Ground systems
Your ground system is the most important component of your electric fence system. An effective ground system is necessary to achieve the maximum results of your energizer and your fence.
Understanding Grounding
What is a ground system?
The ground system consists of a number of ground rods that provide an effective (low resistance) path for the current to return to the energizer’s ground terminal. Larger energizers with large fence lines require more ground rods.
How does grounding work?
For an electric fence to give an electric shock the current produced by an energizer must complete a full circuit. The current leaves the energizer and moves along the fence wires through the animal, into the soil and back to the energizer via the ground system.
What factors affect your ground system?
Dry, sandy or non-conductive soil provides and ineffective grounding system. If you have this type of soil, it's a good idea to 1) use additional ground rods or 2) choose a better location for the ground system (such as damp soil) or 3) consider an alternative method of groiunding such as the Hot / Ground System.
Contact your local Tru-Test Group representative or Speedrite dealer or distributor for advice.
Setting up your Ground System
Step 1. Choose the right system for you
Option 1 - All Live
Recommended where soil is conductive. This system is suitable for most moist soils. Current flows through the animal and the ground back to the ground rods.
Option 2 - Hot / Ground
Recommended where soil is not conductive. If the soil is dry or sandy it is usually not very conductive. The fence is constructed using both live and ground wires. If the animal touches the live wire the current flows through the animal and the ground back to the ground rods. If the animal touches the live wire and the ground wire the current flows through the ground and fence ground wire to the ground rods.
Option 3 - Betonite Salt Ground
Recommended for extremely dry soil conditions. A mixture of bentonite and salt surrounds each ground rod. The salt attracts moisture and acts as a conductor while the bentonite retains moisture over long periods of time. Stainless steel ground rods are required in order to prevent salt corrosion.
Option 3 - Bi Polar
Recommended where soil has little or no conductivity (sand, extremely dry conditions) and for fences that require all wires to be live. Enables you to set up an electrical system that performs exceptionally well in dry, low conductive soil.
Step 2: Select the site for your ground system
A suitable place for an ground system is:
Step 3: Insert the ground rods
*Note you will need to strip small sections of the insulation away from the cable to connect the joint clamp/ground rod.
Step 4: Testing your ground system

GROUND SYSTEM CHECKLIST
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