{"id":3210,"date":"2014-05-09T08:55:04","date_gmt":"2014-05-09T12:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/livestock\/?page_id=3210"},"modified":"2025-02-19T15:34:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T20:34:55","slug":"quick-guide-to-troubleshooting-problems-with-electric-fences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/livestock\/pasture-course\/lesson-3\/quick-guide-to-troubleshooting-problems-with-electric-fences\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick Guide to Troubleshooting Problems with Electric Fences"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Lesson 3. Fencing Systems continued)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
PROBLEM<\/th>\nPROBABLE CAUSES<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Energizer not on or no voltmeter reading across energizer output terminals when disconnected from fence.<\/td>\n\u00b7 Mainline power outage
\n\u00b7 Blown fuse on input circuit
\n\u00b7 Energizer switched off
\n\u00b7 Dry cell batteries dead, wet cell batteries discharged
\n\u00b7 Terminals corroded
\n\u00b7 Faulty energizer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Energizer on but low voltmeter reading across energizer output terminals when disconnected from fence. (classic signs of bad transformer)<\/td>\n\u00b7 Energizer switched to low setting
\n\u00b7 Weak batteries
\n\u00b7 Terminals corroded<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Energizer connected & operating but no voltmeter reading on fence. (Dead short on fence)<\/td>\n\u00b7 Ground-return wire disconnected or broken
\n\u00b7 Feedwire terminals corroded, disconnected or broken
\n\u00b7 Broken live or ground-return wire on fence<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Low voltmeter readings at several places on fence.<\/td>\n\u00b7 Energizer on low setting
\n\u00b7 Energizer inadequate for length of fence
\n\u00b7 Weak batteries
\n\u00b7 Terminals corroded
\n\u00b7 Ground system inadequate
\n\u00b7 Soil dried out<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No voltmeter reading or low reading at one location on fence.<\/td>\n\u00b7 Broken wire
\n\u00b7 Dead short across wires
\n\u00b7 Broken or disconnected jumper wire
\n\u00b7 Disconnected or deteriorated ground rod<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Voltmeter reading on one wire higher than another or no reading from one live wire to ground-return wire or soil.<\/td>\n\u00b7 Broken or disconnected fence wire
\n\u00b7 Broken or disconnected jumper wire
\n\u00b7 Broken or disconnected ground wire
\n\u00b7 Broken or faulty insulator
\n\u00b7 Ground rod deteriorated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Radio, TV or telephone interference. (major short on fence)<\/td>\n\u00b7 Ground system inadequate
\n\u00b7 Antenna too close to fence
\n\u00b7 Fence parallel with antenna wires or telephone wires<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Click on the links below to finish Lesson 3:<\/h4>\n