INSTALLATION AND USER MANUAL
3.3 Install the earthing system
Poor earthing is the most common reason for poor electric fence performance.
It is very important to have a high quality earth system.
This is a vital component of any powered fence system. Electrons travelling from the Energizer must
complete a circuit in order to give the animal an electric shock. From the Energizer, electrons travel
along the insulated fence wires, through the animal’s body, through the soil to the earthing system
– a number of connected earth stakes that absorb electrons in the soil - then return to the Energizer.
If an electric fence is not earthed correctly, it will be much less effective – see table bellow.
Known factors What happens? What’s the solution?
Dry, sandy pumice
soil types
Allows electrons to disperse
rather than be absorbed
completely by earthing stakes.
Reduces
effectiveness.
If possible, choose a better location or an
alternative method of earthing such as a
bentonite salt earth system
Consider additional earthing stakes
Water earthing system to improve soil
conductivity
Weeds/vegetation
touching live fence
wires
Electrons leak causing fence
circuit to ,“short” and voltage
to drop
Check entire fence lines regularly
Weed/grass management to ensure
nothing touches the fence wires
Trim back over-hanging tree branches
which may also touch the fence wires
Rusty or corroded
earthing stakes
Do not conduct electrons
Use clean, GALVANISED or copper
coasted earth stakes
Animal urine and
manure
Long term exposure corrodes
earth stakes
Site earthing system away from animal
excreta
Interference Ensure
the earthing system
is sited at least 10
Interference
Ensure the earthing system is sited at
least 10 m away from any mains earth
system and 20 m from any dairy-shed
pipework
Steel or iron-clad
buildings
Interference
Do not connect earthing system to metal
buildings
Machinery
or livestock
Can damage components of
earthing system
Position earthing system away from
livestock or other traffic thoroughfares
Mixed metals within
the earthing system
Electrolysis , causing some
components of the earthing
system to corrode
Do not mix metals of differing
conductivity e.g. never use copper wire
directly onto galvanized earth stakes
Table 2: Factors known to affect an earthing system
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