Electric Fence Fault Finding and Repair Services

Grounding, Fault Finding & Safety Information

Important Notice: The following information is provided for general customer education only. Please do not inspect, test, or attempt to repair any electrified fence or electrical appliance unless you are suitably qualified to do so. Shockoloza provides professional inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair services to ensure electric fence systems remain safe, compliant, and fully operational.

Grounding and the Importance of a Good “Ground”

Grounding is critical in any electrified fence system. In fact, more than 80% of all electrified fence problems can be attributed to poor grounding. For an electrified fence to be effective, an electrical circuit must be completed, and this is achieved through the ground (earth) system.

For most domestic and industrial applications, 1.2 metre earth spikes driven into the ground at suitable intervals provide an effective grounding solution. Shockoloza assesses and installs grounding systems according to site conditions to ensure optimal fence performance.

Important: If your fence is not producing the expected output, the issue is most likely related to the grounding system. This should always be checked first by a qualified installer such as Shockoloza.

Common Causes of Reduced Fence Voltage

The most common reasons for reduced voltage along an electric fence line include:

• Vegetation growth coming into contact with the fence
• Broken or damaged wires
• Corrosion on fence components
• Poor grounding
• Loose or faulty connections
• Poor insulation
• The fence being too long for the energiser installed

Shockoloza technicians are trained to quickly identify and correct these issues during routine maintenance inspections or fault call-outs.

Additional Checks if the Fault Persists

If the above items have been inspected and the fault remains, the following checks are required. These inspections should be carried out by a qualified service provider such as Shockoloza:

• Confirm that the energiser is switched on
• Ensure the lead-out wire is connected to both the energiser and the fence line
• Check for breaks or damage in the lead-out wire
• Confirm the earth wire is correctly connected to the energiser and earth rods
• Check for breaks in the earth wire
• Ensure all on/off or cut-out switches are switched on

Fault Finding Using a Voltage Meter

Fault finding should always begin by checking the voltage at the energiser. To determine whether the energiser itself is faulty, both the lead-out and ground wires should be disconnected and the energiser tested with no load connected.

If the voltage reading is below the manufacturer's specified output, the energiser may be faulty. If the reading is within the normal range, the grounding system should be inspected before moving on to the fence line. Shockoloza carries out these tests using calibrated equipment to ensure accurate diagnosis.

If no faults are found with either the energiser or grounding system, the fence line should then be inspected. On/off or cut-out switches make fault finding easier by allowing individual sections of the fence to be isolated.

When a faulty section is switched off, the voltage on the remaining fence will increase. Once the faulty section has been identified, voltage readings are taken at intervals of approximately 100 metres along the fence line.

Voltage readings will continue to drop as the fault is approached and should stabilise once the fault has been passed. It is important to remember that more than one fault may be present. Shockoloza's experienced technicians are equipped to identify and resolve multiple faults efficiently.

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