Electric Fences & Phone Services
A Special Request for Electric Fence Owners
A common challenge we face in rural areas is electric fences that are poorly constructed or not earthed correctly. These cause noise, typically a clicking sound, on phone lines and can make internet connections slow or cause them to disconnect.
Your electric fence could be interfering with your phone and internet connections and causing similar problems for your neighbours.
It can be difficult to work out what or who is causing the problem. It can be anywhere along the line, from the exchange, the cabinet, to the furthest connection on the line. An issue at your property could be impacting someone several kilometres away.
We and Gallaghers (who know a thing or two about electric fencing) recommend a five-step approach. If this is doesn't solve the problem you need to get together with your neighbours and the others on the same telephone line and turn off one fence at a time to identify where the interference is coming from.
" When electric fences are installed correctly they have minimal impact on phone services "
Five-step electric fence check
1. Find out where the phone lines are.
Remember some will be buried and others overhead. They usually run along the roadside and driveways. Look for the marker posts or grey connection pillars. We provide a service called b4udig which may help.
2. Identify electric fences and connecting leads than run parallel to the phone lines or cables.
A 'leaky' fence with high current can be a problem, even when 100 metres or more from the line.
3. Check the current in your electric fence near the phone line.
This should be less than 2 amps per kilometre of fence. Locate and fix any shorts if necessary.
4. If the current is still too high, make certain that the section of fence close to the phone cable is at the tail end of the fence line.
Feed the main supply through sections of the fence further away from the phone cable.
5. Check the earthing system meets manufacturer instructions.
It needs to be at least 10 metres from buildings or another earthing system and that the energiser earth electrode connecting lead and output leads are well clear of phone lines.
Gallaghers have excellent information available, including setting up electric fences correctly and you can download a copy of the "Is your electric fence phone and net friendly?" brochure.
" Broadband is less affected than dial-up Internet access due to the higher frequencies it uses - upgrade when RBI comes to your area. "