TomSeller
Super Member
That sounds interesting. I tried to find a you tube on it, but could not.
Solar Fence Trouble Shooting
- Thread starter DavidAH
- Start date
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That sounds interesting. I tried to find a you tube on it, but could not.
If it's anything like my STAFIX tester they are the greatest thing ever for electric fence. Mine can even turn the charger off, from anywhere on the farm, by touching it to the hot wire and pressing a button. (Obviously it has to be a certain charger to work.)
Try this for a video...
Stafix Fault Finder
texasjohn
Super Member
I couldn't find a video, either. Did find this sale price.
Amazon.com : Gallagher G50905 Fence Volt/Current Meter and Fault Finder : Patio, Lawn & Garden
The STAFIX sounds very similar.
Amazon.com : Gallagher G50905 Fence Volt/Current Meter and Fault Finder : Patio, Lawn & Garden
The STAFIX sounds very similar.
TomSeller
Super Member
Very cool. Sounds like you don't need to ground it other than through your hand? Amazing it can tell amperage and direction of flow.
texasjohn
Super Member
Correct, you just touch the probe to the wire and it shows the information...no mandatory grounding...true for both testers under discussion. The Gallager does not even have an obvious panel on the back side where the hand must rest....you actually begin to get a reading as you approach the fence...you can tell if that wire is carrying a current/charge before you touch it. A ground wire comes with it and can be plugged in and used...but I never have. Auto off and on, so no punching buttons necessary, automatic battery saving.
That's right, I can even drive up to the fence on my RTV and check the fence with out getting out.
They make finding faults in the fence so easy, if you've got any electric fence I would highly recommend one.
Hullo DavidAH. You have a bad earth,and your system will not work properly until you install a proper earth. As you found , a cheap earth is just nasty and the animals you are trying to control will soon figure out they can beat the fence.
You don't say what size of power unit you have, this governs the size of earth system you need.
READ THE MANUAL. It will tell you what size earth system you need and what components to get. Earth rods are 6' long, galvanised(rust = bad earth in very short time) and MUST be 10' minimum apart in damp earth NOT dry earth.
My system is a Gallagher M5800. For the earth I ran an under ground stainless steel wire about 60m to a swamp and used 6x2m earth rods. I don't have trouble with bad earth any more. The earth system I inherited was bad as it was to small and would dry out around the earth wire.
The tester that comes with these units tells you the power output AND the direction of shorts, a major time saver. There is an optional unit that will turn the power on and off remotely.
You don't say what size of power unit you have, this governs the size of earth system you need.
READ THE MANUAL. It will tell you what size earth system you need and what components to get. Earth rods are 6' long, galvanised(rust = bad earth in very short time) and MUST be 10' minimum apart in damp earth NOT dry earth.
My system is a Gallagher M5800. For the earth I ran an under ground stainless steel wire about 60m to a swamp and used 6x2m earth rods. I don't have trouble with bad earth any more. The earth system I inherited was bad as it was to small and would dry out around the earth wire.
The tester that comes with these units tells you the power output AND the direction of shorts, a major time saver. There is an optional unit that will turn the power on and off remotely.
texasjohn
Super Member
Redman is in NZ, where electrical fencing is used widely and in very long fences. Their experience with the fencing is excellent as is the equipment, which was first used extensively there and in Australia, if I recall correctly.
He's right, a good electrical connection is founded with a GREAT grounding technique (earthing). Given that, and a modern, high impedance fence charger and a great fence tester as we are discussing, you are all set.
TomSeller, when yours arrives, let us know if you think it is worth it...wait until you have a REAL problem with your fence...did you find it faster than your present method? I'm betting you will become a believer!
He's right, a good electrical connection is founded with a GREAT grounding technique (earthing). Given that, and a modern, high impedance fence charger and a great fence tester as we are discussing, you are all set.
TomSeller, when yours arrives, let us know if you think it is worth it...wait until you have a REAL problem with your fence...did you find it faster than your present method? I'm betting you will become a believer!
TomSeller
Super Member
I am looking forward to it. I spend too much time hunting the problem down. I assume these work on a looped system?
