Electric Fence Problems

BalthazarB · 07-04-2009 11:10AM #1

Hello, I'm new to fencing, and am only getting a reading of 1000V on my voltmeter. I want to get it up to at least 4000 as it's for sucklers.

Have mains powered fence - approx 3 km long (3 fields).

I have been reading this - http://www.afence.com/Electric_Fence/how_to_elecfence/elecinstall.htm

On that page in fig 1.2 it says never to bend the wires around each other as this will result in reduced voltage, but many of my connections are like this.

Also I have noticed that some of my fencing posts are hardwood and have no insulator. I am sceptical about this method, and am going to replace them, to see if that works. They are not real fencing posts, but pieces of scrap timber. I have read online that its possible to get non conductive hardwood posts, but does any hardwood work the same way?

Other than that I plan to disconnect 2 of the fields and this will tell me if the problem is in the main field, and then reconnect the others one by one.

Also the fence is touching mature whitethorns in several areas, which I plan to rectify. A neigbouring farmer told me that briars and whitethorns don't effect electiric wiring that much. Is this true?

Is there anything else I should be thinking about? Or any other advice?

locky76 · 07-04-2009 11:22AM

the energiser (electric fencer) brings your electric fence up to 5000v in comparison to ground on an ideal system, however anything which joins the fence to ground lowers this ideal voltage. fencing hammered in directly into a post will lower the voltage espeicially during wet weather(insulators should always be used), briars, whitethorn, thistles etc. etc. will also affect your voltage. you should also look at your earth on the enrgiser as this will also affect your output volatge. splitting up your fencing is no harm either when your checking it out, an egg insulator at a corner post could also be split through thus lowering the voltage.
hope this helps some bit

millertime78 · 07-04-2009 11:59AM

Did you put the fence up yourself or get someone to do it for you? I need a fence put up, probably about 1km, thinking of getting it contracted out as I don't have the time to do it myself

wiggy123 · 07-04-2009 12:45PM

B.... did u not use insulators??u just tie the wire around the posts..if so foolish! what power is ur fencer! an average battery fencer would give you that..4000v..if its clean-along hedges,etc...
a mains should give u aleast 10000v..

one i purchased--gives that voltage-also will do 10km + in area..
i am very pleased wit it--as it will still power strong-even with bushes/briars touching it!

BalthazarB · 07-04-2009 01:22PM

I didn't install this system, I have just acquired it with the land.

Yes, there are a few posts with the electric fence attached directly without insulators. I wondered about this myself, and when I questioned the previous owner, he said that they were hardwood and therefore didn't need insulators.

wiggy123 · 07-04-2009 01:32PM

hi B..well i'm sorry he told u wrong,previous man!
get insulators for it--asap!

or use plastic posts--think can b got!

or else--buy the plastic posts--white ones!

notice a huge change in ur fence reading then,also!
anothe think--do not use baler twine/rope etc..to tie down wire--or to connect it to somthing! as--when its wet-voltage will be lost!

reilig · 07-04-2009 01:34PM

BalthazarB wrote: »

I didn't install this system, I have just acquired it with the land.

Yes, there are a few posts with the electric fence attached directly without insulators. I wondered about this myself, and when I questioned the previous owner, he said that they were hardwood and therefore didn't need insulators.

Hardwood fencing posts not needing insulators????? Not a bit wonder he's the previous owner, he doesn't have a clue.

You need insulators on every post - hardwood, softwood or metal. In fact your rule should be that the only thing the fence wire should touch in the 3km is insulators - from start to finish. If it touches a post, briar, nettle etc, it will have seriously reduced power. Insulators and insulation tubeing aren't expensive. Put them into it and you will see a noted improvement in power.

powerfarmer · 07-04-2009 01:41PM

As your new to fencing I would suggest having a look at some fencing installations done by someone like the farm relief services to get an idea of the correct way to run the wire and how to do the joinings to insulators etc, it should then be fairly obvious where your system is going wrong.

snowman707 · 07-04-2009 07:33PM

BalthazarB wrote: »

Hello, I'm new to fencing, and am only getting a reading of 1000V on my voltmeter. I want to get it up to at least 4000 as it's for sucklers.

Have mains powered fence - approx 3 km long (3 fields).

I have been reading this - http://www.afence.com/Electric_Fence/how_to_elecfence/elecinstall.htm

On that page in fig 1.2 it says never to bend the wires around each other as this will result in reduced voltage, but many of my connections are like this.

Also I have noticed that some of my fencing posts are hardwood and have no insulator. I am sceptical about this method, and am going to replace them, to see if that works. They are not real fencing posts, but pieces of scrap timber. I have read online that its possible to get non conductive hardwood posts, but does any hardwood work the same way?

Other than that I plan to disconnect 2 of the fields and this will tell me if the problem is in the main field, and then reconnect the others one by one.

Also the fence is touching mature whitethorns in several areas, which I plan to rectify. A neigbouring farmer told me that briars and whitethorns don't effect electiric wiring that much. Is this true?

Is there anything else I should be thinking about? Or any other advice?

First of all you need a good earth for your fencer ,

we us 6 earth rods bonded at about 5 metres apart in a semi circular pattern

next you must insulate the wire from the posts & any growing vegetation, since you already have hard wood posts get some g0od quality insulators, we use the pin lock varieties which allows us drop the wire if needed .

Avoid coiling the wire around posts, coils induce resistance & thus henders the flow of current

you can buy clamp type connectors for joining

cut back vegetation

the wire must only come in contact with non conductive materials .i.e. insulators

as current flows on the outside of the wire, any wire which is rusty must be discarded, even if you only have a few metres of rusty wire in an unimportant place it will hinder the flow of current beyond this point.

brownswiss · 27-10-2025 08:47PM

Electric fence problem

Hi I have a Voss electric fence which has stopped working. I opened the unit and the red wire going to the red terminal has the insulation melted off it . The bare wire has been touching the earth plate and has burned straight through the metal . First question is why it did not blow the plug fuse or the Elcb and second question, is there anyone in Ireland repairing fencers that they did not make ?

Thanks

_Brian · 27-10-2025 09:26PM

It didn’t blow the fuse because the problem is on the DC discharge side of the system.

It’s producing likely 9k volts fine, but discharging that straight to earth this shorting and melting the insulation.
It would only blow the fuse in the 3 pin plug if there were a problem in the 240v Ac side of the system.
Ask in your local Agri stores or Co-op, they could have contacts to get them repaired. I would say though most of these electronics are essentially disposable items now.

Baralis1 · 27-10-2025 09:43PM

I’ve always used baling twine to tie wire on to end posts etc. Makes sense though that it can conduct when wet. You learn something new every day

893bet · 27-10-2025 09:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/59732610#Comment_59732610

Current only flows on the outside. So rust is an issue. Interesting. Not something I had ever considered.

ruwithme · 28-10-2025 12:04AM

Touching of the hardwood probably is a smaller part of the problem. Earth rod/ rods in a area that is at least moist is imperative for a mains fencer. Steel wire all the way boundary wise also important for conducting a good consistent current flow

Is the fence earthing on anything steel or lying on wet ground.

Great satisfaction in having a mains fencer that's a hotline for anything Touching of it. Takes time, knowledge and experience though.

Danny healy ray · 28-10-2025 09:32AM

could a man work two electric fence units working together if one wasn't strong enough??

Lime Tree Farm · 28-10-2025 09:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943111#Comment_123943111

The Computer says - NO

Screenshot_20251028_094142_Chrome.jpg

emaherx · 28-10-2025 10:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123943111#Comment_123943111

No, but you could split up the area covered so you have 2 completely separate fence systems and essentially achieve the same thing.

The issue with a weaker fence unit is not to do with achieving the needed voltage but being able to push it far enough up the line.

Electric Fence Problems

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