Grounding is 99% of the electric fence, the specialists explain. Gerrish uses this rule of thumb: 3 feet of ground rods per joule of energizer output. So if the fence is using a 6-joule energizer, 18 feet of ground rods are called for. “Typically this would be three, 6-foot ground rods, spaced at least 10 feet apart,” Gerrish explains.
HOW TO FIX IT:
Gerrish says spacing is key, as a ground rod is essentially an antenna receiving electrons flowing through the soil and back to the energizer, completing the circuit. Ground rods can also interact with a given volume of soil. If three ground rods are driven into the ground 6 inches apart, in essence, they act as one ground rod because of the volume of soil they interact with.
Derynck says most people insert three ground rods near the energizer. He encourages people to space ground rods throughout the whole net work of fencing, particularly if the average rainfall of the fenced area is less than ideal for proper grounding.
Galvanized rod is the best for ground rod, and most livestock fencing companies use an insulated galvanized lead-out wire on energizers. “Galvanized isn’t as expensive as copper and you don’t ever have to worry about corrosion,” Derynck says. If there’s galvanized wire in the electric fence system, keep everything galvanized. Derynck strictly recommends 12.5-gauge galvanized wire, galvanized ground rods and galvanized connections. “The most effective place for the ground system is in continuously damp, high-mineral soil,” he adds.
Roman Bjuty/Getty Images Plus
