Electric Fence Problems Solved!

A quick solution to the most common electric fence problems is installing a good earth. In this video I demonstrate how to set up an earth that will work in all conditions. I explain why it is important to use the same metal as your fence for the earth rod and why electric fences without good earth systems operate poorly in dry weather. Subscribe for a new video each week! New content uploaded every weekend.
My Channel / @farmlearningtim
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[@mueckenhoeffer]

Currently researching electric fencing and found this very useful. The concept of multiple remote grounding points would never have occurred to me.

[@darrenlucas2753]

Hi Tim,I had a problem with my solar powered energizer with ants nesting in the unit I had 4 units and 3 were constantly getting ants nests and being destroyed, 1 didn,t have a problem and I couldn,t work out why, the only thing that was different was the one unit was right next to my head crush,I live in Queensland Australia and we have a problem with buffalo flies so we put insecticidal ear tags in our cows ears over summer, and when they are removed we toss them near the electric fence energizer and pick them up at the end of the day, some were getting covered in dirt and we missed them,it was the only thing that was different, so I put used ear tags in the control box and I have have had no ant problems for 7 years, just thought your viewers may like this cheap trick, now I buy 5 extra ear tags a year (they come in packs of 5) and I have no insect attacks all year

[@adamw5536]

Hey mate just wanted to say thanks for making these videos! I've just started my first fencing job after being a chef for 16 years and your videos give me plenty to think about when I'm stapling battens! Thanks again from across the ditch!

[@andrewsteele7663]

Tim, best 5mins and 48seconds of my life watching your video, on electric fencing mistakes. I have now realized the mistakes I need to rectify , Thanks again

[@gunsandgear2689]

Awesome video mate, something I have completely overlooked, usually just earth to a star picket. I’m running electric internal fences over 400 acres for over 80 horses so this will help me a lot. Cheers

[@josephryan5949]

Great video, Tim. Looking forward to more good tips. A well maintained electric fence is vital on any farm. I like seeing some of the cash saving tips, eg. making gate anchors from wire instead of buying special ones.

[@phillipcleaver7063]

Hello Tim , here I maintain a few sheep & cattle electric fences , I found out that the earth is just as important as the power output , & that dry ground can knock back your fencer,s effect badly , but you have highlighted why this happens , & the inclusion of "running earth wires " between the fence power wires is a great idea , along with separate remote earth pegs , heavy clay ground here , & when it does eventually dry out , by god , it really insulates , ( & it,s hard to get post holes in , I,ve exploded a few softwood posts in my time just pressing them in with the old j.c.b. in dry summers ) , this will help a lot , & I,ll include it in future fence builds , Thanks Mate from England .

[@natashamelnyk5988]

Thanks!!!! This has just helped me heaps! I have two goats who are constantly getting out and the electric fence not working. Hubby has used a star picket.

[@FrederickDunn]

Excellent information about improving the grounding! Very useful, thank YOU!!! We've had a very dry year and need to keep the bears out.

[@johnbradshaw2902]

Great information and explained well, now I know what I have been doing wrong. Many thanks!

[@philipsherrin1860]

Thanks mate you have answered some questions for me.

[@leethurgood7789]

Great video. Would be great to see more on electric fencing as people in the UK are really getting fed up with wooden fencing rotting so quickly and are slowly moving over to more wire fencing and metal posts. So any more tips would be gratefully received!

[@alltogetherplaytubefingerf6045]

Great video, through explinations, very good!

[@stanrix]

As soon as I get up tomorrow I’m going to get onto those extra earths. That’s such a great point.

[@VK-qo1gm]

Awesome, cannot wait to show hubby this video, I think you have just solved our problem, thx

[@skyteus]

Very informative, thank you!

[@sterlingratema3512]

Awesome video Tim thank you💯💯

[@felicitysmart8290]

very useful vid. AND very well presented. Clear and to the point. Off to the ag supply shop.

[@billroks313]

Thankyou for sharing the knowledge to the world to Tim.I always watch all your videos for references.

[@billroks313]

@@FarmLearningTim you have alot of passion in your work Tim too good🤙🏾☝️.My next fencing project will be back home in Fiji and also share the knowledge to the locals too.

[@cheryl4729]

LOVE your videos!!!

[@DoriJenn]

This is exactly what I was looking for 🙏🏼. My exact same solar energiser has stopped working. Now I know why! Thanks heaps for providing a fantastic, informative video that is concise and easy to understand 😉👍🏼🙏🏼

[@DoriJenn]

Hi Tim, couple of qu's: How do I know for sure that the battery is fried? I'm running a temporary fence of two strands of braided wire. How can I apply this method to temporary fencing? Thanks so much - you're in the Yarra Valley? 😊😊

[@ronaldmoore5187]

Thanks that was very helpful

[@tommyarani236]

Thanks mate great vid 👍🏾👍🏾

[@MOREENGINEERING]

Hi Tim, Great video thankyou. I am just about to set up my first strip fence on my 10 acres in Mansfield Vic. There is heaps of info out there but for a novice like me I found it quite confusing. Again, great video thank you ;-)

[@MrBusdriver63]

I join the earth wires like you did, around my entire farm and I did that many years ago as when the soil dries out the voltage drops a lot when only using a earth rod.

[@TomofAllTrades]

Thanks for sharing. 👍🏼

[@tasseyko]

Very helpful!!

[@billypoppins9138]

Very good vid mate....

[@JoLynch0]

I've been connecting every star picket in the fence with a normal wire and connecting that to the earth system for the energiser, that way I get a 30cm deep earth rod every post...so far so good. I also drive in a galvanised star picket as far as i can at any point in the fence that retains the most moisture year round, and connect that too.

[@terrenceread1802]

Thanks Legend!

[@electricfenceaustralia8516]

Spot on explanation Tim ! Earthing is the most common cause of the issues we come across. Only thing you could add is to connect 3 or more earth stakes/rods in a row, 1-3 metres apart and joined together with some good plain or black insulated wire. Spot on summary too 5:18

[@electricfenceaustralia8516]

Looking forward to seeing that Tim. Notifications are on :)

[@Skipperj]

nice and will check the earth ground..never considered it,

[@karlnoble1446]

Thanx for your promp response,,

[@stevewoodbridge504]

good on yer mate thanks for the tip

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

We run 6 ft ground rods. There a half inch diameter with a light copper coating. We also Earth the two wires like you did because in winter time there's enough snow between their hoof and the ground that they have no continuity to the ground.

[@Tasz_]

A lot of shops won't stock the dedicated earth rods because you can buy a galvanised star post that's longer and has a much larger surface area, for less money.

[@jimpaea5473]

I’m guessing the 9 dislikes are people who worked in the companies that didn’t supply the proper earth rod?

[@BacktotheBasics101]

Thank U thank U thank U, that was one of the most interesting videos I have seen. You explained it perfectly. 👍🏼

[@gregthompson7832]

Thanks mate you have just solved my problem.

[@FarmLearningTim]

Absolute pleasure. Especially considering your surname

[@Caiaiman]

Really good explanation, i never stopped to think about how important the earth is. Where did you get all your fencing knowledge? p.s. if your looking for some video ideas may i suggest a video series on farm mapping and planning a rotational grazing paddock system from scratch.... if your interested... i am :)

[@karlnoble1446]

Thanx for pointing out multiple grounding rods as a fix, would scrap copper pipes not be as good as galvanized hardware,,

[@Bret4207]

I'd love to hear your explanation of how with a poor ground the charger is "pumping electricity back through your battery" and somehow ruining the battery. Never heard this theory before.

[@titoace408]

You solved my problem. My fence only felt like a little tingle and it was because I was using a copper ground rod and not galvanized rod.. 🤣🤣😅 I guess I should of read the instructions before throwing them away

[@TerminalEntity]

Hey mate great video, what model energizer are you using?

[@winterfae5403]

Thanks I've been struggling since doing it alone recently

[@winterfae5403]

@@FarmLearningTim my fence goes around my 1 acre back yard. It has two electric packs with an earth next to each one at either end but it only electrifies near the yellow electric packs, and only a little and nothing in the middle. I desperately want to take my dog off the chain and have spent hundreds in getting everything. Should I put more earths around the fenceline and could one of these electric chargers be the problem

[@emilykeller2690]

Can you show how you tie the insulated wire to the hot rods, where we can order a "proper ground rod" and how far apart ground rods need to be from the charger and/or fence?

[@sheilasmith1109]

Yes,yes,yes!!!😢 But I ALWAYS HAVE TIM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS! ❤️‍🔥💕⚡️🙏💕🤠

[@jeffengle2676]

I was doing everything I could to get my fence charged but kept only getting low voltage and after watching this and connecting my ground directly to one strand of fencing and the positive to the other and by passing the earth ground rods now my fence is putting out the voltage it is supposed to my soil is sandy river bottom and apparently never was getting good ground and the highest I ever got was 1.97 volts now the fence is putting out 8.97 with a solar powered 5 mile Zarebra fence charger, solve the grounding and everything else will come together.

[@jstoecker62]

Thanks Tim some good information to get me started, any brands you can recommend plz

[@FarmLearningTim]

Most brands are owned by Gallagher. It just depends on what power source you want and the length of run.

[@jstoecker62]

Gday Tim, so power source I would like solar, question on run length when advertised as 10 km long is this one hot wire 10 km long or a few wires that would equal the distance of 10 km and thinking of cattle so about 6 to 8 Jules ? Maybe

[@chrisrobinson2563]

Everything you said is good except for saying you dont need clamps for joining your covered wire to the fence. By wrapping it around the wire yes it will work how ever over the years with temperature changes wire expands and contracts with high and low temperature. This in turn causes the wrapped around wire to loosen causing poor connection. In severe cases this can cause an arc that will burn thru your wire or cause rust. Rust is a natural insulator as you spoke about with using rusty earth stakes. By using the clamps you maintain a constant connection.

[@sheilasmith1109]

Great Advice, Tim! 500 or so Meters, translates into around 1,640 feet! Can fence TESTERS go bad?? I have 2 & get NOTHING lighting up on my Rope style / temporary fencing! Could you please comment on this variety of fencing ropes? And how to test the tester? Thanks, mate! Love this channel for the BEST EDUCATION in this topic, ever! It also serves my desire to listen to Aussie speak! 😉❤️🤣🙏

[@FarmLearningTim]

Hi Sheila. Thanks for your comments. I couldn’t comment on your testers unless I saw them. Maybe take them to your local shop and ask them to check them? There is a huge range of electric wire available, hopefully sometime soon a manufacturer will ask me to review some. As for the accent, oh well some like it some hate it. It’s who I am. Glad you like the videos!

[@sheilasmith1109]

@@FarmLearningTim Much thanks for letting me know!! I’m going to do what you suggested and also see if my testers work on a friends fence wires, who uses different wire. He doesn’t have tester. He’s 91 years old and says he uses the best kind… his hand!! 💥😂🤣 I just can’t bring myself to do that! I’ll probably end up buying a specific tester for this brand of wire!

[@williraz]

Hi Tim. Great video. Just to confirm, does the animal have to touch 2 wires (1 charged & 1 earth) to get zapped? If so, how would this work with the hot wire on outriggers instead of post insulators? Can you still use this type of earthing system when the animal may only touch 1 charged wire on an outrigger? If not, what other type of earthing system would you recommend? Thanks! And keep up the great work on your videos!

[@williraz]

Thanks for clarifying Tim (makes more sense now as I got a little confused at 4:48 of your vid when you pointed to the earth wire & the hot wire suggesting the animal had to touch both). We run mainly 6 or 7 wire fences for cattle - older fences have a single hot wire on outriggers around the plain/barb wires, and newer fences have 2 hot wires on post insulators & 5 plain wires. Will definitely move to your earthing system after watching this vid (currently have a lot of our units earthed to 2 or 3 star posts hammered in the ground near the solar unit, & not always are they galvanized). Can I earth using any of the plain wires along the fence, or best to use the wires closest to the ground? Also, which of your videos best shows how to tie the strainer knot that recently fared well in your knot-test video? Thanks so much!

[@sheilasmith1109]

@@williraz oh how I wish Tim would have answered your question!! HEY TIM! Please get back to williraz’s questions!❤😂

[@DairyNZ]

Good video! Another golden rule is always clamp your joints. I particularly like the "L-Shape Joint Clamps". Using underground cable as patch leads is ok, but make sure you clamp the joints on main feed wires. The arcing on un-clamped joints will loose power & slowly destroy your wire.

[@sheilasmith1109]

Hi! Could you please explain what “L-Shape Joint Clamps” are? I can’t say I’ve heard anything called that! Thanks 🙏

[@TheBadurpa]

Wow....

[@mattnico9963]

tape v's wire? what do you recommend. Just want to electrify the top to stop our horses from reaching the greener grass on the other side and destroying the fence. Will be using the same thunderbird. cheers.

[@mattnico9963]

Thanks Tim

[@gwen2785]

Do you have any videos reviewing different types of energisers or brands? Also how to set up an electric fence from start to finish?

[@FarmLearningTim]

Hi Gwen. Not yet. At this stage I have not had interest from any companies in this space. The videos are on my mind but will be expensive to make without support.

[@gwen2785]

@@FarmLearningTim What a shame. I did see one company (Big Red Fencing) have links to two of your videos on their website. There is so much contradictory information. Even the different companies selling these products are vague.

[@emilykeller2690]

also what is wrong with most earth rods? Are those clips an added benefit... I don't have them either. I connect my wire directly to my fence from the charger.

[@stevewayne8941]

why do you need insulated wire to hook up the earth rod

[@authentichomestead]

I bought a new fence charger and installed it correctly with the proper ground rods. But it only shows 2000 volts right after the charger and then the longer I go around the fence line, it goes to a 1000 V and I want at least 4 to 5000 V. Since it's still Winter here in Illinois, I don't have a lot of grass growing around the fence line. What's causing the low voltage? Also this is a plug in fencer not a solar one.

[@FarmLearningTim]

Hey mate. I'll try to sum up what I think woulld be a great video response for a 15 minute how to..... In fact I just showed your querstion to a mate from Gallagher to suggest we do it. Anyway, here goes.... 1) What is your lead in? Please don't tell me you attached the unit on the boundary fence. You should use a central fenceline to energize the rest of your property from this. Think of water pipe. Electricity flows like water. 2) Earth stakes are only as good as the ground you put them in. Every 15 jouls should have 3 earth stakes 2m into the ground each 4m apart connected by ONE unbroken unjoined earth lead. 3) Some soil is less conductive, run an earth return system - that means use your non energised line wires as an earth by connecting them to earth stakes. 4) What quality insulators did you use on the posts? Not all insulators are good. Hope that helps. Good electric fences are awesome, but you need to design and install them well. Really hope this helps.

[@franknyhuis6607]

Hi Tim, I just got an extra copper earth rod from Coldstream(they’re not selling the gal ones anymore) and wanted to put it at the far end of my system, but I only have single strand braided electric stand off, with Bayco strands completing the fence. How can I include the earth rod in the system to improve the flow? Or am I stuck with what I’ve got?

[@FarmLearningTim]

Check out my more recent videos on the topic mate, like this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKmummewjK6taLMsi=23gbLcNI2HsaaJ8-

[@franknyhuis6607]

@@FarmLearningTim thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, didn’t really help. I’m charging 3-4km of braided standoff, and it seems to be chewing through my batteries, so want to improve the flow with the earthing rod. Hit the rod in at the halfway point of the system, but don’t know what to join the wire to?

[@FarmLearningTim]

@@franknyhuis6607 you don’t join the hot wire to the earth. To optimise the energy you can set up an earth return. This is covered in the video I shared with you and a couple of others. Basically, connect your earths to a plain fence wire, then connect the unit’s earth to this wire as well. Then when an animal hits both wires it receives the full pulse. Put the unit in the middle of the run, not on the end. Replace any corroded or broken wires. Check all insulators. Actually USE insulators (you would be surprised). All these tips and more are in my videos. Cheers.

[@nicksibly526]

Thanks Tim, I used three hot dipped gal star pickets as Earth's. What's your opinion?

[@FarmLearningTim]

Good to use Gal. Spacing and depth is all important. Check your voltage when the soil dries out

[@nicksibly526]

2/3 of the way in the ground, 3.5 m apart

[@damonwade715]

Just wondering if you run a wire like 500 metres then wanted to put another Earth Point in the ground do you just run a wire from the electrical fence wire to your Earth Point / rod

[@mmg9675]

using a mains fencer here with no non powered wires. What would you recommend in this case?

[@highphysics3617]

@@FarmLearningTim "That's the animal's job" Yesss,I love your humour.

[@starwizardmanonthestarwiza2469]

Can you use a piece of rebar as your earthwire or your Earth rod

[@FarmLearningTim]

Yes but….. electrolysis will cause it to rust and performance will decline over time.

[@Get_a_life]

There is power in the line running from the unit to the fence. But when I attach the line to the fence there is no power in the fence. Insulators are new and there is no vegetation touching the fence. it seems the power is not transferring to the fence wire. The ground rod is 6' in sand and I poured water to add moisture to the ground. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[@FarmLearningTim]

Stupid question first… you did take the insulation off the line when you connected it to the fence right? Next, use a clip, this will improve your contact. Failing that I’d be looking at your earth. No earth, no circuit, no zappy zappy. Hope that helps!

[@AperiOculos1]

In a pinch you can get 1m long 10mm gal rods from Bunnings for a couple dollars

[@robinflory6109]

I just installed 3 - 8ft galvanized steel ground rods to help my solar powered charger...

[@wslsolar7411]

We can produce the customized small solar panel for the electric fence!

[@akraphotography]

You CAN use star steel posts as your earth if they are gal. But if you want a better earth than the one he recommended use a copper earth rod.

[@JoLynch0]

i've seen people swear off using copper earth rods with galvanised wire and joins because of the electrolysis between two different metals.

[@akraphotography]

@@JoLynch0 I have been selling electric fencing for 5 years it works fine.

[@sheilasmith1109]

Tim??? Will you be pumping electricity back into an electric fencer that’s NOT running off a battery???? Please let me know! ❤😊🤠

[@lezmckay8056]

Tim thanks for your videos. I am a newby to this. Can you tell me which is the best fence for GOATS, so I can get them to eat my blackberries. lez

[@FarmLearningTim]

G’day Lez. A 15 picket spacing or less is best. Also go electric on standoffs. And they’ll need more than blackberries to eat.

[@sianne3866]

What if you are have all 4 wires hot, then where do you attach the extra ground rods to?

[@FarmLearningTim]

You typically have at least one or two non hot wires, unless it's a small temporary fence, in which case you just connect the earth to the energiser. I have done more recent videos on these two approaches.

[@sianne3866]

We have all 4 hot, it's a very big area

[@alfredhussenmalizani1346]

Hello Sir How can I wire up the 6 or 8 wire electric fence with 220v energizer having a backup battery.

[@seabataseepane2044]

What causes the fence to have no power but powered?

[@FarmLearningTim]

Either a short or no earth.

[@davidgrove7585]

Just use gal post

[@CrimeVid]

I’d rather use the expensive clips thanks, you do get a reliable connection. They’d use your twist solution in house wiring if you could trust it, they did but stopped it about fifty years ago.

[@donrotten4791]

Actually house wiring is twisted a specific way then a marret is twisted on that. The point you missed is the grounding in multiple places through the fence will make a huge difference in how well your fence works. People with big pastures that need lots of gates appreciate the advise. The insulated wire he used is rated for 20000volts which is also a must have.

[@cookieboi4449]

I am not sure why the need for an earth stake. I have seen people with wooden posts, 4 strands, 2 of which are live, and the other 2 barbed wire. Why wouldn't you just connect the live wire to the 2 isolated strands, and earth to the two non-isolateted strands. Then wouldn't you get a zap from touching the +ive and the -tive together? You can put the two wires so close that an animal cannot touch one without touching the other, say less than 100 mm apart.

[@cookieboi4449]

@@FarmLearningTim Thanks tim. I am living in North Queensland and we have a native white tailed rat, protected, but they bleed my chooks to death. I have chicken wire fencing but I have not been able to keep them away. I have boutht an electric fence unit and I am planning to install it. I thought perhaps on the perimeter of the yard, say about 20 metres by 50 metres by using 20 mm diameter pvc pites by 300 mm long in the ground around the 1800 mm high chicken wife fence, drill two holes in the pvc pipe and let the pipe be raised about 100 mm above ground. My question to you Tim: shall I run one neg and one pos wire, and thus zap the rats between the two wires, or shall I run two pos wires and earth to the 1800 chicken wire fence, and use an eath stake as well as the star pockets which are holding the chicken wire fence. ? Right now the ground is wet, damp, but later in the year September, the ground is very dry, will I then get enough zap to a small rodent through the ground ? Cheers, and many thanks for your comments.

[@sonsofliberty3081]

10 dollars! The ones I bought at tractor supply were 3, 8 foot galvanized and 1, 7 foot copper. 3/8 of an inch thick. I'm thinking 25 to 30 dollars each. I about sh!= when I saw that. I was expecting 10 dollars each not 25 to 30.

[@sonsofliberty3081]

@@FarmLearningTim why were the ones at my store so long?

[@sonsofliberty3081]

@@FarmLearningTim thanks, just subscribed. I just installed one but it's not solar. A few reasons I didn't buy a solar charger were the ones you mentioned in this video. I didn't realize that people weren't setting them up correctly.

[@user-es8ps7jr4i]

got a hot gate dont know why

[@FarmLearningTim]

Earth or lead out. Most likely earth. If you’re running an earth return, install an extra earth AFTER the gate. This will be covered in an upcoming video.

[@kittygalore2010]

Is this good for Raccoons? I Just want my yard back

[@bipedalbob]

This will work for raccoons, I've done it, actually it works on all animals but better on some than others. The challenge with raccoons is they are very intelligent, understand what they are dealing with and look for way around it, you might even need game cams to assist in the fine tuning of your fence, I have not seen evidence that they figured out they can ground out the hot wire yet, but really I'm expecting it, if nothing else you will gain more respect for just how smart these critters with hands are

[@abagayleenglebrick9176]

Argh come to my house, I can’t get my fence to work, got two grounds for about a three hundred ft straight line, don’t know what I did wrong 🤪