Umair Gaines
Electric fences are not continuously electrified, but instead, deliver quick pulses. Testing your fence regularly and addressing issues as they arise can save you a lot of headaches. When your fence loses power, runs low on voltage, or drops a charge, you will need to find out what went wrong. You can use a fence tester to measure the voltage and determine whether the problem is with the fence or the energizer. It is also important to check for connections around your gates, as electrified gates can lose connection over time, and insulated wires running under non-electric gates may deteriorate. If your fence has completely lost power, the battery or power source may be at fault.
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What You'll Learn
Check for power and voltage
Checking for power and voltage is an important step in troubleshooting an electric fence. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to help you through the process:
Testing for Power
Firstly, ensure that the power is turned on. This may seem obvious, but it is an important first step. Check that your energizer is switched on and, if it is plugged into an outlet, ensure it is not using an extension cord as this can decrease voltage. You can then use a circuit test light to check if the outlet is working. If it is, and your fence still has no power, the outlet may be faulty. Test this by plugging another electrical device, such as a lamp, into the outlet to see if it works.
Testing Voltage
To test the voltage of your electric fence, you will need a fence tester or a voltmeter. Start by measuring the voltage at the end of the fence line. If the voltage is below 3000V, follow these steps:
- Turn off the energizer and disconnect the wires going to the fence and ground rod system.
- Turn the energizer back on and measure the voltage on the energizer between the positive and negative terminals. This will indicate how well the energizer is working without any other variables.
- If the tester reads below 5000V, then the problem is likely with the energizer or the battery (if it is a battery/solar energizer).
Common Voltage Issues
There are several common issues that can cause a reduction in voltage. These include:
- Conductors touching another wire, a steel post, or the soil.
- Heavy vegetation touching the fence, which can drain energy.
- Downed tree branches or livestock breaking weak insulators and conductors.
- Shorts, which occur when a conductor is close to a grounded wire, metal objects, or vegetation, causing a voltage collapse.
Battery-Operated Fences
If you have a battery-operated fence, check your battery to see if it is delivering the appropriate charge. Batteries may be drained by a short along the fence or by animals frequently testing the fence. Solar-powered fences should have a battery voltage of 12 volts to properly energize a charger.
By following these steps and tips, you can effectively check for power and voltage issues when troubleshooting your electric fence.
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Identify the cause of low voltage
Electric fences need to be regularly tested to ensure they are working correctly and to prevent animals from escaping. If you suspect something is wrong with your electric fence, you should test and troubleshoot it to keep it working properly.
Low voltage can be caused by a variety of issues. Firstly, check if there has been a power outage on your property. Electric fences need energy to work, so a power cut will prevent your electric fence from functioning. If the power is on, then you should test the voltage of your fence. You can do this with a voltmeter, also known as a voltage tester or fence tester, which can be purchased from most home improvement stores.
To test the voltage, start by standing near the part of the fence farthest from the fence charger. Identify the ground wires of the fence by checking the fence manual. Hold the plastic part of the voltmeter’s probe and use the metal tip to touch the ground wire. If there is no ground wire, touch the metal tip of the probe into the soil near the fence. The digital screen on the voltmeter will display the voltage. Compare the voltage reading to your fence manual, which will tell you what the fence’s voltage should be (most electric fences have a voltage of 2,000 to 10,000 volts). If the voltage is low, back up 50 feet, test again, and try to find where the drop begins.
If the voltage is low along the entire length of the fence, you may need to replace the battery. If you have a solar-powered fence, check that the battery is not underperforming or past its lifespan of around 1,000 days. If you have a battery-operated, non-solar, DC fence, check that the DC battery is delivering the appropriate charge. If the fence is plugged into an outlet, test the outlet by plugging in another electrical device, such as a light. If that item doesn’t power up properly, consult an electrician. The outlet should be delivering between 105 to 125 volts to the charger.
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Test the ground system
A lot of poor-performing electric fence systems can be blamed on inadequate ground systems. To ensure your electric fence has adequate grounding, follow these steps:
Firstly, check that the energizer is on. Push-button energizers must have their on/off switch activated. If you are using a hand-held tester that requires batteries, replace the 9V battery if you are getting an inaccurate reading or no reading at all, especially when voltage readings are inconsistent. Also, ensure that the energizer is plugged directly into a 110V outlet. Do not use an extension cord as it may cause a decrease in voltage and expose the power supply to the elements. Use a circuit test light to check if the 110V outlet is working.
Secondly, connect your fence and ground hook-up wires, then turn the power on. If you have a battery-operated, non-solar, DC fence charger, you should check your DC battery to see if it is delivering the appropriate charge. Your battery may have been drained by a short somewhere along the fence or if animals are frequently testing the fence, so check for shorts before reconnecting this battery. If you have a solar-powered fence, use your voltage tester to measure your battery voltage. If it is underperforming, you may need to replace it. The batteries inside solar chargers are meant to last about 1,000 days (3 years), and after that point, it’s advised that you obtain a new one.
Thirdly, use your Zareba® Fence Doctor or a digital voltmeter to read the voltage on the ground wire. If the voltage is over 400 volts, your ground rod is leaking too much voltage. Add extra ground rods or make them deeper. Test again after making these adjustments. If the voltage is under 400 volts, the system is sufficiently grounded.
Finally, re-attach the fence and ground wires to the energizer and turn it on. Then, walk or drive along the fence looking for situations that are reducing the voltage: conductors touching another wire, a steel post or the soil. Listen for snapping sounds. This occurs when a conductor is close to a grounded wire, metal objects, fallen branches, or other green vegetation causing a “short”. Shorts cause fence voltage to collapse and allow animals to touch the fence without feeling pain.
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Check for shorts
Checking for shorts is an important step in troubleshooting an electric fence. A short circuit can cause the fence voltage to collapse, rendering the fence ineffective as a barrier to animals. Here are some detailed steps to help you check for shorts in your electric fence:
First, it is important to understand what causes shorts. Shorts can occur when a conductor is too close to a grounded wire, metal objects, fallen branches, or green vegetation. With electric netting, the lowest live strand may touch the post's metal spike, causing a "dead short". Therefore, you should inspect your fence for any of these potential issues.
Next, you can use a voltage tester to check for shorts. Measure the voltage at the end of the fence line. If the voltage is below 3000V, turn off the energizer and disconnect the wires going to the fence and ground rod system. Then, turn the energizer back on and measure the voltage directly on the energizer using a digital voltmeter or a high-voltage tester. If the tester reads below 5000V, the issue may be with the energizer or the battery (if it's a battery/solar-powered energizer).
If you have a battery-operated, non-solar, DC fence charger, check the DC battery to see if it is delivering the appropriate charge. A short along the fence line can drain the battery, so it is important to check for shorts if you suspect battery issues.
Additionally, ensure that your electric fence has adequate grounding. Every system should have at least three ground rods, and more may be necessary in sandy, dry, or rocky soil. Frozen soil can also hinder the operation of your fence. You can use a Zareba® Fence Doctor or a similar tool to read the voltage on the ground wire. If it is over 400 volts, add extra ground rods or make them deeper, then test again.
By following these steps and regularly checking for shorts, you can help ensure that your electric fence is functioning effectively and maintaining its voltage properly.
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Check the battery
If your electric fence has completely lost power, the battery or power source may be faulty. You can use a fence tester to check if your fence is working. If your fence tester requires batteries, make sure to check that the batteries are working, as a depleted 9V battery may give an inaccurate reading or no reading at all. If your fence tester indicates that your fence has lost power, you should then check the battery or power source.
If your fence is plugged into an outlet, you can test whether the outlet is working by plugging in another electrical device, such as a light, and checking if that works. The outlet should be delivering between 105 to 125 volts to the charger. If the outlet is working, and your fence has lost power, then the problem is likely with your battery.
If you have a solar-powered fence, use a voltage tester to measure your battery voltage. A solar battery could lose its charge after a long period without sunlight. A 12-volt battery should test at 12 volts to properly energize a charger. A 6-volt or 6/12-volt battery should show a minimum of 6 volts in a test. If the battery is underperforming, you may need to replace it. Solar batteries are meant to last about 1,000 days (3 years), and it is advised that you obtain a new one after this period.
If you have a battery-operated, non-solar, DC fence charger, you should check your DC battery to see if it is delivering the appropriate charge. Your battery may have been drained by a short somewhere along the fence or if animals are frequently testing the fence. Check for shorts before reconnecting this battery.
If your fence is powered by a lead acid battery, check the charge level often, especially during winter. When a lead acid battery falls below a 40% state of charge (12.2V), it is less able to be fully recharged (12.6V+). Use a battery charge meter or other low-voltage tester to test the battery.
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Frequently asked questions
First, check if power is being delivered from your power source. If your fence is battery-operated, check if your battery is delivering the appropriate charge. If your fence is solar-powered, use a voltage tester to measure your battery voltage. If your fence is plugged into an outlet, plug in another electrical device to check if the outlet is working.
There are several factors that could be causing your electric fence to run low on voltage. First, check if your fence has more than three ground rods, especially if it is installed in sandy, dry, or rocky soil. Next, walk or drive along the fence to check for conductors touching another wire, a steel post, or the soil, which can cause a "short" and reduce voltage.
A "short" occurs when a conductor is close to a grounded wire, metal objects, fallen branches, or other green vegetation, causing the voltage to collapse. This allows animals to touch the fence without feeling pain.
