Mains electric fence not working

Pie Man

Main fencer not working. Just the first red light coming on and off and a constant noise. Has anyone come across this before and is it wort getting fixed. It's over 10 years. Thanks.

patsy_mccabe

Give them a ring and get a quote.

Contact Us - Forcefield

hopeso

Could it have been struck by lightening? A neighbours fencer was damaged with lightening a few years ago... It was making a constant high pitched ringing noise.

Lime Tree Farm

One fried here too, on an out farm, well that's what I think happened after a day of severe lightning followed by flashes over the following days.

How does that happen, it's earthed. Because of power failure, the cow's knocked the line off some of the rebars, could line touching rebars have routed lightning back to the el fencer.

hopeso

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120825134#Comment_120825134

No, lightening can destroy a perfectly good fence. Basically, if it hits the fence anywhere on the farm, it travels back the wire and fries the fencer. Every fence should have something like this fitted to protect the fencer from lightening.....

https://www.agridirect.ie/product/lightning-diverter?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtamlBhD3ARIsAARoaExAos_vPnCk3EN_t2CTh8HvPKngkIqreopWJt4RB3UWuONjQo7wkF8aAmzeEALw_wcB

Lime Tree Farm

Thanks @hopeso . When I think back on it, if the wire had been touching off the rebars, it would have earthed the lightning.

Shadow Dancer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058304283/mains-electric-fence-not-working

How many green lights did you have before this happened? If there's too much vegetation growing around the actual fence line, it will drop to the red light and a constant bleep.

Pie Man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120825790#Comment_120825790

I've a on/off switch just outside the shed that connects to the wire, still not working with that off. I think hopeso might be on to something with the lightening.

green daries

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120825735#Comment_120825735

Ya but it doesn't matter what way the fence Is lighting will blow it if it hits the line

65535

If it was lightening you can check in your locality

https://www.blitzortung.org/en/live_lightning_maps.php

https://map.blitzortung.org/#5.73/53.289/-6.112

Also they sell lightning arrestors - not sure how efficient they are

https://www.forcefield.ie/product/lighting-divertor-kit/

Lime Tree Farm

How do solar fencers fare with lightning ?

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120826758#Comment_120826758

Lightening will blow any fencer if it hits the wire. It's very rare, has never happened here and there's loads of electric fencing around

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120825134#Comment_120825134

It's more likely because it's earthed that it attracted lighting in the first place, fence is a big conductor path of least resistance is through fence unit and into ground. (@ about 300,000,000V). A lightning rod on a building is earthed to direct the electricity into ground.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120825735#Comment_120825735

Exactly if it were a perfect earth it may have saved the fence unit, but with the voltage involved it's not likely to be good enough.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120826758#Comment_120826758

Same Issue fence will earth through the unit into ground and it will be toast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGF7mX6b-4s

I wonder how many install lightning arresters on their fences, particularly those with the big expensive units?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_-FDAAFRqY

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120826936#Comment_120826936

Thanks for the replies, any that you recommend and how is it set up along the line near the unit or further out the line?

ruwithme

" missouri electric fencing, for serious grazers " might be the go to place booklet for installing a "lightening diverter" have had unit damaged here at least twice in last 20 year's from lightening. Also the panel in the electric gate got fried a couple of years ago from a strike on a ESB transformer locally in a storm.cost over €400 for replacement.

Base price

OP's post reminds me of the first mains electric fencer that I bought in 1983 which was a Cheta - from memory it cost IR £50.00 at the time. Unfortunately it got fried during a thunderstorm sometime in the late '80's. I phoned Cheta to see if they could fix it and they told me to post the unit/box to them and they would have a look at it. A couple of weeks later they posted it back to me and the best bit is they they never charged me a penny for repairing it ☺️

Here is a pic that I took tonight of the fencer. It's still clicking/red lights and working as good as the day I bought it.

IMG_2574.JPG

https://www.cheetah.ie/contact

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120826995#Comment_120826995

Most I've seen look exactly the same, can't imagine there is much difference between them.

https://kencove.com/fence/27_lightning+diverter_resource.php

The diverter ground bed must have more ground rods than the energizer ground bed. Proper Installation of your lightning diverter is essential to its operation in the event of a lightning strike on the fence line.

For best Results:

Install the lightning diverter close to the fence charger (minimum 50 ft between beds)

The easiest way to install a diverter is to use a cutout switch on the electric lead-out wire close to the where you will be installing the diverter. This makes adjustment easier.

If installing the fence leave enough wire after crimping around the end or corner post to pass through the diverter and connect to choke coil.

Otherwise use a Split Bolt Line Tap to connect to the main fence line.

The diverter ground bed and charger ground bed should be separated by at least 50 feet.

Mount the diverter between the charger and any fence connections.

I've read elsewhere that direct strikes on fences are pretty rare and no amount of protection will save the fence unit in these cases. But most units are fried by induced voltages from non direct strikes.

Lime Tree Farm

Thanks @emaherx, I appreciate the reply.

ruwithme

Just on earthing the lightening diverter. I've 5 earth ground rods on the unit.so I would need at least 6 if installing a lightening diverter for the same unit?

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120832869#Comment_120832869

That's my understanding.

One would need to consider whether the unit they are trying to protect would be worth the extra effort / cost. It's not 100% protection either.

Lime Tree Farm

We've never had an el fence fry before now. It was well flagged that a thunderstorms were expected that week. I'll be plugging it out and disconnecting live & earth cables in future.

ruwithme

If only it were as simple as unplugging it though.it's hard to always be on top off the weather forcasts. You'll find yourself away or at something else from time to time when there maybe a thunderstorm underway in your locality.

€200 to repair the unit if she was to get fried, was told that by the man who both sells them & is able to repair them himself, when I bought her new over 2 years ago.be dearer now.