[SusieB]

I think, unfortunately, I am going to have to give up on getting  my electric fence working till after Christmas.   I have tried everything I can think off (which isn't much because I don't know what I'm doing).
I have connected everything up, but there is no power to the fence.  Are there any pointers to what might be the problem.   It's mains powered, could the fact that it's sagging and touching the ground cause no power at all?

[ANHBUC]

You might be best sending a personal message to hillfooter as I am sure he will be able to give you loads of advice.   

[SusieB]

Thanks.  Hillfooter has been so very helpful already.  I will try him after Christmas.

[DD.]

I have no experience of electric fences, per se, but it sounds to me as though your power is going straight to earth.

The fence should not be touching the ground.

[ANHBUC]

If it is any help, I have my hens in a coop with run attached and then 25 m electric fence enclosure for them during the day.  We still haven't connected our to the mains but it seems to be working for us as a deterrant for the fox which took a neighbours hens this year.  We are having a walk in run built next year to make them totally secure.  The only problem we have had is the hens occasionally flying out of their enclosure.

[ManicMum]

Try HF's answer to my "electric fence not working" query - 9April2011 headed Electric Fence ..... would put techie link but kids busy..


http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=74710.msg849550#msg849550

[SusieB]

Thank you for all this help.  Even with a quick look I can see things I'm doing wrong.  Because of the odd shape of my land the posts are not in a straight line, so lots of sagging.  I will work my way through all the tips.  I wish I'd tried asking the forum earlier, instead of looking at the instructions and scratching my head.

[ehs284]

Sounds like you need more wooden posts. We live on top of a very windy hill and the enclosed area is semi circular-ish. After much messing about and problems with sheep, we put a line of strong 2.5"poles at 2 metre intervals. The supplied poles go in between or are fixed to the wooden stakes. We used a  stripped electrical cable at the top to give support and the bare earth of that is connected as the top conductor. This way the bottom is also fairly tight and can be close to the ground without sagging and touching. It's been fine now for two years. For the gate we just put a very high conventional gate in the corner at the end of the run. The bad news is that the posts aren't cheap (have a look at someone like Jacksons). If you go down this route buy circular poles - not the semi circular - as they always twist when put in and the flat surface you intended to use as a fixing will have move out of line. You'll need insulated fixings for some posts (ebay) and borrow a post hammer (a tube with handles) to avoid damaging the top of the posts or getting them at weird angles.. HTH