Ground Rods and connections..

[Howard E]

I don't use insulated wire at all. Most of my wire runs are made from bare 17 gauge aluminum E fence wire. I do use small sections of a insulated sleeves to run the wire in if it has to pass through an area and I don't want it to ground. You buy that in small rolls at TSC or wherever you get the fence wire and other insulators.

I also use ratchet type tensioners on most runs to keep the wire straight and tight (no sags). That helps keep it away from anything that might short it out.

 

[llombardo]

I gotta learn what it can touch and not touch. I have a small section of plastic fencing by the ducks to give them privacy. It says vinyl fencing but plastic when you buy it. There is no way to bypass that and since I've had no issues while it is touching I am assuming that it's non conductive. Look at that I used a big word...lol

 

[jvls1942]

you should have a hot wire from the charger to one wire.
the ground wire should be attached to the ground rod. any additional ground wires can be attached to the existing ground wire or to the ground rod.
the ground wire on the charger can go to the ground wire or to the ground rod.
or think, to a separate ground rod close to the charger.
it has been a long time since I hooked one of those chargers up. I might be wrong..

 

[happyfrenchman]

Something is fundamentally not wired correctly. I wish I could help but I am in Georgia. I would do what Howard said.

 

[llombardo]

It's something with the top, that I'm sure of. I'm not sure why the insulated wire from the rod to charger gave me issues, but I'm not caring as long as that part works, which it does.

 

[llombardo]

Well the net is not conductive, neither is the pvc or zip ties. So I'm adding more insulators, just to make sure that hot and ground are not touching.

I can't believe in saying this, but I'm going to test it once I think it's right.

Yes I'm going to shock myself willingly. If only these chickens and ducks knew...

 

[happyfrenchman]

Well you are learning your electrical fundamentals. You had a short circuit somewhere earlier. I don't know what you did, but sometimes just taking stuff apart and putting it back together can fix something... did you find the short? Good luck with your test. Make sure your nose is wet to simulate a real fox or raccoon.

 

[123RedBeard]

And here is another possible problem ... "Inductive current" ... basically when negative (ground) and positive (hot) wires runs close enough to each other to "bleed over" ...

 

[llombardo]

And here is another possible problem ... "Inductive current" ... basically when negative (ground) and positive (hot) wires runs close enough to each other to "bleed over" ...

That was brought up in discussion.

So I redid all the wires on top. Used different, longer insulators for the ground. So there is now a bigger gap.

Good news is the charger did not go off when I connected the ground wire from the top to the ground rod. My one tested is working again and I am up to 3000 volts. What I don't know is if that top is working right. I stood on some wood(almost killed myself falling) and worked up the courage to touch both, but I didn't get zapped. I also was not brave enough to actually grab hold of it either. When I didn't get zapped I was actually relieved. I see no reason why it's not working but I don't like a false sense of security.

I say this as a raccoon is talking to me and one of my dogs from a tree right in front of me. I feel like they are mocking me now.

How do I test this to see if it works safely? My tester reaches up to the wires connected to the top wire, so I know the wire around the top is hot. Not sure if it's grounded right?

 

[llombardo]

money is tight right now, I'm trying to save to get these trees all trimmed and cut back. I would love to get that done before winter