electric fences and ground rods

[werecatrising]

I was just reading up on installing fences and it said you need a 6 foot ground rod. Is this an absolute?

 

[PurpleChicken]

No, it depends on how long the fence is and what type of soil you have.

 

[1acrefarm]

Probably not absolute but I prefer to always use a standard 8 foot rod for anything that needs grounded. You can't be over grounded but you can be under grounded.

 

[werecatrising]

Our ground here is just so hard. Can you skip the rod altogether, or should I get somebody to dig.

 

[citrusdreams]

Use a T-post driver, it works really well.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
You need the rod. Go as deep as you can, at least 3 feet. How long of a fence are you making??

 

[Over Easy in Adna]

Quote:
Where is here?

 

[NotTheMomma]

Without the ground rod, you won't have a good electrical connection. A ground rod insures that when something hits that fence, it will feel it!

Of course I'm use to fencing horses IN, and not fencing something else out, so perhaps that makes a difference. I wouldn't dare put my horses out in electric fencing without the ground rods, and I have TWO that are 31/2 to 4 ft deep. They need to be deep enough to touch water that is UNDER the ground. Otherwise, you could water around the ground wire every day or or so and get a good ground. Without the ground wire, I can touch the electric fence a good a shock. With the ground wire, I don't even wanna touch the fence.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Oh, and you don't need to dig to put a ground rod in. Go into a feed store, and ask them for a 6ft ground rod. Mine are copper. You pound it into the ground. A T post fence driver will make your job easier. You can use a hammer, but watch out for the thumb, and watch out for the rod bouncing!

 

[Echos_dad]

I also became an electric fence "expert " fencing horses in. If the ground is dry like it is here (Colorado Eastern Plains), you'll need three 6' ground rods hooked together. Almost all electric fence problems are traced to grounding, or lack of it. Galvanized rods work best because they don't oxidise as fast as copper.