Temporary Horse Pasture - Fencing advice please

[bullbreaker]

I think its published in Florida.

:laughing:
Partner(BlueRiver) your being rough on me to-day ! :thumbsup:
Thats allrite I can take it !
David not trying to get off topic just haveing fun/enjoying your thread !

Boone

 

[blueriver]

:laughing:
Partner(BlueRiver) your being rough on me to-day ! :thumbsup:
Thats allrite I can take it !
David not trying to get off topic just haveing fun/enjoying your thread !

Boone

I know you can take it ... David, I'm kinda back woods. I hook it up, ground it and if it shocks I got it done. I don't have any lightning arresters on my electric fence.

Actually alot of times I have electric fence on the inside of an exsisting five strand fence to keep the cows from reaching thru and pushing on the fence ... I ground to a T post ... I fiqure a T post every 10' and five strands of wire fastened to every T post is a pretty effective ground system.

On the inside of my 3 rail vinyl I have a strand of electric for the same reason and on that I use a ground rod ... thats 1320' of vinyl and 1 strand that runs from the charger to the other end.

 

[MotorSeven]

Tractor supply sells a Zareba sacrificial lightning breaker, if it gets hit it will save your system from getting fried:
Zareba Storm Guard - 3604918 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Ok, D-Day is Sunday and I'm almost ready!

All I have left that MUST be done is as follows...

1 - Ground rod installation (I have a couple questions below)
2 - Connect the fencer and test the charge (I heard you can use a blade of grass between your fingers as a tester).
3 - Stake and tie down the fiberglass posts that need bracing.
4 - Finish removing the sticks, walnuts, old bricks, debris, etc. from the pasture area.
5 - Put in a water trough & maybe a hay feeding station.
6 - Eye bolt for gate chain.

Not too bad, I will have to work this week, so most of this will be evenings and Saturday.

Grounding rod questions:

1) I am debating where to put the grounding rod. This is not really a permanent installation, but I suspect I will never be able to get the grouning rod back out, so I dont want to put it somewhere that becomes troubling later. I have the solar fencer/charger in a good spot with easy access and plenty of sunshine, how far away MUST I place the grounding rod? I am considering putting it in a fence post hole and running the wire along the fence, but the telephone lines are only a few feet off the wooden fence (I am not using them yet...no land line...).

2) I am assuming I can just pound it in with the T-Post pounder/hammer thingie I bought. Right?

3) How heavy duty do I need the wire to be? I have 12 gauge and it is within spec...

Thanks in advance for all assistance, and Thanks again for all asistance already recieved.

Be well,
David

 

[lstinthot]

I would think if you put it in a fence post hole you may have to change that post out sometime in the future and you will find it when trying to redig the hole. Maybe somewhere between two posts along the wood fence line would be best.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I would think if you put it in a fence post hole you may have to change that post out sometime in the future and you will find it when trying to redig the hole. Maybe somewhere between two posts along the wood fence line would be best.

Mike,

You are one smart cookie. I had not thought of that "benefit"...

I like the idea of along the fence line, but that is also just a few feet from the telephone line.

Right now I am thinking about in the middle of the grove of Oak trees at the farthest North (towards the house) end of the wooden fence.

Thanks for thinking of the long term!

David

 

[Depmandog]

David,

Concerning your ground rod (and other fence posts) you can use you FEL bucket to drive and to remove posts most of the time. To drive it, either use a helper to hold it straight (tractor in neutral, parking brake on- only the helpers hand under the bucket, use only an adult helper, after receiving signed liability waiver yada yada yada -smile-) and drive it down to desired depth. Once it gets firmly started wait for the helper to move hands. Works good for the helper to have a story pole (marked or cut board the desired height of posts) to signal when you have reached the desired depth.

Remove the posts by wrapping a chain low and lifting. The ground rod will need a pipe wrench to provide grip.

You can set posts yourself, just need to drive them a bit to get thence started. Plus, you are on and off the tractor all day. Much more work.

I am sure the SP will chime in, but as long as you go slow and don't try to drive through rock, it's a slick and quick way to set posts. FYI. It is a bit harder to make sure the posts are vertical...

Have fun.
Dean

 

[SuperCobra]

Maybe I installed mine wrong but it seems to work fine. I would think you would want the grounding rod near the charger since your ground hooks to a lug on the charger. Would save wire and make it easier to inspect when you inspect the charger. I didn't know it had to be located elsewhere. Are there instructions saying differently?

 

[MotorSeven]

Maybe I installed mine wrong but it seems to work fine. I would think you would want the grounding rod near the charger since your ground hooks to a lug on the charger. Would save wire and make it easier to inspect when you inspect the charger. I didn't know it had to be located elsewhere. Are there instructions saying differently?

Yes it is supposed to be near the charger. Supplemental ground rods can be driven down the fence line if needed....but with 3 at the charger they are not needed for mine.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

HERE WE GO!!!!!

It is official! The horses arrive this Sunday at 2pm. My lovely wife and daughters are throwing a "Horse-Warming" reception for all those who helped build, their families, and all of our clan (the East coast ones at least).

I'm not really done yet, but this will light a fire under my fanny. Not really that much to do. I did have a little bit of frost heaving today as we really got the very first real cold spell. Pretty much only the posts we did not tamp down as well, or the few we put in where the dirt was totally mud and untampable.

Oh man!

This is a dream that started with my daughters at a very early age, well before we even had pet a pony, and it has infected the entire family and we are all VERY EXCITED!

Thank you all of you awesome TBN folks who have been teaching me, guiding me, and some even showing up and setting posts in with me! TBN is WAY MORE than a web forum, chat room, etc... You guys are family and I love all of you.

God Bless & THANK YOU!
I promise pictures afterwards.

Be well,
David