Forgetting the electric fence

The part time boy

Saturday morning I went to check the suckler cows. I turned off the fense as I had a sick calf and I taugh i might move him and his mother back to another paddock. I did not in the end as the calf had improved. I gave the calf some electrolyte and a synolox tablet and went back up home.

This morning I found the cows in wrong paddock . Forgot to turn on the fecking fencer . They had one day left in the paddock and it would have been tight grazing so there was no way I was going to get away with putting them back in where they came from . On top of that they spend 12 hours in a paddock that's closed up 10 days.

Not good going as grass might be getting tight . I am very tightly stocked . Must book some culls in factory

If I am honest this is not the first time I made this mistake .

Anyone else ever forget to turn fencer back on .

Any tips . I was thinking if I kept a electric band on top of fencer and wear it when I turn it off .

Btw I not old I should not be forgetting things yet.

Jb1989

Can't think of how I solve the battery fence.
But the mains fencer is inside the byre door.
I always leave door when switching off fence.
It's always closed At all other times.
If I see it open I know I've forgot something .

Biscuitus

I've done this a few times and its like they nominate someone to test the fence every day to see if its on.

bogman_bass

We've all done it.

I know a lad that has a radio plugged into the same socket as the fencer.

2 reasons: having the sound of people talking in the cattle shed helps with docility is his thinking

Other reason is if the radio is on the fencer is on

TPF2012

Thinking of getting a mains fencer here. There is a small stream that separates around 4 acres from the main block here.I will be setting up the fencer and earth on the main block with a line extending onto the 4 acres. Just wondering will the fence be able to make the circuit through the earth from the 4 acre part. Looking at YouTube videos the circuit is completed through the subsoil from the live wire, through the animal and back to the earth. The stream flows on the bedrock, no soil connection between the blocks,I suppose it will be fine in good flows where the water will allow conduction but the steam can leave a dry bed in summer. Any ideas?

TITANIUM.

Ya it can be a right pain in the ass. I do the door thing the same as Jb. I have to drive past the door on my way out of the yard so you'd think I'd notice it. But I still get the days when I'm an hour into the commute to work and it hits you "Did I turn on the fence?" And the same thing after finishing up on the farm and after driving in home, Shower grub and ready to settle down for the night and "feck it I never turned on the fence".

I've put in allot of new fencing here the last couple of years and it's made some difference, once they have an education in strong current, you could leave the fence off for days and they wouldn't budge. Bar a few culprits, one cow is called 5 lights McGurk (Anything less then 5 lights on the fence and she'll move herself).

Mooooo

Is there a way of setting up the fence so you can leave the mains on when moving? For the reels here I put a regular plastic handle on the end along with a gate handle so I can stick up a wire and hook on the the gate handle in order to put the current on the temp fence. Only really turn off the mains if I need to fix the permanent fence somewhere. Have often forgot to turn it on but I reckon some cows have a sixth sense for it the feckers

Attie

The part time boy wrote: »

Saturday morning I went to check the suckler cows. I turned off the fense as I had a sick calf and I taugh i might move him and his mother back to another paddock. I did not in the end as the calf had improved. I gave the calf some electrolyte and a synolox tablet and went back up home.

This morning I found the cows in wrong paddock . Forgot to turn on the fecking fencer . They had one day left in the paddock and it would have been tight grazing so there was no way I was going to get away with putting them back in where they came from . On top of that they spend 12 hours in a paddock that's closed up 10 days.

Not good going as grass might be getting tight . I am very tightly stocked . Must book some culls in factory

If I am honest this is not the first time I made this mistake .

Anyone else ever forget to turn fencer back on .

Any tips . I was thinking if I kept a electric band on top of fencer and wear it when I turn it off .

Btw I not old I should not be forgetting things yet.

Part time
You could set up an alarm on your phone for 30 minutes or whatever time you think it will take you.

emaherx

The part time boy wrote: »

Saturday morning I went to check the suckler cows. I turned off the fense as I had a sick calf and I taugh i might move him and his mother back to another paddock. I did not in the end as the calf had improved. I gave the calf some electrolyte and a synolox tablet and went back up home.

This morning I found the cows in wrong paddock . Forgot to turn on the fecking fencer . They had one day left in the paddock and it would have been tight grazing so there was no way I was going to get away with putting them back in where they came from . On top of that they spend 12 hours in a paddock that's closed up 10 days.

Not good going as grass might be getting tight . I am very tightly stocked . Must book some culls in factory

If I am honest this is not the first time I made this mistake .

Anyone else ever forget to turn fencer back on .

Any tips . I was thinking if I kept a electric band on top of fencer and wear it when I turn it off .

Btw I not old I should not be forgetting things yet.

We all do it, but how about a change over switch at the shed you have it plugged in, so when you flick the switch it turns off the fencer and turns on a beacon or strobe?

J.O. Farmer

TPF2012 wrote: »

Thinking of getting a mains fencer here. There is a small stream that separates around 4 acres from the main block here.I will be setting up the fencer and earth on the main block with a line extending onto the 4 acres. Just wondering will the fence be able to make the circuit through the earth from the 4 acre part. Looking at YouTube videos the circuit is completed through the subsoil from the live wire, through the animal and back to the earth. The stream flows on the bedrock, no soil connection between the blocks,I suppose it will be fine in good flows where the water will allow conduction but the steam can leave a dry bed in summer. Any ideas?

There's posters on here know more than me on this but I have an idea that might work.

If you drive an earth bar either side of the stream and wire them together would the current enter the subsoil in the 4 acres pass between the earth bars and into the subsoil on the main block and back to completethe circuit.

patsy_mccabe

I have this setup not by design but did it as a short term thing. I have the mains fence line going across the main gate going into the home place. I unhook the handle to turn off the fence. As I always leave by the same gate, I cant but see the unhooked wire.

The part time boy

Thanks guys for all the suggestions .

I was thinking of the timer on the phone. Problem with this is I get the alarm and I no way near the fencer and I say to my self o yeah I must do that latter . And still forget !

The door and radio idea is a good idea . However problem is now that I am part time I don't spend time on the farm . So it could be a few days before I noticed door open or radio not on. That would have worked very well if I was still full time .

Setting it up with reels and gates so you don't have to turn off fence I don't think that work either as you always have to turn it off for some reason . If I move them it's not the time I forget to turn back on as it's part of the habit .

Thinking about it if I had remote turn on /off i only have to turn it off for few secs so I defo remember . You can buy sockets with a SIM card but there not cheap .

_Brian

TPF2012 wrote: »

Thinking of getting a mains fencer here. There is a small stream that separates around 4 acres from the main block here.I will be setting up the fencer and earth on the main block with a line extending onto the 4 acres. Just wondering will the fence be able to make the circuit through the earth from the 4 acre part. Looking at YouTube videos the circuit is completed through the subsoil from the live wire, through the animal and back to the earth. The stream flows on the bedrock, no soil connection between the blocks,I suppose it will be fine in good flows where the water will allow conduction but the steam can leave a dry bed in summer. Any ideas?

I think it will be fine without doing anything special.

patsy_mccabe

_Brian wrote: »

I think it will be fine without doing anything special.

Ya there shouldn't be any problem. A fence tester will show if its working.

larthehar

What i did was have a handle at mains that is wide enough to cross the road way. So when i drive in.. to disconnect i unhook from the mains and swing across the lane and hook on to an insulator.. when i am leaving the wire is physically blocking the roadway so i have to get out to open it.. again a method developed after 20 continental bullock went for a hooly in the field of barley!

C0N0R

Instead of plugging the radio out when you turn the fencer off, plug a radio in, therefore when you get back to the yard you will hear voices and cop it. Or leave the keys on top of fencer so you can't leave the yard without them?

Sam Kade

The part time boy wrote: »

Thanks guys for all the suggestions .

I was thinking of the timer on the phone. Problem with this is I get the alarm and I no way near the fencer and I say to my self o yeah I must do that latter . And still forget !

The door and radio idea is a good idea . However problem is now that I am part time I don't spend time on the farm . So it could be a few days before I noticed door open or radio not on. That would have worked very well if I was still full time .

Setting it up with reels and gates so you don't have to turn off fence I don't think that work either as you always have to turn it off for some reason . If I move them it's not the time I forget to turn back on as it's part of the habit .

Thinking about it if I had remote turn on /off i only have to turn it off for few secs so I defo remember . You can buy sockets with a SIM card but there not cheap .

How about getting a wrist band leave it on the fencer and put it on your wrist when you turn off the fence.

The part time boy

Sam Kade wrote: »

How about getting a wrist band leave it on the fencer and put it on your wrist when you turn off the fence.

Ya that was my idea in the original post with the elastic band . Maybe I did not explain it very well. But put the elastic band on when I turn fence off .

Probably cheapest solution.

I walk to the yard so keys would not work .

patsy_mccabe

Leave your car keys at the fencer. Cant leave without those.:D

Attie

Maybe not so expensive either.

GSM Smart switch

The part time boy

Attie wrote: »

Maybe not so expensive either.

GSM Smart switch

I that's cheap . Saw them before for 240 euro

SGSM

Not from a farming back ground but something that might work is sticking something in the ground nearby that ya can't miss and when ya look at it, it will remind ya about the fence. We do something similar to remember to secure the dogs pen.

Mf310

SGSM wrote:

Not from a farming back ground but something that might work is sticking something in the ground nearby that ya can't miss and when ya look at it, it will remind ya about the fence. We do something similar to remember to secure the dogs pen.

Exactly what i do have a pigtail post beside where i turn off the fence and put it in the middle of the lane so i cant drive off without turning it back on

Injuryprone

What I did was buy one of those gsm sockets. That way I can turn it off from the field only when I need to. And turn it back on straight away after. Less likely to forget it that way. Best few quid I ever spent

Nekarsulm

Mooooo wrote: »

Is there a way of setting up the fence so you can leave the mains on when moving? For the reels here I put a regular plastic handle on the end along with a gate handle so I can stick up a wire and hook on the the gate handle in order to put the current on the temp fence. Only really turn off the mains if I need to fix the permanent fence somewhere. Have often forgot to turn it on but I reckon some cows have a sixth sense for it the feckers

One of these? And place it whereever suits the block of land. Ideally in a place that you have to walk past going back after shifting the fence.

http://www.paddockperfection.co.uk/fenceman-electric-fence-isolater-switch-cut-out-switch--circuit-breaker-152-p.asp

satstheway

I have the same gsm switch here. Great job. U can ring or text it . Text it the on code if not sure if switch on or off.

Same sim on its 2nd year. Costs nothing.

The part time boy

satstheway wrote: »

I have the same gsm switch here. Great job. U can ring or text it . Text it the on code if not sure if switch on or off.

Same sim on its 2nd year. Costs nothing.

Is that the same one as the link above ?

mf240

I have been known to turn off the fencer to move a wire. And when I get to the field I'm not sure if I did turn it off and have to go back to check,

Muckit

Well u definitely qualify for a shoe in the hole!

The part time boy

mf240 wrote: »

I have been known to turn off the fencer to move a wire. And when I get to the field I'm not sure if I did turn it off and have to go back to check,

I often do that . I actally walked Into the workshop other day turned of fence . Walked out 20 feet and asked my self " did I actally turn it off "

Nekarsulm

mf240 wrote: »

I have been known to turn off the fencer to move a wire. And when I get to the field I'm not sure if I did turn it off and have to go back to check,

If you have a metal fence post with you, just stick the spike in the ground along the fence wire and lean the post in towards the wire until it's 5 or 6 mm away.

If the fence is on then a spark will jump to the earthed post. (Like a spark plug, same principle)

No shock will go to you.

It's also a rough and ready way to judge the strength of shock in a fence.

satstheway

The part time boy wrote: »

Is that the same one as the link above ?

Exactly the same. I see on ebay.co.uk for about £17 postage included.

Bought a 12v one for a solar fencer but have not used it yet.

The part time boy

Thanks sats. I defo going to pick one of them up

whelan2

mf240 wrote: »

I have been known to turn off the fencer to move a wire. And when I get to the field I'm not sure if I did turn it off and have to go back to check,

Aye and I'd be too afraid to put my hand on the wire to check for a shock.

visatorro

I got something off connacht agri before. You clip it onto the wire and it flashes when fencer is off. Used to have it pointing towards the parlour and you'd see it.

visatorro

Here

patsy_mccabe

whelan2 wrote: »

Aye and I'd be too afraid to put my hand on the wire to check for a shock.

:eek: Do people not use a long bit of grass and slowly shove it in? Insulates from the shock big time.

whelan2

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

:eek: Do people not use a long bit of grass and slowly shove it in? Insulates from the shock big time.

Have a fence tester and even when that is showing no shock, I am afraid to touch the wire

_Brian

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

:eek: Do people not use a long bit of grass and slowly shove it in? Insulates from the shock big time.

Yea, but it's still nerve wrecking waiting for the tingle.
Have a basic tester with 5 leds, more lights = more shock, just the damn tester goes missing for weeks at a time.

Suckler

Attie wrote: »

Maybe not so expensive either.

GSM Smart switch

Where are they made? I'd be wary of sockets like that being made in the far east ( I know most stuff invariably is) and then causing a short or fire worst case. I saw it happen to a friends timer socket.

pedigree 6

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

:eek: Do people not use a long bit of grass and slowly shove it in? Insulates from the shock big time.

Don't use a stem of bracken to test the wire.

When I was a childers and picking strawberries we used to put bracken stems from the fence into unsuspecting pickers lunch bags. Then when they went to get their lunch. WALLOP.

Apparently bracken stems have the same conductivity as steel wire.:p

K.G.

can you get a light that will work off the pulse of the fencer like a flashing beacon.the idea is to set up a light in the yard that when you switch off fence it would divert it to the light and it would flash.our house is adjacent to yard so you would even see it from house

Muckit

Can l ask why is there a need to turn off fencer?

Turn fencer on before stock goes out in spring, turn off after they come in in Autumn. That's the only time fence should be off.

Have gate handles where fence needs to be opened. Routinely check the pulse on the line with tester to make sure no breakage from livestock. Keep vegetation at bay during May and June.

K.G.

Muckit wrote: »

Can l ask why is there a need to turn off fencer?

Turn fencer on before stock goes out in spring, turn off after they come in in Autumn. That's the only time fence should be off.

Have gate handles where fence needs to be opened. Routinely check the pulse on the line with tester to make sure no breakage from livestock. Keep vegetation at bay during May and June.

because i have one cow and she ll go if it s off.yeah i have handles too but i have cable under them to carry power over and let handle open if im givi g acess to roadway.otherwise normal .ai etance

Justjens

Muckit wrote: »

Can l ask why is there a need to turn off fencer?

Turn fencer on before stock goes out in spring, turn off after they come in in Autumn. That's the only time fence should be off.

Don't ever turn it off, keeps the neighbours cattle out

L1985

We had the same problem with fence being left off-I turn o the yard light so if the lights on in the middle of the day you know the fence is off. V v helpful but my two are in the same house so makes it easier. I'm going to try out a smart plug in a few weeks and see how I go with it as it would be v handy to turn it off from the field if I need to. The battery ones i stick something in the ground at the gate to remind me
I'm terrified of getting a shock as well So always switch it Off when I'm going at the fence.

_Brian

Used to be able to hear it clicking over the medium wave radio.

K.G.

K.G. wrote: »

can you get a light that will work off the pulse of the fencer like a flashing beacon.the idea is to set up a light in the yard that when you switch off fence it would divert it to the light and it would flash.our house is adjacent to yard so you would even see it from house

Back to this idea again as with lock down theres 3 on staff and we had a little breakdown in comunication a couple of days ago.my idea now is get a2 way switch so that when its off its diverting power to a light.the light would be visible in yard and from house.just wondering as well how many lads have the fencer wired off a relay in the parlour so that it goes off when machine is on

emaherx

K.G. wrote: »

Back to this idea again as with lock down theres 3 on staff and we had a little breakdown in comunication a couple of days ago.my idea now is get a2 way switch so that when its off its diverting power to a light.the light would be visible in yard and from house.just wondering as well how many lads have the fencer wired off a relay in the parlour so that it goes off when machine is on

I've the fence unit connected to a smart switch, so I can turn on and off with my phone. I also programed it to turn back on automatically after a set time if I've forgotten it.

Have the opposite setup for the shed lights, so they turn off if left on too long.

Screenshot_20210304-114710 by Farmer Ed's Shed, on Flickr

J.O. Farmer

emaherx wrote: »

I've the fence unit connected to a smart switch, so I can turn on and off with my phone. I also programed it to turn back on automatically after a set time if I've forgotten it.

Have the opposite setup for the shed lights, so they turn off if left on too long.

Screenshot_20210304-114710 by Farmer Ed's Shed, on Flickr

Downside to automatically coming on after a set time is if you were slow turning it on because you were working on it you could be in for a shock when it comes back on......literally.

emaherx

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

Downside to automatically coming on after a set time is if you were slow turning it on because you were working on it you could be in for a shock when it comes back on......literally.

True, but I can set it for a long time, from a few min to several hours, so I'd normally have a fair idea how long I want it off for and double it.





Wouldn't be too difficult for me to develop it further and use Geo Fencing to turn it back on if my phone left the area, or another event happened like my phone connecting to the house WiFi.

Or I could just have it send an alert by a notification to my phone if it was not switched back on by a certain time.