Why Isn't My Electric Fence Working? - Troubleshooting Tips Every Farmer Should Know

[@johnleden1909]

Very good information - thanks for posting. Love the t-shirt!

[@lustysteve1420]

Can I wrap the electric wire around a wood post or do I have to buy a insulator

[@PlaneViewFarm]

A bare wire will ground out on the wood post, especially when it gets wet. You can use wrap around insulator tubing instead. It's a little bit cheaper than individual termination insulators. kencove.com/fence/detail.php?code=I40-100

[@maoqu3238]

Best video ever!!!!❤❤❤

[@theBakersonafewacres]

9:10 can you elaborate more on that? I've never heard or thought of that. I'm planning on getting a much larger than currently needed charger, but I'm also adding on a lot of fencing, but in stages. I don't want to damage an expensive unit.

[@PlaneViewFarm]

I probably should have done that in the video. 🤦‍♂️ Being oversized for the fence system can be hard on the internals of some of the cheaper equipment. If you buy a high quality charger, you'll likely be ok.

[@mjohnson4185]

I bought a really powerful energizer and it has worked out pretty good. I do think that being oversized causes it to "find" weaknesses in your system. For example, I've had it burn through some of my cheap tubing insulators. But the advantage of the powerful system is that it burns the weeds / kills the grass and weeds so that you don't have to trim as much. For me, it's worth it to have the big joules.

[@solschwartz7119]

​@@PlaneViewFarmcan a cracked insulated cause it to ground out. Even if the wire is not completely against the post

[@PlaneViewFarm]

@@solschwartz7119 Yes it can! It can arc across and ground out. That's a really good question. I wish I had included that in the video.

[@solschwartz7119]

@@PlaneViewFarm thank you

[@alexperez6397]

So I have a question, I had to connect two different wires, together, would that cause an issue besides the ground? Bc I do only have three ground rods, would the wires twisted together cause a short at all?

[@PlaneViewFarm]

Good question. No, that shouldn't cause any problems at all, as long as they are twisted together tight. If you're concerned about the twisted connection, you can buy fence wire crimp sleeves and a pair of crimping pliers to make your connections.

[@twc9000]

I have a 26 Joule energizer hooked up to 830 ft of poultry netting and the connector from the enegizer to the netting burned through the netting. My goats figured out that the power was off and two of them stuck their heads through the netting and got stuck and choked themselves. I think the problem may be a combination of a lot of Joules connected to a relatively small fence and the ground being so dry that I am not getting a good grounding. I bought a better connector that has more surface area and left a water hose barely running near the grounding rods. I think the best solution will be to replace the netting with high tensile wire.

[@PlaneViewFarm]

I've never had much luck with netting. It always seems to short out. I had the same thing happen with a goat kid about 5 years ago. I quit using it after that.

[@tomcopeland6424]

I bought a 26 Joule energize and currently have it hooked up to 830 ft of poultry netting. I know that is more joules than needed but I’m planning on fencing off about 30 acres with additional cross fencing. Right now, the netting is touching grass in several area and I hear a lot of clicking. I’m concerned it might catch the grass on fire. Is that something I need to be concerned about? Will adding more ground rods reduce the risk?

[@PlaneViewFarm]

Fire really isn't an issue with modern energizers because the current is pulsing. Older energizers had an issue with fire because the current was continuously flowing. The only real risk might be if the grass is extremely dry and the wire contacts something that might cause it to throw a spark. Even then, the risk is low because that spark isn't likely to be hot enough to start a fire. I hope this helps.

[@leroygooding6954]

can you touch tester to electric wire and steel post to test the fence

[@PlaneViewFarm]

Yes

[@CEGEN2P]

I noticed your ground wire was attached straight to tpost with clip does this help ground

[@PlaneViewFarm]

Good question! It does provide some grounding for the system, but not much for a couple of reasons. The posts don't get deep enough to provide much ground contact, while a grounding rod will be at least 6 feet deep, if not more. Also, the wires are not fixed tight to the posts with the clips. They are just loose enough to expand and contract. That allows for breaks in the flow of current back to the energizer through the ground. I hope that helps.

[@myragrapa6973]

Nice video

[@Thelma-q3v]

There great to keep thieves out in suburban areas as well