NPGM

[fred555]

Here is a Non Penetrating Ground Mount I built last weekend, or so I call it. I have an 8 footer I need to plant but when you live in the woods, you have to find the right spot first. I plan on putting my 6 footer on this mount to find the right spot to plant the 8 footer:

Its sturdier than a lot of in ground poles Ive seen. Made out of angle iron, A beam support pole and 1/2 EMT conduit.
The two rows on either end hold cinder blocks. The supports and pole unbolt if needed.
I welded it all by myself without the help of the wife. Will finish painting it and get it set up over the long holiday weekend.

 

[Titanium]

Nice work!

Spike it into the ground or use three point tie-downs to ground anchor screws. A moderate gust of wind on a 8' dish will flip that small footprint (even loaded with cinder blocks) like a gymnast!

 

[fred555]

Will do. The 8 footer is getting a proper concrete foundation when I find the right spot with the 6 footer attached to the rig above, 4 feet deep and 16 bags of concrete. Then I will probably move the NPGM and 6 footer to another site and spike it permanently for a while.

 

[Magic Static]

I have a friend with a small catamaran. The little sail on that boat develops 300 horsepower in a 15MPH wind. When a dish catches the wind just right, it's a goner

 

[Jason S]

Nice job Fred555!

How many spikes and how deep would they need to go for something like this?

 

[Titanium]

So many soil variables. As an example: in a clay hard pack probably drive 6 or 8 18" spikes at opposing angles. If softer soil, would use 3 24x4" or better ground auger anchors.

 

[KE4EST]

That thang looks purty.

 

[fred555]

Hard packed red southern clay here.

 

[fred555]

That thang looks purty.

Wait til I finish the paint job, more purty!

 

[fred555]

My buddy has a monstrous Hilti hammer drill. He has an attachment we use to bury ground rods.
Even with the hammer drill it takes a half hour or more to sink an entire ground rod in this soil.
I would not want to even try with a sledge hammer.

 

[Comptech]

Sounds like you live somewhere close to me. Short of blasting caps hard to make a hole.