How to Tell a Solid Copper Ground Rod

By Society & Culture & Entertainment Last updated Sunday, May/19/2024

1). Refer to the packaging and any documentation that accompanies the rod package. The material the rod is fabricated from will be clearly indicated. If it says "copper clad," that means it is copper-plated steel, whereas "copper" would mean it is composed of pure electrolytic copper.
2). Scratch the surface of the ground rod. Use a utility knife, a pair of pliers or any other metal object to create deep scratches on the surface of the ground rod. Inspect the scratches to determine if the metal under the scratch looks like copper or steel. If a silver metal is present, the ground rod may be copper clad rather than being pure copper.
3). Touch a magnet against the surface of the copper to see if there is a magnetic attraction. If the ground rod is copper clad, the magnet will stick to the underlying steel. If the ground rod is pure copper, the magnet will have no attraction at all.

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