Electric fence problem

[bullheadpond]

I just setup an electric fence. One run of poly tape wirelooped back to the charger so i ha ve 2 lines run . Usedplastic electric fence posts . Have ortis charger. When i hook it only shows 7.5 kv and shocks you less than static electricyt would in your house. If i disconncect it it reads 12 kv and if i touch the two terminal it shock a heck of alot.
Any idea what i am doing wrong or what i can check?
I ran a ground rod almost 8ft down. Ground is moist all year round. The ground rod is about 5 ft from the barn . I sunk a ground rod about 6 inchs from the barn for the electric panel and it was fine.
Any helpful ideas would be greatly appreciated. It's driving me crazy thhat i cant get it to work.

 

[outinthefens88]

Some photos of what you have and how its set up might be useful, Ortis units are usually only sold in the US?

 

[bullheadpond]

I have no idea how send pics on this site?
I dont see a normal attachement icon to click on?

 

[spotty_pony2]

Are you sure it’s not earthing somewhere as that will rescue the charge? If it’s looped back is it wrapped around the plastic post for instance?

 

[meleeka]

Is your unit powerful enough for the length of tape? If so, and it's all connected properly, you must have either a break in the tape/wire or it's touching the ground via plants or grass.

 

[PurBee]

It’s likely your Ortis energiser. Looking on Google it says Ortis is generally good for running just 2 miles. That would be for 1 line. They state 8 acres to make it sound a lot, but it’s not really in the world of electric fence chargers.

I have a mains power Voss farming 100km distance high output energiser, and that has losses to the zap due to knots connecting rope together, and the metal connection pieces. I’ll get 8-10kv with minimal losses and that delivers a whacking zap. Even a 4kv is uncomfortable to feel with rubber sole boots on.

I’m running 3-4 lines - so the max lines length I can run with mine with 4 lines would be 25km - 100km/4 =25km. If I did all the connectors would likely end up yielding a 3-4km zap at the ‘end’ of the lines. There’s always some losses somewhere with electric fencing, so having a really powerful unit is like going overboard to allow for the inevitable losses. Like buying a V8 car to go uphill easily, rather than struggle with a 100cc engine on max revs going uphill really slowly.

I’m assuming you are using brand new tape - sometimes tapes and ropes metals braids in the poly can break. Especially where it’s arcing, due to knots. That will lessen the zap. Generally if the lines anywhere are arcing the electric from one line to another close-by you’ll hear a fairly loud cracking sound.
Wet weather will increase arcing susceptibility. That’s potential for loss of power.

The other main loss is the resistance of the metal in your lines - there’s various quality ropes/lines on the market and the best one to get is low ohm/low resistance lines - there’s various quality metal within the rope/tape that is a better quality than others.

I’ve also got some 12v portable energisers that have a 12km range - they’re pretty weak in reality for 3 lines around 1 acre fields….with no obstructions. Cheaper lines were used, not low ohm/low resistance - that will give me a reading of 5-6kv max with the ropes used, and a 3-4kV with tape. Cheaper tapes I’ve found tend to be less Zappy than ropes. The metal in ropes is a bit thicker.

Generally long grass leaves touching a lower line here and there won’t affect zap, but heavier grasses long length gone to seed, touching the line in many places will.
I have tree branches and bushes that grow every year and will lean towards my lines which I trim regularly, as branches touching will lessen power.

Don’t forget if you are testing the zap with your hands and you’re wearing thick rubber/poly soles you won’t get as much of a whack from it due to your footwear - whereas an animal barefoot on the ground will feel a bigger zap than you. You getting a reading of 7kV and saying it doesn’t hurt much is surprising as it should!….so I think your footwear is protecting you a lot from the power a 7kV delivers! If you were to stand barefoot on the ground and touch a 7kV line you’d likely say the fence was zappy enough.

I have a brave gelding who will attempt to whizz through 3kV and below fencing. Anything higher power than that and he just won’t. We can be under the impression that we need to feel a massive zap from it (in shoes) to stop an animal but generally most don’t even like mild zaps like 3kV.
I test the lines with one of those small handheld portable testers, and make sure it’s 4kv and above for mine. I no longer test with my hands! Even in rubber boots I hate that dead arm jolt feeling!

 

[Fullers1845]

I'd echo the post above, 7kV if you are well earthed will surely make you swear loudly; I once accidentally zapped myself on an 8kV line whilst touching a fully earthed metal post, and jeez that really was one heck of a belt.