FAQsNew

General

What’s the most common cause of fence failure?

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About 80% of electric fence issues come down to inadequate grounding. For your fence to perform well, the grounding system needs to be spot-on—it’s half of what makes the system work! A general rule is to use one 6-foot galvanized ground rod for every three joules of energizer. Our Power Grazer and Razor Grazer trailers come with a 24-inch portable ground rod, which is usually enough for fences under 2 miles. If you’re dealing with dry or rocky soil, though, adding more ground rods is a good idea.

How can I tell if my ground system is working well?

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You can test it with these steps:

1. Disconnect power from your energizer.

2. Create a heavy load on the fence by “shorting” it. You can do this by leaning 3-4 metal stakes or unpainted T-posts against the hot wire about 100 yards from the energizer. Alternatively, you can press pieces of fence wire into the ground and wrap the other ends around the hot wire.

3. Plug the energizer back in and check the fence voltage with a digital voltmeter. The voltage should drop below 2,000V due to the short. (Some high-powered energizers may not drop below 2,000V, but you can still test them at a higher voltage.)

4. Continue shorting the fence by adding more stakes or wire connections to the ground until the voltage drops below 2,000V.

To test the ground system:

1. Place one lead of the voltmeter on a 12-inch metal stake driven into the ground about 3 feet from the last ground rod.

2. Connect the second lead to the ground rod furthest from the energizer.

3. Ideally, the voltage reading should be zero or under 200V. If it’s under 200V, your ground system is solid. If it’s above 200V, you may need to improve the ground system.

How do I carry the hot and ground wires past gates in my fence?

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The best way is to bury heavy-duty insulated cable at least 10 inches deep. Be sure it’s rated for at least 20,000 volts, as high-power energizers can cause leakage with lower-rated cables. Don’t staple the cable to the post! Also, carry the ground wire across the gate using the same type of cable, and feel free to place both cables in the same trench.

For easy gate access, bungy electric gates are a great choice—they’re simple to install and provide some flexibility if animals lean against them. Just remember, bungy gates shouldn’t be used to power fence lines beyond the gate. For that, use heavy-duty insulated cable either overhead or underground to keep the power strong.

How long will the battery last if it stays cloudy for a while?

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Battery life depends on how much fence you’re powering. The heavy-duty 12-volt battery should keep the fence running for around three or four days. It’s a good habit to check the voltage regularly, and if it drops too low, you can recharge the battery with a trickle charger or swap it with a fully charged one to keep the cattle secure.

Razer Grazer

How do I finish my cross fence with the Razor Grazer, and what should I do with the leftover reel?

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Simply take the reel off the Power Arm and set it beside the perimeter fence post where you want to tie off. Use the high-strain insulator that comes with every Razor Grazer to tie the Power Braid cross fence to the post with a slip knot. It’s fine to leave the reel on the ground next to the post—just make sure no Power Braid touches the ground or post. Since the reel is plastic and insulated, it won’t short the fence. For a cleaner look, you can upgrade to a Power Reel Stand to keep everything off the ground and out of the grass or snow.

How much fence can my Razer Grazer energizer handle?

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The 3-joule energizer can easily power up to 5 miles of single-strand fence, possibly close to 10 miles! The 6-joule model can handle over 20 miles. In either case, grounding is key to keeping your fence running well, so make sure the ground system is set up properly.

What’s that ring on the post mast of the Razer Grazer for?

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That’s a lifting lug! It’s there to help load the Razor Grazer onto a trailer or pickup truck if needed.

Can I tow my Razor Grazer down the highway?

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Our equipment is built as farm and ranch tools, so it’s not meant for highway speeds.

How do I set up a two-strand fence with my Razer Grazer?

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You can easily add a second strand by upgrading to the Dual Drive system, which lets the Power Arm spool out two strands in one pass.

How do I take care of my Razer Grazer in winter?

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Be sure the battery doesn’t drain completely, as it could freeze. You have two options: either leave the unit outside in a spot with some shade, where it can keep charging, or if you store it inside without sunlight, make sure the battery is fully charged and store it in a warm area.

Power Grazer

Can I tow my Power Grazer down the highway?

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Our equipment is built as farm and ranch tools, so it’s not meant for highway speeds.

How much fence can my Power Grazer energizer handle?

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How do I take care of my Power Grazer in winter?

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Power Arm

How do I set up a two-strand fence with my Power Arm?

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You can easily add a second strand by upgrading to the Dual Drive system, which lets the Power Arm spool out two strands in one pass.

How do I finish my cross fence with the Power Arm, and what should I do with the leftover reel?

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Power Braid, Power Hammer, and Other Accessories

Will Power Braid sag under snow or ice like poly braid?

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Not at all! Our Power Braid Reflective Rope has zero stretch, so it holds firm even under ice or snow, unlike poly braid, which sags due to the stretch and plastic material.

Do I need different posts for the second strand?

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The Razor Grazer comes with our standard pigtail post. If you need a second strand, we offer clip-on insulators you can attach anywhere along the pigtail, perfect for holding our ¼-inch reflective Power Braid rope.

Is one ground rod enough, and does it really need to be 6 ft long?

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As a rule of thumb, one ground rod per 2-3 joules works well, so our Razor Grazer comes with enough grounding. Additional rods might be needed if the fence extends far or in very dry conditions. While traditional ground rods are 6-8 ft long, our portable Power Hammer ground rod (2 ft) is convenient and effective; in dry weather, you may need to dampen the soil around it for extra grounding.

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