Grounding question - ground to metal in concrete?

[Big Kahuna]

At my last house I had driven my ground rod just outside my radio room for grounding purposes so it was nearby.

Moved into a different house and was looking at where to drive a new ground rod (once I go to store and buy it) and when I was outside I noticed that there are some metal form ties sticking out of the concrete about 1foot above ground level outside right near where I'm setting up inside.

Wondering if you can ground to a metal rod sticking out of concrete house foundation as I feel like somewhere I remember someone grounding to rebar encased in concrete?

Just thought - boy that's a lot easier than buying a ground rod and driving it into the ground Guessing it may not be as effective but figured I'd ask.

 

[Slowmover]

(Some tempting material presented, but I’ll pass).

A quick search of, How to Set a Ground Rod, will reveal some mighty easy methods of doing such.

I favor the water it and drive it, type. Stop, and start. (Works).
You can go for the 16’ if you want.

Driving (3) and chained together was the most intriguing. (Effectiveness).

.

 

[Redbeard U812]

We used to often ground to anchor bolt of columns for welding. The rebar in slabs is tied to the bolts. I worked but sometimes the ground was not good enough resulting in bad weld.

I'd drive a ground rod and tie into the existing rebar sure would not hurt.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Interesting that sounds similar to what I remember reading except it was radio related and they had grounded directly to the rebar that was sticking out of the concrete.

Ahh...did more searching and found this which is maybe what the person had grounded radio equipment to - https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes...unding-option-steel-rebar-sticking-out-method

I'm still planning on doing a ground rod, but thought that metal in the concrete looked tempting.

 

[Slowmover]

Interesting that sounds similar to what I remember reading except it was radio related and they had grounded directly to the rebar that was sticking out of the concrete.

Ahh...did more searching and found this which is maybe what the person had grounded radio equipment to - https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes...unding-option-steel-rebar-sticking-out-method

I'm still planning on doing a ground rod, but thought that metal in the concrete looked tempting.

How deep (is one question)?
Related to Effectiveness.

Found a discussion in late night wandering where the difficulty of testing GR effectiveness is such that the use of three at a short distance from one another was all but a foregone piece of work as a result of the expense of that measurement.

Distance & Bond type are what I don’t recall. It was short. Ten feet, chained? Twenty?

The use of ALL stainless steel was also discussed.

The “ground” to my travel trailer is thru park power back to the feed pole at the road. THAT must be effectively grounded.

So I took an 30” piece of 1/3” rebar I had and wrapped with some #10 THHN, stripped. Fastened it to the frame ground and drove it.

I’ll claim static reduction, ha!

That vehicle has no real radio & antenna installed at present. I’ll go back to the subject once it does.

But the water it & drive it Method sure works!

.

 

[Redbeard U812]

The “ground” to my travel trailer is thru park power back to the feed pole at the road. THAT must be effectively grounded.

Don't count on that. Have many pwr pedestal with cancerous effects. Did good by driving extra ground rod.

Once working on jack replacement on mine, leveling jacks, placed my forehead against the aluminum corner round, was getting a tingle, and lights flashing. Connected volt meter, to aluminum and into ground .......27 volts DC. Tracked back to pwr pedestal, ground wire was not bonded to ground rod. My current set up has pwr from barn, pole barn, all drill pipe sunk into ground, breaker box is bonded, read that as welded to drill pipe. Camper and radios are grounded with multiple rods. Net work type, many paths to ground. Smooth steady power.

 

[jessejamesdallas]

Ground rod in concrete...Lightning hit's tower....Charge runs down ground wire to ground rod in concrete..."Concrete explodes"....

 

[Slowmover]

Don't count on that. Have many pwr pedestal with cancerous effects. Did good by driving extra ground rod.

Once working on jack replacement on mine, leveling jacks, placed my forehead against the aluminum corner round, was getting a tingle, and lights flashing. Connected volt meter, to aluminum and into ground .......27 volts DC. Tracked back to pwr pedestal, ground wire was not bonded to ground rod. My current set up has pwr from barn, pole barn, all drill pipe sunk into ground, breaker box is bonded, read that as welded to drill pipe. Camper and radios are grounded with multiple rods. Net work type, many paths to ground. Smooth steady power.

The description was how ITS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

As you know.

Can you imagine the decimal point placement on a bid from a public service contractor? Whoa!

I’ll go back to subject once a shack and antenna are in the offing.

The other consideration is running a genset to power trailer.

Mine would be a Cummins on high idle. Ever seen or have experience with POWER MITE underhood generator?

That’s another thread

But grounds is an all-encompassing subject.

.

 

[Slowmover]

Interesting that sounds similar to what I remember reading except it was radio related and they had grounded directly to the rebar that was sticking out of the concrete.

Ahh...did more searching and found this which is maybe what the person had grounded radio equipment to - https://www.ecmag.com/section/codes...unding-option-steel-rebar-sticking-out-method

I'm still planning on doing a ground rod, but thought that metal in the concrete looked tempting.

Why not?

Temporarily

.

 

[r carl]

Bottom line is concrete doesn't conduct electricity...

 

[WECSOG]

Ground rod in concrete...Lightning hit's tower....Charge runs down ground wire to ground rod in concrete..."Concrete explodes"....

This is what I was going to say.
I asked this question once about grounding a tower to the rebar in the concrete base and was told that a lighting strike would likely result in the tower coming down. The recommendation was to put in a separate ground rod for each leg of the tower, outside the concrete base.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I did some more interesting reading about concrete - it's conductivity depends on the materials but in most cases it is not a great conductor and although in same cases the rebar in concrete is used for grounding household it is not a good choice for taking a lightning strike

 

[Slowmover]

16’ Not far from me in October

 

[Redbeard U812]

View attachment 36114

16’ Not far from me in October

Stinger missile strike? Looks like a Houston Chevron station.

 

[Chevboy0167]

Damn Slow... did ya go in and buy a lottery ticket after you changed yer shorts! sheesh!