Earth detection

[andy]

On another note - I have heard that getting an earth spike in can be made much easier by fitting a garden hose to a appropriate length of rigid pipe, and using the flow of water as a kind of water powered drill. Any thoughts on this particular ?

never heard of that before. altho hammering it just as easy

 

[plugwash]

its causing unnessacery disturbance in the ground the rod is inserted in which could increase the resistance and/or make it vary more with the weather and over the lifetime of the rod.

it will also mean you will have to wait for at least several days before testing the rod to allow the added water time to disperse.

btw if you are digging trenches for any outbuliding wiring anyway then a bare copper wire in a long trench makes a far better earth electrode than most rods.