Setting Earth Rods in concrete

Dunedin

My mains electric fence is not great these days and my local electrician tells me I shoudl be using up to 3 or 4 earth bars (currently only have one).

Firstly will the extra 3 - 4 bars make a difference.

Secondly, I am putting down a new concrete yard - is there any effect to the earth rods if I put them under the concrete.

reilig

Dunedin wrote: »

My mains electric fence is not great these days and my local electrician tells me I shoudl be using up to 3 or 4 earth bars (currently only have one).

Firstly will the extra 3 - 4 bars make a difference.

Secondly, I am putting down a new concrete yard - is there any effect to the earth rods if I put them under the concrete.

We put an extra 2 bars on ours a few years ago (Now 3 bars) and it made a huge difference.

No problem putting concrete around the earth bar so long as it is driven into the clay beneath.

bob charles

yes 3 or 4 will help but depending on the size of the fence you may need more. as for sitting them in concrete I doubt its a very good earth. you could drive them into the subsoil and concrete over bring a lead wire back out of the concrete

Rovi

You couldn't have enough earth bars!
Well, within reason

I'm sure there's a formula somewhere that takes account of the size of the energiser and the length of fence, but I'd consider 3-4 bars into damp soil to be a good starting point.

Concreting over them shouldn't be an issue, provided the soil underneath doesn't dry out completely over time, which is most unlikely here in Ireland.

49801

Yes more earth rods do make a big difference!

Don't think putting them under concrete yard is a good idea.... Dry earth is not a good conductor. Moist ground if you can is best.

I installed a new earth system at home for a gallagher 25joule energiser.
I used 2m (6ft) rods and I drove 7 of them. Yes they were a nightmare to drive in but the result is worth it as the extra length as a much better chance of making contact with moisture.

Remember your earth system is half of your fence!

PS... Loader bucket can't drive them for you.... They just bend

Swinefluproof

If are near a downpipe then drive the earthbars there. Always a little bit more moisture around there

jomoloney

we have 5, spaced 4 metres apart in a semi circular and also have an old copper cylinder

made a huge differnce in the performance of the fencer and also the cow's scc

kowtow

jomoloney wrote: »

made a huge differnce in the performance of the fencer and also the cow's scc

can you explain a bit more about the link to scc ??