PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-633

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 633

AUGUST 2005
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-633 - Page 24 of 33
Drive the rod in the
center of the hole.
Drive it straight.
if the soil
won’t
permit the rod to
go in straight, make
sure the driving
angle is
no more
than 45 degrees.
PS 633
AUG 05
44
Grounding…
Grounding Right in the Desert
Soil Preparation
Reaching the Water Table
Before You Drive
Sand is a
poor
conductor.
This
means that
getting a
good
earth
ground in
the desert
requires
extra
time
and
effort.
Start with
5 gallons
of the
mixture.
Use the salt and water mixture
often. it may take a daily 5-gal mix
and several pours to do the job.
Soil conductivity
can be improved
by keeping the
soil moist and by
adding a salt-
water mixture to
the area around
the ground rod.
a good ground is
a
must
to prevent
electrical shock to
you and damage to
your equipment.
it is a good
idea if the
grounding rod
reaches the
water table.
Use a sectional
ground rod and
add extensions to
reach deeper into
the soil until the
rod no longer can
be driven.
if you
can
, locate your
equipment near an oasis or
subterranean water.
if you
can’t
,
make
sure you
use the
salt and
water
mixture.
but
is it
worth
it?
Dig a shallow trench
around the ground rod
at a distance of 18 inches
so that the mixture
does not run off.
Pour it slowly
so it sinks into
the ground.
You’re doing that
again
today?!
yep.
today and
every-
day!
Make sure the
grounding rod is
clean.
Grease,
oil, paint and
corrosion on the
rod make it a
poor conductor.
if you use a sledge hammer, wear
safety gloves
to protect your
hands from metal fragments when
you drive in the rod.
Before you drive, dig a
hole at least 12 inches
deep and 36 inches
across.
The top of the rod
must
be below ground
level.
Far too many ground
rods are left sticking
above the ground.
Wear
safety
goggles,
too!
still have a way
to go—gotta use
more extensions.
The
first
step
toward a good
ground in the
desert is
preparing
the soil.
Use a pound
of salt for
each gallon
of water.
12
36
36
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11:59 AM
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