Electric Fencing Problems
EARTH / GROUNDING
INSULATION
CONNECTIONS
Flat/ Batteries
It is essential to regularly check your
electric fence battery and recharge it when necessary. Thus it is a good idea to have more than one battery available
for use. A flat or low-charged battery can render an electric fencing system useless.
Earth / Grounding
Probably
the largest cause of poorly performing electric fence systems.
An electric fence energiser must be earthed
and electric fence/tape/rope must not.
All electric fencing energiser must be
earthed. Without this properly functioning the circuit does not complete and NO shock will be felt. Because
all situations will vary it is not possible to give a cast iron rule but for all practical purposes it is not possible
to “over “ earth an electric fence energiser.
If the electric fence energiser comes
with a earth stake for normal UK conditions this should be sufficient For larger 12v and mains energisers it is necessary
to purchase earth stakes separately. They should be galvanised and a minimum of 50cm long. The most powerful energisers will
require 2 or 3 earth stakes with each earth stake being up to 150cm long, all connected together with wire 6 feet apart.
Soil
conditions will effect earthing , moist clay /loam will be much more conductive than dry sandy soil . The simple test
is to put your hand on the earth post if you can “feel “ electricity then the earthing on your energiser is not
adequate and extra earth stakes should be used .
TIP
During dry periods
simply watering the earth stake regularly can improve performance noticeably.
Ensure all connections are clean and
tight and that the stake is sufficiently deep in the ground (minimum 50cm).
It is essential each electric fencing energiser has
its own earthing. NEVER connect to a ground stake/ earth rod that is already connected to a mains supply
or another electric fencing energiser.
Locate ground rods where they are highly
visible, and not likely to interfere with mowing or cultivating and are not likely to be damaged from and or cause injury to
livestock or people
Insulation.
If you have read the section above you should now have
a high performance earth system.
This section covers the need to protect the fence from foreign bodies. It is essential
you earth the energiser and not the fence.
If anything is touching the live line / lines of your fence and the
ground it will act to earth the fence. This drains the power available affecting both the distance the energiser can
cover and the strength of shock energy it can deliver the effect is more pronounced during damp or wet periods. This additionally
drains batteries quickly****
The most common culprit is long grass or weeds particularly
with permanent fences where the area under the fence does not get grazed. The only real solution is to remove the plants
causing the problem. If regular strimming is not possible weed killer is an effective solution.
.
If it is
not possible to manage the “weed” growth affecting the fence line a more powerful energiser may well be necessary
to compensate for the power loss.
Ensure no branches or twigs are touching the fence.
If you are using wooden
posts rather than plastic ones you must use proper electric fencing insulators to ensure the current will pass along the fence.
By twisting the tape (rope) around the wooden post you run this risk of earthing the fence especially in wet/damp
weather.
