electric fence ground setup???

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2011

Need to come off it and set up roper grounds on all the pastures. Have 1/2 and 3/4 inch galvanized pipe on hand and a source for anything I want as far as steel (price?). If it makes a difference, biggest pasture is 2 acres. Chargers are parmak 6 and 12 volt models.
What is the best setup (1 deep or several shorter tied together?) and material aside from copper (too expensive). Can get (and is) pretty dry here. Parmak website says 3 8' copper spaced 10' apart but that's just not an option.
Seperate ground wire fence strand isn't an option either.
Thanks for any tips.

Dave

Bob · May 31, 2011

Can you buy 8' copper-clad steel ground rods there?

Around here, they are about $15 - $25 each.

<img src = "http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/images/Product/medium/08111473.jpg">

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2011

I'll look but don't think so. Think one is enough for a fence or will I need multiple?

Dave

buickanddeere · May 31, 2011

Two 10ft rods are better than ten 2ft rods.

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2011

2 of the fences are in places where ground water is high (6ft or so deep), is that a good thing???

GeneMO · May 31, 2011

Dave, I know the better the ground the better the fence works, but I have always gotten by with just a standard electric fence post driven in the ground. The small ones with about a 1/4" diameter rod for a post.

Then I wrap the grounding wire around the top and secure it with an old pair of vice grips.

Now, our soil is a clay loam, and generally pretty moist.

Always works for me.

Here in the states we can get copper coated, steel ground rods. Wish I could get one to you.

Gene

keh · May 31, 2011

One deep at the charger is normally enough. For a battery powered charger I have just ran the groundwire to a t post. Start small and check with your meter to see if you are getting enough voltage on the fence.

KEH

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:45:44 05/31/11)
For a battery powered charger I have just ran the groundwire to a t post. Start small and check with your meter to see if you are getting enough voltage on the fence.

KEH

Are the multiple/deep rod setupsmeant only for AC chargers then??

Bob · May 31, 2011

What does the company say.... "Parmak website says 3 8' copper spaced 10' apart".

In other words, MORE is BETTER, but I'll bet ONE 8' copper-clad rod will be a MUCH better ground than you have now!

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2011

sure is. keep them wet and they earth better. my book says three rods 1 and half metres apart one metre in the ground. Mains unit 240 volt.

Anonymous-0 · May 31, 2011

http://www.gallagher.co.nz/news.aspx?newsid=322

might be useful

paul · May 31, 2011

Deeper is better, esp in dry ground. The more moisture you can hit the better the ground.

TSC has galvanized rod, which they say is better than copper for a fencer situation.

--->Paul

DoubleR · May 31, 2011

I use two eight foot copper ground rods about three foot apart. I dump some water around them when I think of it. Must work good because my steers never mess with the electric fence. I have a electric charger with maybe a mile of fence. I think the charger is suppose to be good for about 50miles.

Kentb of SWMO · May 31, 2011

My nephew bought a new electric fencer for Dad's last year. It was a high dollar unit. It ALSO said NOT to use Copper ground rods. It spec-ed three galvanised three feet apart.

Kent

JOHNNYfromMI · May 31, 2011

Put in one ground rod and then pee on the fence! If you don't get one shocking feeling install another groung rod. Keep installing ground rods untill you get the the shocking feeling.

Jerry/MT · May 31, 2011

The drier the ground the deeper the rods and the more rods you"ll need. The grounding system is the key to having a good electric fence system.

Consider a wide impedence charger(www.premier1.com)rather than a low impedence charger. The wide impedence units work better in dry conditions.

Ken Macfarlane · May 31, 2011

Guys here say a 4x8 sheet of welded wire mesh for concrete slabs buried a couple feet deep works well.

DaveK(IN) · May 31, 2011

The clamp shown in the picture is not the type to use on a rod, it is listed for pipe ground connections. The rod uses a "football" clamp type that is listed for the application including direct burial.

BTW, can someone explain why galvinized or steel are better grounds for an electric fence than copper.

36 Coupe · May 31, 2011

Ground rods are not solid copper,they are a layer of copper rolled on to a steel core.I sold them in my shop for 8 bucks for many years.If you have a poor ground on your fence line the chargers voltage will return on the power co better ground.You will lose many fuses.I have done fence charger repair since the early 50s and always get a good laugh on some of the BS that comes up on fence chargers.

Tom-TX · May 31, 2011

My fence charger manual says 3 each 6 foot rods, driven 10 foot apart, hooked up in series. Tom

Billy NY · May 31, 2011

I used 3 short copper clad rods, with brass clamps, #10 copper wire to the charger. Reason I had to go short is I believe there is some hardpan or rock or something, its a narrow strip of sod next to the barn. Its close to the water hydrant, and I do soak the area frequently. This is a plug in zareba, 5 mile, single strand fence of a few hundred feet. It's hot, I have a habit of making a V with my fingers and testing it, hardly notice it, take one finger off, you know its on, while touching the live terminal on the charger, well there was an aluminum ladder nearby, hit that with my elbow at the same time, nice snap and shock out the back of my arm, ground sure was good ! Stallion here is real smart about fences, even if the strand is dead, nope, not messing with it.

Copper clad seems to stay shiny around here, no patina or oxidation, so you have good contact into the earth

electric fence ground setup???

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