Help out an electric fence idiot.

[AmarachAcres]

[QUOTE=hosspuller;8231584]
I don’t see the logic in dead ending a fence run.

I think you’re misreading the Kencove picture.

The utilities build loops into the electrical distribution system circuits. If anything, I try to make loops of fence. Then, the furthest point of the loop is fed from two directions. A break in the fence doesn’t isolate or kill any part of the remaining fence. This is basic electric circuits.

Please tell me if I’m missing some point… with horses it’s always different.[/QUOTE]

I don’t think we are on the same page.

When I was first learning about electric fencing, my ex (who was already my ex but knows tons about electricity as he works with it) came out to help my husband and I.

We couldn’t figure out why our fence had such a low “zap factor” as I called it then.

He untied our fence from where it attached to itself (think a complete O) and simply let it end right there. An O with out the ends touching but right next to each other. Suddenly it was at full voltage.

It can connect to other strands of course, I’m probably just explaining poorly.

Each new connection should dead end eventually, not be connected back to an already hot wire/tape/rope.

[AmarachAcres]

[QUOTE=Ruth0552;8236019]
Well, I bought a fence tester and it is probably one of the best things I’ve ever bought.

My weeny charger is putting out about 3K volts and it is carrying on the fence until the type of fence switches. It is black & yellow 1" tape all around, but two different brands. 1 type is not working at all- not sure why, but the tester is not picking up any charge at all.

But, the good news is that my charger is working somewhat, at least, even with weeds. We are replacing the non-working fence with another kind of tape, and I will be ordering a larger fence charger anyways. I bought another ground rod and supplies, but it looks like I won’t need that, at least for now.

So happy I figured out what the problem was![/QUOTE]

If you already bought the other ground rod, use it. Really, it can only make your fence stronger. Just space it ten feet from your existing one.

[DHCarrotfeeder]

I’d install the extra ground rod, if the new charger will end up in the same place. Extra grounding is never bad.

The tapes can be tricky to connect to. The tape itself is not conductive - only fine wires woven into the tape are conductive.

As another poster said, be very attentive to accidentally creating loops in the line. The voltage should “branch” out, so that at any point on the energized circuit, the only place to go is to ground or your grounded fence lines. (through the horse).