Electric fencing question (not much zip in fence)

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myhorsefred

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Can I pick your brains please?

I have electric fencing to make paddocks for grazing. There is only a trickle of current through the fence.

I have already done all these checks -

1. Battery is charged up full - have had the battery tested and battery is fine.
2. Have changed the tape, so it is new and no breaks in the wire.
3. No vegetation or anything touching the tapes.

I bought a new solar powered kit and attached that today, thinking that would give the fence more zip, but it is the same. You can hold the fence and feel a tiny pulse going through it, but not much.

The only think I can think of is the earth rod. It is only about 12 - 18 inches sunk into the ground. I think I've read somewhere that earth rod should be sunk in about a metre?

So, my theory is, that because the ground here is so dry now, there isn't enough moisture in the 12-18 inches to carry the charge? Do you think if the earth rod was much deeper that it would be wetter soil deeper down and zip the fence more?

Sorry, that was a longwinded question. Thanks in advance.
 
Chuck a bucket of water on your earth stake now and then in this very dry weather. You seem to have checked all the obvious. I'm guessing this could be your problem.
 
Oh, why didn't I think of that! I was just looking on bbc for the weather forecast, wishing it to rain soon. Duh!

thank you!
 
to be honest 12 inches should be fine, mine only get useless if I can only sink the earth spike a couple of inches.
The fence tape isn't touching any wooden fence anywhere at all?
 
Hi, no its not touching wooden post. I checked for that when I replaced the tape at the weekend. I thought there must be something shorting it, like vegetation or a post, but no - nothing touching tape anywhere.

It must be the earth rod....?

Got new tapes, brand new charged up solar kit, nothing touching, no shorting. Can't think of anything else it could be.

I hate electric fencing.
 
my earth rod is only in the ground a couple of inches and i use a very old unit with 2 rechargeable batteries and it is ticking a good un. I would check the clips from the battery as well as the earth and also make sure you are not trying to electrify too long a stretch of tape. if the tape is touching anything else metal such as a gate this could be the problem.

flippin electric tape ! its my pet hate - no matter how I roll it up ready for next time it takes me hours to unwind !
 
Is your emergiser designed to power 200 meters of tape or longer ? check this is all correct. What have you tied each end to ? the wooden fence or a plastic pole ?
 
Thanks everyone. I'll try and answer everyones helpful questions.

- The fence is about 300 metres. The unit powers up to 2km.
- Clips from the energiser are not the problem. The fence was still as weak with the brand new unit which was delivered today.
- The fence isn't tied at either end, it is in a loop with a proper fencing handle.

baffling!
 
meesha - no the fence isn't touching anything

cahill - yes, maybe I need to put another earth rod in. the fence is about 200 metres. maybe 300 metres.
 
Have you tried a new battery , may be worth trying to borrow one if you can ,to see if its a battery not charging properly due to being worn out, we had this problem recently and after doing everything that has already been mentioned ie water earth , new fence string, walking the fence line etc etc and turned out to be the battery not holding the charge properly even though it said it was fully charged and working via the battery charger. we borrwed a friends new battery 1st to check before we made an expensive mistake and fence worked like a dream.
 
castleboy - yeah, the new unit that arrived today is an energiser and a battery in one and has a solar panel attached. an all in one unit. cost nearly £200! and the battery was already charged up.
 
"It is in a loop"
Do you mean it is a circle ? With a metal handle connecting it ? would this somehow trip itself out ? I only ever do mine in a straight line ? lol could be completely wrong here !
 
circle absolutely fine.. the circuit is made with the earth... op I would try playing with that a bit more first.
 
I'd put a second earth in & ideally try to have it 18" plus in ground, some units say will power "x" meters or km of fence but they're sneaky and count this as one strand - 12mm tape has 4-5 strands within it so a 200m fence with 12mm tape top & bottom could actually be 2km technically! Read the manufactures small print of what their reccomendations are based on. I have 8 acres fenced into 3 large paddocks with 1 earth stake & it gives a mild zing. Keep meaning to put another in actually...
 
meesha said:
flippin electric tape ! its my pet hate - no matter how I roll it up ready for next time it takes me hours to unwind !
Click to expand...

i have solved that problem with an old hose reel, takes a bit longer to roll it up as you take it down but means its kept flat (so not damaging the wires in tape) & when your ready to use again you pop your stakes out roughly wear you want the fence & take a stroll and it unwinds nicely behind you. :) ...........................


............................unless the shetty tries to help!!!!!!!
 
Last edited:
As others have said:

Pour a water bucket (or more!) down the earth stake on a daily basis with weather like it is at the moment.
Fix a 2nd (or even 3rd) stake & connect*

*I use 2 extra lengths of copper pipe bashed into the ground about 18 inches apart & wrap old electric wire (you know, the garotting type!) round each & attach it to the earth stake on the fencer.

Gives a nice belt - ask Tiny Fuzzy :D
 
Just a little update...

I poured a few buckets of water around the earth stake, and it is working a treat now. Thanks all. Problem solved.
 
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