System Solutions Guide

1.
2.
3.
Consider a digital fence
tester as it is grounded
and will measure the
fence voltage output
as well as the direction
of the short.
Weeds or vegetation is quite
often the most common culprit.
These will draw voltage from
the fence. Always keep the
vegetation trimmed from your
fence line.
Disconnect the positive wire on
the fencer. Check the voltage
on the positive terminal (it
should read 3-6000 volts).
Make sure that there is power
to the fencer, and that the light
is flashing if there is one.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1/2” galvanized or copper 6’ to
8’ long. Two to three ground
rods should be used.
Double check that all clamps
and burial wire connecting
to your ground rods are not
rusted or have come loose.
Use approved burial wire for
leading out to
the fence line.
Bury the burial
wire in the
ground at least
6”. If running
burial wire in a high traffic area
always run the burial wire in a
plastic pipe.
If energizer is working but fence
line is not working, disconnect
the ground wire and test the
end of it to make sure that you
are getting the same voltage
at the end of the ground wire
as at the energizer.
Never use regular household
electric wire as undergate or
lead-out wire. The insulation
on the wire is not good enough
and will short out. Use high
voltage wire rated at 10,000
volts.
point, then the short is further
down the line. If not, then
check the fence carefully
from there back to the last
disconnect. Somewhere, either
an insulator will be shorting, a
steel post will have come into
contact, or the wire is running
too close to an old fence or
steel building and setting up a
resistance. This resistance is
the cause of the voltage drop.
11. Frozen ground, snow or dry
ground are poor conductors.
During the winter months, the
snow can act as a barrier
and you may need to apply
additional grounding methods.
You can improve your fence by
simply grounding one line back
to your ground rods. Refer to
diagram below or call one of
our account managers.
Fence Charger
4.
If it does not read anything then
the energizer could be damaged.
Check the ground wire and
make sure it is connected from
the ground on the energizer
to the ground rod. Use 12
1/2 gauge wire or undergate
cable for the ground wire. Do
not use old water pipe or
electrical panel ground rods for
grounding. Electric energizers
must have their own ground
rod and should be a min of
9. If the voltage is good at the end
of the lead out wire, then there
is a short in the fence. Using
a digital volt meter, usually
the short will be detectable,
because the
voltage drops
substantially at or
near the short.
10. If this is not
feasible, then the
wire should be
disconnected at
intervals and the voltage read.
If it is good at the disconnect
Ground Rod Kit
system tiP
Electric is an inexpensive way to
prolong the life of your fence line.
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