ENCOURAGE FARMING CUSTOMERS TO DO AN EARTHING CHECK
In recent years, the UK has faced periods of increasing drought and this can affect the functioning of electric fences.
This is because dry ground acts as a poorer conductor of electricity than damp ground. This conduction is essential for shock to occur and for the fence to work effectively.
As many as 50% of fence problems stem from poor earthing of the energiser and drought exacerbates this. Mark Oliver, UK Sales Manager at Gallagher, recommends doing a full annual Gallagher Check at the beginning of the season. Have you not yet checked earthing this year? Then do so now, especially in case of drought.
Poor earthing of the energiser means the animals may not get a shock, despite a high voltage on the fence. This is because the voltage of the wire cannot be conducted back to the energiser. In other words, there is enough voltage but not enough current. This can lead to situations where animals can easily break out and create unsafe situations.
How can earthing be checked and optimised?
To start, place an iron post against the fence about 100 metres away from the energiser. By causing this short circuit there is less voltage on the fence. Is the voltage now lower than 1000V? If so, then it is safe to continue. If the voltage is still higher than 1000V, place a few more posts against the fence until the voltage drops below 1000V.
Then walk to one of the earth stakes of the energiser and measure the voltage on it. To do this, use a fault finder or a fence volt voltmeter and hold it against the earth stake. Is the measured voltage less than 300V? If so, the earthing is fine.
If the voltage is higher than 300V, install an additional earth stake with Bentonite earthing mix and perform the test again.
Repeat this process until a voltage lower than 300V is measured all along the fence.
Other fence testers like the neon tester and key ring beepers are great solutions for basic fence testing. For earthing always use the fault finder or fence volt voltmeter.
Find out more about earthing at www.gallagher.eu or contact your local Gallagher stockist.
