Electric Fence Checks - Midsummer Checks for Temporary and Permanent Electric Fencing
The fields have been in full use now for a few months and I am sure the animals have tested the fencing a few times, tried to munch it and also there has been vegetation growth. Here are some Mid-Summer checks for temporary and permanent fences as advised by the Hotline Electric Fencing troubleshooting team.
Here are some things to check and look out for:
CHECK YOUR POWER SOURCE?
If you are using a mains operated system - are all the connections still nice and tight; no fraying? If a battery operated system – is the battery still charging? Are the energiser battery connections in place? If you are using a solar panel with a battery - is the solar panel in the correct position for the sun? Make sure there is no build-up of dirt and grime on the panel itself.
FAST GROWTH OF GRASS AND HEDGES HAS TAKEN PLACE ALL OVER THE UK FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS/MONTHS.
The light winds of summer soon get the hedge growth and grass touching the live wires on your electric fence. Check your fence and see that the grass or hedge growth are not touching the electrified wire. If they are touching the electric fence it will definitely be losing power and possibly the animals will have tried or succeeded in their escape plans..!
THE WEAKEST LINK COULD ALSO BE YOUR EARTH ROD OR EARTH STAKE AND THE CONNECTION OF THE WIRE TO THE ROD.
Many people neglect this area when it comes to permanent and temporary electric fencing systems. The earth stake should be pushed into the ground as far as you can get it and the earth wire from the energiser is connected. Please do not just walk away and leave it. Check and double check it! The wire could have got rusty after the winter and so will not be allowing true and positive connection. Also at this time of year (since it has been so dry recently) the ground may need some watering around the earth stake to help with conductivity (yes we know that watering an earth stake sounds bonkers… but it really helps!!).
SHORT TERM PADDOCK FENCING FOR SUMMER GRAZING CAN CREATE PROBLEMS.
Don’t take short cuts when assembling your temporary tape electric fence; the tape may flap around in the wind and fray if it is not tensioned correctly. So it would be advisable to use more posts than you need and place them closer together if the area is exposed or windy. Take an extra set of screw in insulators so that good tension can be made with the tape. There is nothing more soul destroying when horses or other stock get out because of slack tape flapping in the wind. Tape also should never be tied in a knot; the use of the correct connectors if there is a break in the tape is essential.
ANIMALS USING THE WOODEN POSTS AS SCRATCHING POSTS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
Are the animals getting to the wooden posts due to some of the above mentioned factors effecting the fences ability to keep the animals away? The use of a fence tester is highly recommended; the KV10 LED tester is a great piece of kit as not only does it let you know the fence is working but also at what Voltage it is running, anything below 3,000 kv and you should do a quick fence walk looking for vegetation, fraying, breakage and the power in the earth stake. A nice bit of zap running down the fence will stop any scratching on the wooden posts!
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