We run a Speedrite 36000R in the yard. It is a sizeable fencer with remote control, but it was only putting out about 2.5kV. Couldn't figure out what was going on but the indicator lights showed it was under load. Visual inspection and fault find check couldn't find anything other than missing current. I put in another ground rod bringing the total up on the fence to 12 - 10' galvanized grounds and still nothing.
The indication of load on the fencer led me to a suspect spot with a few weeds on the fence, but as I checked both sides of the gate I thought "I never hooked anything up like that ever!". A gas utility had put a gas line in to a neighbour's new house (I turned the fencer off for them) and had hooked the hot underground wire to the ground wire on the other side of the gate. The fencer was putting out 2.5Kv but the heat was connected directly to 5 - 10' galvanized ground rods.
I switched the wire and reconnected, and the power jumped to 7. Went down the fence and checked the fence again at the last gate. 7 on one side, 3 on the other and 0 on the fence that T'ed up to it. Same thing again. Switched that wire around and we are now up to 10.
Thank god for remote control fencers and fault finders as it saved me hours, but I impressed that the fencer still put out 2.5 when it was running straight into the earth on 3//4 of a mile of it's length.
The indication of load on the fencer led me to a suspect spot with a few weeds on the fence, but as I checked both sides of the gate I thought "I never hooked anything up like that ever!". A gas utility had put a gas line in to a neighbour's new house (I turned the fencer off for them) and had hooked the hot underground wire to the ground wire on the other side of the gate. The fencer was putting out 2.5Kv but the heat was connected directly to 5 - 10' galvanized ground rods.
I switched the wire and reconnected, and the power jumped to 7. Went down the fence and checked the fence again at the last gate. 7 on one side, 3 on the other and 0 on the fence that T'ed up to it. Same thing again. Switched that wire around and we are now up to 10.
Thank god for remote control fencers and fault finders as it saved me hours, but I impressed that the fencer still put out 2.5 when it was running straight into the earth on 3//4 of a mile of it's length.