Electric fence earth spikes are crucial in an electric fence installation. Most electric fence problems are caused by poor earthing. For the fence to work, it needs to have a complete circuit. When an intruder or animal touches the fence, the circuit is completed.
How an Electric Fence works ?
An electric fence shocks intruders or animals with a short, sharp, powerful, yet safe shock that is sufficient to deter them. When an animal or person comes in contact with the live wire of the fence and the ground, the circuit completes and a shock is delivered.
An electric fence system is made up of 3 components
- Energizer
- Earthing system
- Fence-line
To function properly, all three components must be in good condition. When the three components of an electric fence are linked together, a circuit is created through which current can flow.
Wiring a Electric Fence ?
An Electric Fence must be wired in an alternative positive negative series wiring pattern to maximize detection and shock.
How many earth spikes do I need?
- Use at least 3 earthy spikes, each at least 1.2 long
- Drive the ground rod at least 1.2 meters apart and completely in the ground
- Connect the initial 3 earth spikes together using a single length of insulated under the gate HT cable.
- To avoid electrolysis make sure like metal types are used when joining
- Install in moist or damp soil whenever possible
- Install earth spikes at least 2 meters away from;
- any mains supply
- other earth spikes
- underground telephone cables
- power cables
- water pipes
- HT cable from the fence to the earth spikes must be in conduit
- Following the initial three earth spikes, earth spikes need to be installed at least every 30 meters in an urban area.
- Agricultural fences should have an earth spike at least every 100 meters after the initial three earth spikes.
Where to install the electric fence earth spikes
The basic rules when earthing an electric fence;
- The first three earth spikes should be placed as close as possible to the energiser.
- It is important not to place closer to the mains earth than 10 meters.
- Then an earth spike should be placed along the fence at least every 30 meters
Testing a fence's earthing
Poor or inefficient earthing will restrict the flow of electrons or current around the electric fence circuit. On a clean well-insulated fence, there is little or no current flow.
To test the earth, it is necessary to create a current flow to create a short or leakage path.
- Place several steel stakes between the live wire of the fence and the ground, at least 100 meters away from the earth system, to reduce the voltage to 2kv or less.
- A galvanized or copper earth stake is driven one meter into the ground and at least one meter away from the nearest earth spike of the fence. Then, using a digital volt meter, determine the voltage between this earth peg and the nearest earth spike.
- Ideally, there should be no reading on the voltmeter. A reading of up to 200 volts, provided the fence is shortened to below 2000 volts is acceptable.
- If the reading is above 200 volts. Increase the number and quality of the earth spikes on the electric fence
Important, things NOT to do when Earthing an Electric Fence
- Connect 2 or more energisers to the same earth spikes
- Don’t connect HT cable to earth spikes with unlike metal types, which cause electrolysis and break the wire connection.
- Connect to Eskom or Telkom earthing stakes.
- Connect to a water main pipe
- It is possible to trip over them
- Use stakes less than 1.2 meter long
We are grateful to Gauteng Electric Fencing for the post update, look no further for professional installations in Gauteng.
082 089 6374
WhatsApp or Call us
Please note our Installations & Repairs are limited to Gauteng and George to Knysna in the Western Cape.
We do sell and deliver throughout South Africa
Email info@wedosecurity.co.za