Fencing Management: Protection
From Lightning
Excerpt from Publication 19, Pasture Production, Order this publication
Table of Contents
- Protection From Lightning
- Other Fencing Management Recommendations
- Related Links
Protection From Lightning
Clouds build high charges (millions of volts) during a thunderstorm.
These charges are neutralized by arcing to another cloud or to the ground.
An energizer can be struck by lightning in 3 different ways:
- a direct hit on the electric fence. The longer the fence, the more
likely a strike.
- lightning may strike a building or tree near the fence, inducing
very high voltages along the wire.
- the power line serving the farm may be struck sending a surge through
the power cord to the energizer.
Well-constructed energizers have built-in protection
against power line surges and strikes near the fence line. This type of
unit is effective if properly grounded. The energizer however, has no
protection against a direct hit on the fence line. For a farm with a very
long fence or in a lightning-prone area, consider one of the external
protection systems outlined below.
1. Choose a position 300-400 ft from the energizer along the fence
line. Construct a separate ground system. Connect a lightning arrester
between the fence and the separate ground. Lightning arresters are available
from farm supply dealers.
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2. Place the separate ground closer, but not less than 100 ft from
the energizer. Install the lightning arrester. Install a lightning diverter
coil or choke in the line anywhere between the arrester and the energizer.
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Related Links
... on forages and pastures, visit Forages and Pastures (OMAFRA)
... on weed control, order Publication 75 Guide to Weed Control:
Forage Crops
... on agronomy for field crops, order Pub. 811 Agronomy Guide for Field
Crops: Chapter 3 Forages
... on field crop protection, order Publication 812, Field Crop Protection
Guide
... on livestock, visit Livestock (OMAFRA)
