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Around here, copper rods are scarce, but the galvanized steel rods and copper connectors seem to work about as well, so that's the way we do it.

I don't know if there would be too much resistance with a plain steel post or not. The current will flow on the outside of whatever conductor you use and zinc is right up there with lead and copper for conductivity. If you gold plate your ground rod, you won't have ANY problems with a bad ground.

Ed

I've used re-bar and it rusts very easily. With that coating, it's a terrible conductor.

That's what I get for trying to ground cheaply.

Is that the reason you now try to live by your sig line?

Ed

I need three ground rods, The copper ones are easy to get here. Over the years I have had several different brands of chargers.Doesn't seem to make a difference. I am only running about 4000 feet of fence though. Poor grounding will make fellow chase lot of ghost trying to figure out the problem.
I saw an article a few years back about putting a flourescent light tube on the fence to see if it is always working. I forget now though if it was in paralell or series

Hydro One, the power company in Ontario, wants galvanized ground rods. mostly elsewhere, the copper clad are the norm. Different soils must have different grounding problems?

Soil moisture seems to be the real issue. Soil acidity could cause more corrosion, affecting the current flow, but copper is still a better conductor.

The only reason I can think of them requiring galvanized ground rod is that they are steel and more likely to be able to be driven into badly compacted soil to the depth they need, rather than the copper rods, which are softer. That way, regardless of the soil density, they can be assured of the best ground possible.

Ed