hello all
wondering if you have some advice for where to look for the problem:
I have set up a perimeter track with electric fencing around my 3 acre field to manage the donkeys spring grazing.
The fence is live on the side where the energizer connects, but the tension doesn't seem to come around all the way - the other end is dead and I can touch it.
It's single strand tape, maybe 800 metres long. The energizer is a Rutland275 (bought second hand, but in good condition, and should really be able to handle a lot more length) on a new and well charged 12V Numax battery. No vegetation touches anywhere. I have used several different rolls of tape (different brands, some in used condition, tied together with knots). The earth stake is a 1m long T-spike (pushed in about 2/3) with the energizer hanging off it (I'm keeping the area wet).
I have wooden corner posts, and have wound the tape twice around the insulators on the corners (touching plastic only) to give better tension (I didn't think I really needed to use all these 'gadgets' like tensioners, connecting clips etc etc - am I wrong?).
Planning to close off from sheep a further part in the middle for hay with 3 stands of tape, but if I can't get the tension to go around the single tape I don't stand a chance to add anything on (though the energizer really should have the power for that according to the specs)
Any pointers as to where to I'm going wrong / where look for the fault?