Electric fencing / Earth Rods

[Geoffreywrc]

Just bought a new Hotline 12V Battery fencer. I use to just clip the earth lead to the base of the fence but guy tells me I should be inserting a 1 Metre rod into the ground and attaching the earth lead to that. What kind of an earth rod are people using and what length into the ground do they inserted it.

 

[Hilly]

Motorway barrier !

 

[Hilly]

Just bought a new Hotline 12V Battery fencer. I use to just clip the earth lead to the base of the fence but guy tells me I should be inserting a 1 Metre rod into the ground and attaching the earth lead to that. What kind of an earth rod are people using and what length into the ground do they inserted it.

But aye for a 12volt a copper rod ,

 

[Dry Rot]

Scaffolding pipe with a lug welded on for bolting on the earth wire. Sledge hammer it in as far as it will go.

 

[MF135]

For temporary electric fences I use a section of an old destoner web with one end cut off and grinded to a poin. Then it’s a case of knocking it in as far as possible (generally over 1m deep).

 

[Davy_g]

My fencers are moved every few days do i use an old steel electric fencing post with a bar welded on about 18 inches from the bottom. Use the bar to try and get the post in at least a foot before i hit a stone. Less in wet weather.

Use a hotline electric fence tester - 15 quid on amazon - less on ebay. If it beeps - and always does - job done.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOTLINE-AUDIBLE-ELECTRIC-FENCE-TESTER/dp/B0094QU358?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2VAN1JWBFZKT7

 

[Bury the Trash]

we use a clipex post these days and if theres a ditch we bang it in that in the damp plenty of holes on it ready to bolt/clamp on the wire as well.
probablyin 2 '3 ft as long as its down into mosity siol really and how keen im feeling with the sledghammer lol.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

We use those metal Rappa fence stakes upside down. Knock them in until the foot touches the ground and clip the earth to the spike. Big unit on long fence we bang 2/3 of them in and clip them together

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I use these for regularly moved fences, if no grown in permanent fence/ clipex to attach to.
Easier to get out than a rod driven in deep for frequent moves. Aim to locate in a wetter spot on the fence line if possible too.
On rappa fences, I often clip to the reel mounting post.

 

[TheRanger]

Can get copper bar earth rod and a clamp for the top of it from toolstation/screwfix. Easy to get in and out in clay ground and works well.

 

[TheRanger]

Have some stony ground we just clip the earth to the bottom of the (pretty old) sheep net and works fine for small distances.

 

[Forkdriver]

For a permanent mains fencer covering a bit of distance the recommendation is for three galvanised rods spaced out and joined together.

The basics of earthing your electric fence

The Earthing System The earthing system refers to the galvanized metal stakes that are placed in the earth near the energizer. The metal stakes in the ground are part of the circuit that is completed when the animal touches the wire. The completion of the circuit is what allows the animal to...

am.gallagher.com

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Have some stony ground we just clip the earth to the bottom of the (pretty old) sheep net and works fine for small distances.

Is copper the right thing to use?
Genuine question. We're told not to use the likes of copper insulated cable for lead out?

Edit: the gallagher site linked by @Forkdriver says not to use copper stakes.

 

[TheRanger]

Is copper the right thing to use?
Genuine question. We're told not to use the likes of copper insulated cable for lead out?

Edit: the gallagher site linked by @Forkdriver says not to use copper stakes.

I’ve got a triple copper rod thing here that SSEN left over from when they were working on the lines. Three copper rods about 18” long each, linked with braided copper wire. They put it in the ground and then connect it to all the overhead lines to earth them while they are working on the line. If something else was the best earth, I’m sure they’d be using it instead from a H&E point of view. I’m using it for a 7.5km mains fence and it’s always been full strength at the far end.

My only thought would be it may corrode over time if used outside all the time? SSEN would only be using it for a few hours at a time then back in the van overnight?

We’ve never had much bother with electric fence earths here tbh, compared to the amount of posts about them on this forum. But then the ground is usually saturated for 11.5 months of the year here, so that probably helps.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I’ve got a triple copper rod thing here that SSEN left over from when they were working on the lines. Three copper rods about 18” long each, linked with braided copper wire. They put it in the ground and then connect it to all the overhead lines to earth them while they are working on the line. If something else was the best earth, I’m sure they’d be using it instead from a H&E point of view. I’m using it for a 7.5km mains fence and it’s always been full strength at the far end.

My only thought would be it may corrode over time if used outside all the time? SSEN would only be using it for a few hours at a time then back in the van overnight?

We’ve never had much bother with electric fence earths here tbh, compared to the amount of posts about them on this forum. But then the ground is usually saturated for 11.5 months of the year here, so that probably helps.

It's not the same as mains current though.
It's because it's a pulsed dc power I think.

 

[TheRanger]

It's not the same as mains current though.
It's because it's a pulsed dc power I think.

There’s no current going through the earth in either scenario. The earth is the earth.

 

[Hilly]

9.9 volts , whats the other number ? Amps ? Is 3 good ?

 

[TheRanger]

9.9 volts , whats the other number ? Amps ? Is 3 good ?

9900 volts
Very strong. Anything above 3500V should keep cattle and sheep in comfortably.

I think 10000 volts is the legal limit, so you wouldn't be able to go any higher.

 

[TheRanger]

How much was the fault finder? I seen a similar one from Gallagher, but thought it was too dear for what I needed.

 

[Cowpoke82]

Motorway barrier !

@Hilly is that tester any good ?? I’ve a speedrite one but it’s fault finding is arse about face