Question on electric fence charger

SeaGoat · #1 03/31/15, 08:08 AM

My fence quit shocking.

I can't figure out if it's the charger or if the fence is grounding out. I can't find where it is, if it is..

Its a Zareba 10 mile (i don't use but maybe 1.5 miles at the most).
The 'Fence OK' light is blinking and the box is clicking its steady click.

If this is happening than the charger is probably fine, correct?

arabian knight · #2 03/31/15, 08:28 AM

That is a lot of wire for such a small charger as that. Could be just running out of spark by the time it gets to the end. Most on here including myself have chargers that are at least 50 mile ones. Some even have 100 mile ones. Mine is a 50 mile one on two small pens 100 feet by 200 each.
But if it is that weak it would not take much a leaf a wet twig between the wire and pst anything like that could bring a short and a small charge to its kick.
Now that charger it is a solar one? If it is could be that is also the problem never liked them especially the small ones like that one is.

SeaGoat · #3 03/31/15, 08:54 AM

No its AC.

There is no shock 5' from charger to the end.

I'm wondering if it might be the insulator cord its slid through..

where I want to · #4 03/31/15, 09:36 AM

If it tests as good close to the charger, then at some point it drops off, then that is the location of the problem. I just follow along with the tester from thd charger til I find it.
I think I'm confused about what you have done in checking it out.

GeneMO · #5 03/31/15, 09:52 AM

95% of the time, problems with electric fence chargers not shocking can be traced back to a poor ground.

You need a good copper clad ground rod, and drive it as deep as possible. Lots of old timers even would dig a hole a foot deep first, then start the ground wire in this hole, and continually pour water down the hole as they were driving it. Then "water" it occasionally over time.

Make sure the connections are all clean, and you have a good, solid copper wire going to the charger.

If that doesn't help, then I would be stumped. I assume you have checked the insulators and wire.

What kinda wire are you using?

Gene

SeaGoat · #6 03/31/15, 10:05 AM

17ga galvanized wire from TSC

For grounding rods I'm using the two that were put in for the house. It's worked fine all this time so I don't think it had to do with rods

sky61 · #7 03/31/15, 01:06 PM

If you have a fencing voltmeter, you can disconnect the fence and test the voltage coming directly from the charger. At least it would narrow it down that much. Outside of a ground wire coming loose, it must be in the fence if the charger is ok, since you said it has been working fine. Have you checking for clicking along the fence line to determine if it is shorting out. Also, at night you can more easily see any arcing from the fence to ground. That would be the quick easier things to check for. (Steel or copper are both good, but you do not want to mix the two on the ground side.)

FarmboyBill · #8 03/31/15, 02:00 PM

IF so, as said, Check it towards dark for arcing at any of the posts or against any weeds or grass it might have come in contact with

As AK said, I too had a solar fence charger that wasn't worth a flip. But you have AC so that ends that. Pour water around the ground rod. Has the ground got dry in the last few weeks?

SeaGoat · #9 03/31/15, 08:38 PM

No. It doesnt seem to stop raining here. lol

I put a flower bed around the ground rods so it will keep wet.

I sprayed along the fence lines yesterday. Guess I need a voltmeter more than anything right now.

rambler · #10 04/01/15, 07:35 AM

The common stuff with electric fence are a bad ground - sounds like you have a good setup so possible the wire broke or the clamp got rust behind it.

Or somewhere the wire is shorting out past an insulator, a cracked insulator, some wet bird poop across the wire to a post, a green weed, a tie on wire rolled and is shorted out.... Something small, easy to miss. One time I circled my pasture 3 times before it saw the very small problem, it was very close to the barn but of course the end of my third circle, not the beginning.

You can test a fencer by disconnecting the live output and shorting between the 2 screws on it, should produce a good hot spark between them. Not scientific but sparks flying is good.

Paul

SeaGoat · #11 04/01/15, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

The common stuff with electric fence are a bad ground - sounds like you have a good setup so possible the wire broke or the clamp got rust behind it.

Or somewhere the wire is shorting out past an insulator, a cracked insulator, some wet bird poop across the wire to a post, a green weed, a tie on wire rolled and is shorted out.... Something small, easy to miss. One time I circled my pasture 3 times before it saw the very small problem, it was very close to the barn but of course the end of my third circle, not the beginning.

You can test a fencer by disconnecting the live output and shorting between the 2 screws on it, should produce a good hot spark between them. Not scientific but sparks flying is good.

Paul

So youre saying put a screw where the hot wire should be?

Should I unplug, srew it in place, plug back in?