We'll fix it. Think joules (8-12) not volts Before we get to that.... I do not know how much area you cover or how many but from
reading your posts 3 ground rods should be sufficient. If you do not have 3 with a depth of at least 5-6' about 5' apart consider it,
The ground wire and the hot wire can be different but you can't mix them within their purpose. Hotwire cannot be of variable material,
ie don;t mix copper and steel.. If you can fence using 110 volt do it. (Leave the solar energy to JB) Just remember if you are using
steel posts the insulators will need to be checked more often. A cracked insulator my look functional at a glance and actually work with
no dew or rain involved. (It took me years but I finally went to 5' x 1/2" fiber glass) for inside the boundary fencing. In your situation
I would inspect every insulator. I like to have the energizer under cover and the ground rods in a place that is prone to receiving
moisture. (you may need to wet the ground around the ground rods) In my opinion it is best not to Scotch on the posts by placing them
too far apart. If you have read my posts you know I am dead set on NEVER walking an animal over a wire, hot or not! I doubt if
that act can ever be unlearned. I like Brute or Stafix energizers but use what work for you.
The fly in the ointment here may be that you are continually introducing new stock to the system where in my case everything
is born here except for bulls and they are 'educated' before being turned out.
My thought on the subject is, if what you have been doing is not working it will require a different methodology to get a different
result. Mostly I envy the time you spend at the auction and commend you on your ability to make it interesting for us.
Yeah...
Got most of that covered.
These are my "home" cows/calves. It's one particular heifer calf that's the instigator. (She out of Snowball and By my mutt brangus Ricky. She's also one I wanted to retain for future breeding) She's got the others following her.
I've been thru all the basics, basically. 😆
Fence tester says no shorts. I did fix a couple minor ones as I went. Pretty much been over the ENTIRE fence. The ol re-bar ground rod usually does a good job, couple with 2 t-posts. But I did put that nice new 6ft ground rod in today. Saw no increase in voltage from that (was almost certain I wouldn't, but wanted to be sure)
O yeah, there about 30 acres of wire. Some single strand, some 2 strands. And a small section of 5 strands. Only like 100 ft of that tho.
We are gonna tie it into my neighbors 12k system and see what happens tomorrow! I suppose it's very possible that I've not got enough charger for droughted out ground. His ground is same as mine. Its actually 8 acres of the original homestead. My charger does have some years on it. At least 4 or 5 iirc... but NEVER been this dry. So there's that. His charger is a better charger than mine. Iirc mine is 110v but only 2 or 3 joules or so. Been too long ago to remember for sure. I do remember my battery (12volt) has more joules than my main charger.
His is over 5 joules.
My projects are not out with the "home" herd. They are penned. Usually turn em fairly quick.
There may something to that tho.....
Perhaps I should just sell the offending heifer!
Edited to add...
By the way, it really doesn't bother me that much that the young calves are getting out and grazing. My neighbor to the west doesn't even mind. What drives me nutz is, people calling or texting me to tell me I have calves out! Yall know we are in a drought and calves are hungry, curious lil creatures right? The county has even lifted some restrictions regarding drought and cattle.
I have a bit of my grandfather's thoughts on that as well. A cow is designed to graze and roam freely. (Most of why he would never have a dog in town, same thoughts) It's us humans who have domesticated them. Would you people quit telling me that my 3 calves are out doing what they were designed to do! (Like I didn't know anyway?! Cows are life! I probly spend more time with the animals than my own family, have you met them? You wouldn't blame me! 🤣) They will go back where they belong when they've a mind to. Leave them dang calves alone and let em be bovines! Slow down on my road. The speed limit is school zone style anyway. Enjoy life a little bit!! Don't bring the city home with ya from work!
Well, now that I got that outta my system....
