How To Ground Your Electric Fence

How To Ground Your Electric Fence

To keep your fence working and in good condition, proper grounding is required. Your electric fence works by completing an electrical circuit whenever an animal touches the fence. The electric current originates at the energizer, travels down the fence, and goes through the animal to the ground. The soil then transmits the current to grounding rods which are connected back to your energizer, completing the circuit, and delivering a corrective shock to the animal. 

Grounding is essential in keeping the fence functioning properly – which means it’s essential in keeping your animals safe. How can you be sure to ground your fence the right way?

Grounding Your Fence

One of the first things that you need to do when you’re grounding your electric fence is by locating an area of soil that contains good, conductive earth (not sandy or rocky.) Make sure that the grounding system is within range of your fence energizer, but at least 25 feet away from buildings with metal siding. 

Most fences will need two or three grounding rods, spaced about ten feet apart, near the beginning of the fence. Very dry or rocky soil may require additional ground rods. These rods are either six or eight feet high and are installed by simply pounding them into the ground. The tips are hardened steel, allowing them to split rocks when needed. They are made to be durable, so don’t hesitate to use some force to pound them into the ground. 

Once the ground rods are installed, you need to connect them to your energizer. Start by running an insulated wire from your energizer to the nearest ground rod. Use a ground rod clamp to connect the wire to the rod. Continue to connect each rod to its neighbor using the same method.

Finally, connect the insulated wire to your energizer. The energizer has two connectors, one for the live wire and the other for the ground. Look for the ground symbol to be sure you’re connecting it to the correct side.

Once the wire is connected to the energizer, cover the connection with the green knob to easily identify which side is the ground. Remember, “green means ground” and “red means hot”.

Testing Your Grounding System

After you install your grounding system and the electric current is working, it’s important to keep checking the level of electrical current to ensure that it is effective enough to contain your livestock or deter predators. Test your grounding system condition with a voltage tester during one of the driest periods of the season and one during the wet season of each year to make sure your fencing is working all year long – no matter the conditions.

During the drier seasons, like summer or spring, it might be necessary to upgrade your grounding system by adding more ground rods. Vegetation and other plant growth might be affected the circuit. Take care of your system by checking it frequently and making small changes as needed rather than facing a bigger problem later on.

Maintaining Your Fence

Grounding isn’t the only part of your fence that you’ve got to keep checking on. To keep your fence running properly, make sure that all components of your fence are in good condition. Tell us how Zareba® helps you keep your fence working on our Facebook Page. Plus, by signing up for our e-newsletter, you can get the latest information and products that’ll help your fence last longer!

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