Quick Guide to Troubleshooting Problems with Electric Fences

(Lesson 3. Fencing Systems continued)

PROBLEM PROBABLE CAUSES
Energizer not on or no voltmeter reading across energizer output terminals when disconnected from fence. · Mainline power outage
· Blown fuse on input circuit
· Energizer switched off
· Dry cell batteries dead, wet cell batteries discharged
· Terminals corroded
· Faulty energizer
Energizer on but low voltmeter reading across energizer output terminals when disconnected from fence. (classic signs of bad transformer) · Energizer switched to low setting
· Weak batteries
· Terminals corroded
Energizer connected & operating but no voltmeter reading on fence. (Dead short on fence) · Ground-return wire disconnected or broken
· Feedwire terminals corroded, disconnected or broken
· Broken live or ground-return wire on fence
Low voltmeter readings at several places on fence. · Energizer on low setting
· Energizer inadequate for length of fence
· Weak batteries
· Terminals corroded
· Ground system inadequate
· Soil dried out
No voltmeter reading or low reading at one location on fence. · Broken wire
· Dead short across wires
· Broken or disconnected jumper wire
· Disconnected or deteriorated ground rod
Voltmeter reading on one wire higher than another or no reading from one live wire to ground-return wire or soil. · Broken or disconnected fence wire
· Broken or disconnected jumper wire
· Broken or disconnected ground wire
· Broken or faulty insulator
· Ground rod deteriorated
Radio, TV or telephone interference. (major short on fence) · Ground system inadequate
· Antenna too close to fence
· Fence parallel with antenna wires or telephone wires

Click on the links below to finish Lesson 3: