Copper Grounding Rods???

[CumminsPuller]

Funniest thing today... ... was getting off the interstate... . waiting at the light..... Light turned green... ... went through the intersection... and low and behold..... Five brand new 8 foot copper grounding rods in the middle of the intersection... ... . Anyone have a good idea what to do with them..... Or how I could sell them and make some money? Or even what they might be worth? The five of them together weigh 35lbs.



Jason

 

[Bob Wagner]

are they copper plated or pure copper?

 

[CumminsPuller]

Well my brother-on-law and I were looking at that... ... . they appear to be solid copper. Each end looks like silver... . but looking further you can see where some of the ends have rubbed on the ground and there is copper underneath... . Anyway to check if they are solid copper without damaging them?



Jason

 

[Ethdee]

All the ground rods I've seen have been copper-jacketed. They should have a pointed end and a flat or slightly beveled end.



Know any ham radio operators? They often like to drive a bunch of ground rods around their shack.



You could stop by a scrap yard, and they'll tell you right away whether they're solid copper.



Jim

 

[CumminsPuller]

Thanks Jim... . that sounds like them... ... but it looks like under the silver coating on the ends is copper... ... I am a Ham myself... . But I havent met any here in Lake Charles, LA yet... ... So what does one of these cost from the local electrical store... any idea?



Jason

 

[Bob Wagner]

i used to sell heaters to a company that plated the grounding rods.

under the copper was electroless nickel

 

[jlccc]

Originally posted by DodgeBoy

Funniest thing today... ... was getting off the interstate... . waiting at the light..... Light turned green... ... went through the intersection... and low and behold..... Five brand new 8 foot copper grounding rods in the middle of the intersection... ... . Anyone have a good idea what to do with them..... Or how I could sell them and make some money? Or even what they might be worth? The five of them together weigh 35lbs.



Jason

Pure copper is selling at around 75 cents per pound so they aren't worth much. Likely they aren't pure copper either as it would be too soft to drive into the ground. As someone else mentioned, they are probably copper plated rod.

 

[Ethdee]

Originally posted by DodgeBoy

So what does one of these cost from the local electrical store... any idea?



Jason

It's been too long since I've bought one, and I have a terrible memory. I'd guess around $15-$30; they're not terribly expensive.



Jim

 

[gitchesum]

Jason,

You might give a few of the local electicians a call. They would be able to use them. If they could buy them from you at a discount over the electrical suppliers, you both work out to the good.



BTW, ya know anyone looking for a boat? Mine is still sitting in Lake Charles.

 

[M Barnett]

Try to stick a magnet to one.

Michael

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Also check with any local amateur radio folks (antenna grounds) or farmers (fence charger grounds). Three of those babies kept me from electrifying our farm terlit once upon a pasture time... otherwise woulda had a whole new meaning of 'running hot water'!