The importance of earthing

The earthing takes care of the fact that, when an animal touches the fence the circuit is being closed and the current is flowing through the animal. Through this the shock effect, which you like to see, occurs. For an optimal working of the electric fence a good earthing is essential. The earthing has to be as such that a very low resistance is present (not higher than 100 Ohm). Optimal is a copper or copper coated earth pin with a diameter of about 20 mm, which is connected to the groundwater level. This however cannot always be realised. In order to approach an optimal earthing as much as possible we recommend to connect minimal 2 earth pins (length 1 meter) parallel and/or in series with each other, with an interval of 3 meters.

When you want to have the maximum use of your electric fencer, then earthing is of crucial importance. Without earthing the system can never work properly.

Test
1. Measure the charge on the earth pin with a voltmeter. This measured charge must not be higher than 300 Volt. The reference for your voltmeter is the earth.
2. Then measure with a voltmeter if, from at least 100 meters from the earthing, there is more than 3000 Volt charge on your fence. The reference for your voltmeter is the earth.
3. See to it that on this measure point a short circuit is being made by connecting the charge wire with the earth, for instance by placing a conducting pole (iron/aluminium) against the wire.
4. Measure the charge on the earthing in this condition. Is the charge more than 300 Volt, then the earthing is insufficient and you have to install more earth pins in order to create an optimal electric fence.
5. After having installed more poles do the above test again.