with more information and where to buy it.

[@dirtyblonde1707]

Do you personally deal with a lot of rocky soil? Roto hammers are great and all by they can be so slow and we hit rocks often

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

No, not at all. Very few underground rocks on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Mostly due to being so close to the shoreline.

[@U2BER2012]

What do you suggest for driving gnd. rod into extreme rocky soil & clay?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. That's a great question. I once asked an electrical inspector that same question. His reply was try to drive the ground rod at an angle up to 45° to establish each rod. He said if this wasn't possible I could dig a horizontal trench below the frost line for the area I'm working an install a grounding 2½ times the length of a normal length rod laying down. That would be a 20' rod for every 8' rod that was required to meet the 25 ohm's or less . Please check with your local electrical inspector about ground rod installation for Rocky conditions. I don't want to steer you wrong.

[@U2BER2012]

@workingmanrondoyle3287 Great advice, Thank You!

[@luckyhiker3434]

Wish you lived near me! Great job.

[@electricianron_New_Jersey]

Dude you should get the SDS Max, you won’t regret it.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Ron. I have tried one from another fellow electrician had at the job site. And I have to admit, I was impressed with it. Thanks for the comment. It's a good idea to get one!

[@andrewchen1025]

This is exactly what I’m looking for! Thank you . What is the name and size of the front attachment?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Andrew. The attachment I'm using in the video is a Milwaukee SDS Plus ground rod driver sold through Home Depot online only. They sell them in different configurations so make sure you get the one that fits your rotary hammer.

[@ediaz8786]

Nice work

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate you 👍🏻

[@dominicwhite6529]

Curious are you talking fast or if the video being played in × 1.5 speed

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

No, I don't talk that fast. It's play back speed. For a normal speed of this video set your's to .75 Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻

[@mikezimmerman2786]

It took me e 3 days of pounding to get my first ground rod in with a maul hammer and lots of water. Underground Shale ledge close by.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Oh man 🤯 that is hard ground. Your very persistent mike, to spend 3 days on one ground rod 🦾🦾🦾

[@mikezimmerman2786]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 I had to get it in that place for a sub panel .

[@PanamaSticks]

Does the rod have to be COMPLETELY buried to pass code? Would like to have the connection above ground so it can be inspected. Also, I didn't hear the diameter of the rod. Is it 1/2 or 5/8"? And what was the gauge of the wire?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting . I really appreciate it 👍🏻. No, the rod doesn't have to be below grade. But can be if you choose too. Most inspectors will want to see this on rough in, so I would advise leaving this open until after their finished. No.6 solid bare copper for Most residential services 400 amps and under. Ground rods I like and use most are ½"x 8' but ⅝"x 8' can also be used. I hope that answers your questions.

[@rukinaa]

Lots of rock where I'm at so when I know the hammer is gonna be used I just put the nut over the rod as tight as possible while still allowing it to slide on it's own and let it sit at the bottom. That way you don't need to worry about the top mushrooming and blocking the nut. Most of the time I just use a sds max drill and the rod fits right in the chuck of it.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting Brian. I've had one rod the SDS wouldn't drive in. It seemed like I was hitting rocks. I had to use the ground pounder to send them home.

[@hlee5919]

I thought people in Maryland talked really fast in this video. Didn't know video was sped up. Lol

[@HenriqueSilva-ow6qy]

What de preference of profissional in your country? Makita, dewalt, ou bosch? In cordless tool category. Congratulations from brasil.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Henrique. Over here in the states, Milwaukee and DeWalt are what most professionals are seen using 🛠️. What county are you from and what are you all using for tool brands?

[@HenriqueSilva-ow6qy]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 i am from brasil. And here corded tool are most popular than cordless tools, i am not profissional, i am houseful user. And the brands most popular in here are makita,dewalt and bosch. Milwalkee is rare and more expensive.

[@tyyoung3698]

hey Ron, what's the best way to reach you to bid on a job here on the Eastern Shore?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks tyyoung3698 for watching and the reply to this video. As of right now, I'm not biding jobs. I've got more work then one person can do by myself. Thanks for inquiring ❤️ of my services.

[@isaiahhartwell9612]

Thank you ☺️

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻

[@gabakusa]

do you have the same video in rocky soil?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching 👍 Maryland's Eastern Shore soil conditions are excellent for driving ground rods! No rocks here 🤣Just hope to Rock these videos out for you all 😁.

[@Father4ev3r]

Wouldn't a more robust, permanent connection be advised, such as a Harger Uni-Shot thermite weld? Cheap insurance against a connection coming loose or bad bond?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Chris. It many be better but not an NEC. requirements as of now. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's not a future code requirement.

[@kbruin79]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting 👍 I appreciate it.

[@richardprice5978]

i went with a 300+A but under 410 A meter maid service not 200A and in my area 1-0 bare copper in i believe stranded wire is required SLC Utah 🇺🇸 . what is the biggest SDS+ max dill that they make? or adaptation to it? im using lithan driver and bit's but you're soils as way softer than mine as im in a gravel pit/rock quarry with pink quartz

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

I've had other Electrician's tell me they've used an air operated jack hammer to puts ground rods in standing in a loader's bucket. I'm not about to try that. Way to heavy 🤯

[@richardprice5978]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 did it work in rock? as i bid my self on my job about the same time as yours aka 40ft/2 X of rod in under 6 hours/one full day plus a lunch 🍴break in between work. the place has a 1970 basement but im getting unsure how they did it cheaply without TNT and right now im stuck at 5 ft down 1 rod in

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

@@richardprice5978 no, I don't think so. The electrician that did that lives in my area. Mostly clay and compacted black dirt here. Some sand too. You have got it bad if your dealing with rocky ground 🤔. I think if you tried a jackhammer with standard ground rods it would mushroom over at the impact point. What are other electricians doing in your area to combat this Rocky condition?

[@richardprice5978]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 fence post pounder 50'lb , 10lb sleg hammer , or smaller hammer dill so 🤔 i think its called sds/ 1/4"-to-1/2" round shank not my max bit. part of the problem is im in the old state gravel pit and or next to it and in the mountains benches that has sand mixture and some top soil up to 6'ft ish in place's on my lot / dill hole 3ft ish and gravel and sand mixture down to at least 5 or 6 ft down as i all ready have 3"inch PVC conduit in and my earth contractor had a really hard time trying to dig/catipiler exivator struggled trenching

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

@@richardprice5978 😲 wow, you really got some bad work conditions. I'll talk to some other fellow Electrician's for some more suggestion and get back to you.

[@DaniLipscombe]

Hi Ron, Thanks for the great video - I've been looking for something like this for a while :) I'm a student doing a university project trying to innovate new, faster and more ergonomic methods of inserting ground rods into the ground. Would you be able to estimate the average time taken to hammer in an electrode using each of the three methods? (Hammer, Ground Pounder, Drill). Also how much bodyweight force do you use to drive in the electrodes when using the drill. I was thinking of designing an SDS-drill adaptation to allow it to be easier to hold while drilling vertically. Best Wishes, Dani

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Dani. I really appreciate you commiting on the video. As in the order of speed to install ground rod, First place=ground pounder Second place=the rotary hammer method. And last would be the standard 3# hammer. Most of these results will vary greatly depending on soil conditions. I've been dealing with tendonitis and carpal tunnel in both of my arms. Using that ground pounder puts me in pain from the shock that tool generates 😥 So I would have to give the rotary hammer the win for this job. I'm in the process of creating a new cheaper alternative to the ground pounder. I'll be making a video on how to build one yourself, coming in the next few weeks.

[@DaniLipscombe]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 Amazing, Thanks Ron. Super useful to hear that. Sorry to hear about the pain in your arms - shock reduction will be a good thing for me to factor into the design of this tool. I'm looking forward to your video - will be fun to compare the solutions we come up with ;) Best Wishes, Dani

[@CynthiaNakaya]

@@workingmanrondoyle3287 I can only imagine your aches and pains at the end of the day.

[@marktheunitedstatescitezen185]

What to do if I’ve got the ground rod in about 6’ in but will not move I’m dumping what in the hole I had dug a 2” hole but it’s like I hit a big rock 6 foot under “ can I chip the rock I’ve got the conservative electric hammer

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Man, you in a tough spot of ground. It's probably rock. If you have a bigger rotary hammer, try that first. If it's a no go, abandon that ground rod by cutting it off. Install a new ground rod at a further distance away to possibly avoid the underground abstraction. Worse case scenario,Ground rods can also be installed on a 45° angle which will use up some of the length. Good luck to you my brother.

[@drewt.4353]

Thanks for speeding up. What you could do also is post few key times that are important.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Drew. It seems that the biggest takeaway from this is people can't get the actual time it took me to install them. I'm thinking about carrying around the stopwatch so that I can keep tabs on this and show it in the video. I've gotten so many complaints about speeding it up, I will be doing a lot less of it. The editing software I've been using is not the best and I'm truly paying for it. Thanks again for watching.

[@roberto.gallegos]

What are all those ground rods for?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Two ground rods are required for a residential setting unless you can prove it 25 ohms or less. Those meters are very costly and rods are cheaper. If a ufa-ground is installed into the foundation, only one additional ground rod is required. Our counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore have different requirements.

[@tommywiseguy]

What prevents an electrician from cutting a rod in half, grinding a point on the cut end and driving the cut end first? (1:48)

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks Tommy wise guy for watching. I love your username 👍👍 nothing stopping anybody from cutting the ground rod and doing that. I've even pulled up ground rods before finding out they were cut. If the inspector finds the ground rods with one sharp end pointing up he'll know it's installed upside down. Thus giving away that something is wrong 🤔

[@richardprice5978]

or welding/bolting it to make it 20ft or so

[@wmcomprev]

"better ways then the hammer" should be "better ways than the hammer."

[@drakb7]

Helpful but very boring to see complete procedure.

[@wizwizzards]

should set video to 80% speed its a bit fast!

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Your right. If you set your playback to .75 the video will play in normal speed.

[@gabakusa]

URL to buy the manual option?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching GabakUSA👍 I hope to drop URL's after I get to monetization status.

[@hamedarabzadeh5651]

The implementation of bare copper wire in the open space is prohibited by IEC standards due to copper corrosion. we must use PVC-coated copper wire in outdoors

[@ravenstarver1360]

Ground wire code specifies you must use bare wire.

[@whtboychris]

You can always put the acorn on before you beat it into the ground. lol.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Yes, this is true if you don't mind cleaning the sand and mud from the threads before you tight it🤔lol...

[@mattheritage]

Woah, slow down. Sounds like you’re listing side affects of medication. LoL

[@drostly3220]

My New Years resolution is to pray that you will layoff of the amphetamines, bring down your pace from hummingbird to the mean

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

😂🤣😂 the playback speed can be set to .75 on your end for a normal video. I've slow the video's down and will continue to do so from now on. To many people not liking the faster speed. Thanks for watching 👍

[@Rambleon444]

You need some kind of camera stabilizer.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Your absolutely right. I'll be getting a new camera and some gear this year with the hopes of making videos better.

[@ClintHyde-p3y]

I wouldn't waste my time with this tool for doing ground rods.

[@betomendoza5981]

Post driver is pretty fast.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

I'm still on the hunt for better alternatives and driving ground rods faster. SDS attachment can be pretty slow in tough ground. Ground rod pounder made by Buchanan is pretty fast but my arms and hands ack, afterwards. If you're referring to video speed🙄 yes I did playback in a higher speed to shorten length of video. Thanks so much for watching!

[@SGTSpliffer]

I just do a little bump and that rod almost buries itself.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

I know the feeling of easy sandy conditions. I was in someone 's yard one day ground probing for a sewer clean out and a water main🤔 and let go of the rod. It fell 10" below grade. I had to get the shovel to find that ground rod 🤯

[@JCRAMER81]

Are you talking fast or is it the video?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Hey JCRAMER81, the video is speed up to cut down on the time. To watch it in normal speed set your play back to .75 I've stopped doing this due to the complaints I've been receiving. Thanks for watching 👍

[@bryancromwell9625]

Why speed up the audio/video, really annoying.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching Bryan. I agree with you on that. The two reason I do it ,is to speed up the video footage and reduce people drop off rate at the 6 to 7 minutes prediction rate. And to speed up the video upload time for my area. That video took 15 to 18 hours to upload🤔 very slow here.

[@sarahjrandomnumbers]

Agreed, made the video unwatchable.

[@gabrielbenitez6622]

@@sarahjrandomnumbers you know you can slow it down right 😂

[@leonidkostitsyn6525]

He is an electrician. He is not license video editor

[@HandymanHustle]

Slow it down to .75x..You're welcome

[@Pepe-dq2ib]

cant shoot them in with a rifle or shotgun?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

I wished I could! That would be fun!

[@gg-gn3re]

didn't even show the water method? figure you would with 2 water bottles there

[@john2kx]

Can you talk a bit faster?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Hey John, thanks for watching and commenting. I've had a lot of complaints on the speed of some videos. I was trying to cut down the length of the video but see that it's annoying people 😥. If you see a fast video and want to slow it down. Hit the 3 dots on the upper right hand side of your screen & find playback speed & set to .75 will slow it down to normal. Thanks again for your comment 👍🏻

[@LVBRIP]

Can you please talk a bit faster ??

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

😂🤣😂 your the first one that said that. It was a big mistake on my part , speeding things up. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻

[@RedfishInc]

Meth is a terrible lifestyle 😞

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Yes it is 🤣😂. So is high speed playbacks.

[@buddyadelsberger5083]

you take speed before making the video

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and the comment 🤣😂 No, I increased the playback speed to cut down on the video's time. It can be changed back on your end by hitting 3 dot icon and setting to .75 I've had so many compliments about this. I'm not doing that again. Merry Christmas.

[@thomaspressy3410]

slow down when u talk your hard to understand ...good lord

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. The video is speed up to shorten the length. Set your playback to.75 for a normal speed.

[@rootmeansquared]

You talk way too fast!

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

I know. I was trying a faster play speed to shorten the video. If you set your playback to .75 it will be normal. Thanks for the feedback.

[@JohnDoe-mx5lf]

Wtf is up with your audio.

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

The video is speed up to make it shorter. Set playback speed can be set to .75 for it to sound better. Thanks for watching 👍

[@stargazer7644]

OMG WTF is wrong with your audio?

[@workingmanrondoyle3287]

Thanks for watching and commenting. It playing at 1.5 speed to cut down on the length of the video. To play at normal speed, set your end to .75 playback. I've had so many compliments about this , I no longer play at these speeds.