Recycling the old rod is not normally recommenced.  I'd pound the new one =
in, hook it up (maybe an licensed electrician could help you out.  They =
work for Beer sometimes...:) and then disconnect the old one.  A bit more =
pounding and the old one will disappear :)

Now if you house is old and your not sure if everything was done correctly.=
....I'd go the "Official line" too.

Tim

>>> bobblick@COVAD.NET 08/27/03 01:45PM >>>
Charles Craft said:

> Am I gonna get popped when I take the clamp loose?
> Should I trip the main breaker for the house to reduce the
> current flowing out or is it the potential between the pole
> and the earth ground that's gonna get me?

Of course the official line is to take out a building permit and hire a
licensed electrician to do the work, which is what I'm suggesting.

However if this is purely hypothetical and we're talking about an
alternate universe where lawsuits and local building codes take second
priority under common sense and homeowner's rights...

Unless you are the only house using your transformer (unlikely but easy to
check if the wires are overhead) then if everything is working the way it
should (and you better hope it is) then you have little to fear. The
ground stakes of all your neighbors will keep things under control while
you do your dirty work. There might even be a ground stake on the
transformer at the pole.

You could put a clamp-on ammeter on the ground right now and see if
there's current.

Cheers,

Bob

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