It's definitely worth spending a bit of time checking the electric fences which are looking after your livestock and property just now, before the weather gets any worse so here are some of Billy Boy’s tips to get the best out of your electric fencing:
The fencer/energiser
• Turn it on or connect to battery and see if it flashes. If not take it to be checked or send in to manufacturer for repair. Check your warranty agreements.
• Check that the leads from the energiser to the fence and energiser to earth stake are not cracked: if cracked these leads can be replaced. Likewise leads from energiser to battery can be replaced on most units.
• Check the crocodile clips. If they show signs of rust where the wire joins the clip, remove and clean the wire. If they are really rusty throw away and renew. Rust does not conduct electricity well!
Earth stake?
• Make sure your earth stake is pushed as far as you can into the ground away from trees and any foundations or rubble.
• Ensure the ground is damp around the earth stake.
Wire, Tape, Rope
• Has all your wire, tape or rope been thrown in a heap? Are the metal filaments rusting or broken. Check your wire, tape or rope carefully if it is damaged it will not carry as much zap down the line.
• Check around the paddock to make sure tape, rope or wire is held secure within theinsulators.
Has the tape been flapping around over the summer? If so you could add some extra tensioners to the fence to keep the fence taut. Tensioners help to make the fence last longer and keep the paddocks looking tidier.
Insulators/Posts
• Insulators – check these out now and make sure they are not cracked (from frost and cold temperatures and snow -and constant rain eh :-(( )
• Replace any broken plastic posts and use wooden posts in the corners with insulators to help give your fencing good tension. General
• Check the fence for any small branches or foliage – these will cause the fence to short out so power's lost from the fence and it doesn't work as well as it ought to.
• The best time to check that there are no cracked insulators which will cause a short on the system is when it is raining. Walk the installed system and listen for the click click sound. This will tell you where the short is actually taking place.
• Use a tester to test your fence. Using your finger (ouch!) or a piece of grass is not an accurate measure of how much power is going down the fence and will not help you to find shorting issues!
We love talking electric fencing – so contact us with your questions and queries… we would be happy to help.
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