Make sure you’re using the right kind of grounding rod. Pipe or rebar can be used in most circumstances. For best results, the grounding rod should be constructed of galvanized steel and should be at least four feet long. The overall effectiveness of the electrical fence system would be harmed if copper rods are used.
It may be essential to add extra grounding rods to the grounding system in some circumstances. In reality, the vast majority of electrical fence systems will necessitate the use of at least three grounding rods. These rods should be spaced about 10 feet apart and installed at the beginning of the fence.
Grounding rods can interfere with phone service and electrical wires that may be present on the site. As a result, grounding rods should be placed as far away from utilities as practicable. This is particularly true when it comes to phone lines!
What is the type of wire used to ground an electric fence?
A poorly grounded electric fence system will not work to its full potential and may fail to adequately contain animals or keep predators out. When determining how to correctly ground an electric fencing system, Michigan State University Extension recommends taking into account three primary factors:
To reach its greatest capacity, an energizer must be properly grounded. The more grounding rods a charger requires, the higher its output. As a general guideline, for every joule of output capacity, a minimum of 3 feet of ground rod should be installed. A minimum of 45 feet of ground rod is required for a 15 joule fence charger. The distance between these rods should be at least 10 feet. The better their performance, the lower and wetter the ground they are installed in. The majority of grounding rods are constructed of galvanized steel or copper, and the type of wire used to connect the energizer to the rod must be the same as the rod. This will help to reduce the performance loss caused by electrolysis.
Because sandy or rocky soils are less conductive than loamy soils, grounding systems placed on these soils may need to be earth return systems. An earth return system is one in which the fence’s alternate wires serve as ground wires. Charged wires in a system must be linked to the energizer’s output connector, while earth ground non-charged cables must be either connected to the charger’s ground terminal or to ground rods in the fence lines. To get the most amount of moisture feasible, ground rods in sandier soils should be placed below roof eaves on buildings, according to experience at Michigan State University’s Lake City Research Center.
“On dry years, the depth of the rod also makes a major impact; we’ve had difficulties with rods that are 10 feet or more in the ground,” says Research Center Manager Doug Carmichael.
Earth grounded methods are normally better for controlling sheep or goats, but all other livestock can usually be handled without them. This is true if the soil isn’t sandy, rocky, or severely dry, as described above.
Can a steel rod be used as a grounding rod?
The corrosion resistance of the rod is matched with the system’s longevity when choosing a ground rod material. In most regions of the world, galvanized steel, copper-bonded steel, and stainless steel are the most popular materials used for grounding systems.
Galvanized steel rods are frequently used because they are inexpensive, NEC-approved, and UL-listed. However, according to the NEGRP study mentioned above, galvanized rods are a poor material option in terms of service life durability. Also keep in mind that selecting a material simply on the basis of its initial price does a disservice to the grounding system’s users and their safety, and will almost certainly cost more in the long run.
In terms of corrosion resistance, copper-bonded ground rods offer a significant improvement. Copper-bonded ground rods survive an average of 40 years in most soil types, according to the NEGRP, compared to 15 years for galvanized rods. When compared to galvanized rods, this is a better return for a little higher initial cost.
Stainless steel ground rods may be requested in some cases. According to the NEGRP, these ground rods have a 50-year service life. Stainless steel outlasts copper-bonded ground rods in severely corrosive settings, such as industrial plants or salty environments (e.g., ocean beaches).
When comparing zinc galvanized ground rods to their counterparts, the chart above shows a noticeable difference in service life.
We may compare the value of each material in terms of annual cost to get a clear picture of its worth. How does this translate into cost if we now know that zinc galvanized rods may need to be replaced twice before a copper-bonded or stainless steel rod does?
Stainless steel is the clear loser in terms of value, which is why it is only specified when absolutely necessary due to its high initial cost.
When comparing galvanized and copper-bonded ground rods, the copper-bonded items both had a lower annual cost.
What happens if an electric fence isn’t grounded?
So, how exactly does a grounded fence function? When an animal comes into contact with an electrically charged fence wire, it feels the current as it flows through its body. The charge then completes the circuit by passing through the dirt, up the ground wire, and into the ground terminal charger.
The passage of electric current cannot be completed if the animal and the ground terminal charger are not appropriately grounded, and your animal will not feel the shock. Because the soil contributes half of the electric field circuit, having a correctly installed ground circuit is critical.
Always electrify the top strand while wiring an electric horse fence. The strand beneath that should be used as a ground wire. Add and electrify strands as needed to meet your containment requirements – three for mares and geldings, up to five for stallions.
Can an electric fence be affected by dry ground?
Arid locations tend to produce sandy soil that is dry and barren. Even when built properly, the sandy soil generates poor circumstances for electric fence performance. To address these unfavorable conditions, fence systems must be tailored to the terrain in order to deliver a correct charge. Here are some suggestions for resolving these concerns with your fence:
- Install Multiple Ground Rods While most fences will only require three ground rods, longer fences and regions with poor soil conditions would necessitate more. Place multiple rods 10 feet apart, 50 feet away from any other ground systems, and 50 feet away from your energizer.
- Selecting Better Locations Ground systems function best in areas where the soil is consistently moist throughout the year. Other regions along your fence line, such as shaded or swampy areas, may be more suitable for your ground system installation.
- Alternative Ground-wire Systems to Consider When a fence line has three or more strands of wire, a two-wire system is employed. This technology allows the animal to complete the circuit by simultaneously contacting a charged and a ground wire. A ground wire and a charge wire alternate on the fence strands.
Why is my electric fence’s ground wire so hot?
Counting on the electric current from the electric line to only pass through the animal when it comes into contact with a section of their body is insufficient. A ground wire for an electric fence allows electric fence current to complete a circuit with the ground.
This electric current traveling through the electric fence wire is harmless to people and animals; however, if the ground wire and the electric fence charger are not connected properly, some of this electric current can flow back up the ground wire, causing the ground wire to become hot.
Is it necessary to insulate a ground wire?
According to the above, a groundING conductor can be insulated or bare, but the groundED conductor, as you mention, must be insulated to prevent an unintended and non-compliant connection to grounding.
Is it necessary for an electric fence to make a complete loop?
“Does an electric fence have to make a complete loop?” is a frequently asked question.
No, an electric fence does not have to construct a complete circuit. Completing the fence loop, on the other hand, has benefits and drawbacks.
Because electricity is pushed in both ways, creating a continuous loop will raise the voltage on the fence line. In essence, voltage only has to travel half the distance in a continuous loop.
Even though higher voltage is desirable, installing a continuous loop makes fault finding a fence line more difficult. Because voltage travels in both directions, a digital fault finder cannot distinguish between right and left to indicate the location of an amperage drop.
Finally, only do a complete loop if it’s absolutely necessary and you’re trying to raise the voltage on the fence line.
Why do you need two ground rods?
250.56 of the 2005 NEC requires you to drive a second rod if it has a ground resistance of 25 ohms or greater. Many contractors, on the other hand, do not bother to check the ground resistance. They only want to drive two rods because, regardless of real ground resistance, this will satisfy the requirements of 250.56.
