DairyFarmer
New Member
I run a dairy farm. I am looking into building my own LED pulse indicators to be attached all over the farm to monitor the electric fences.
The farm is divided into blocks. Each block is further divided into pastures. All is fenced by single strand electric fencing. What happens is that the fences short out or are broken by the cows.
I have three controller boxes with LED indicators that show the strength of the pulse it is sending out. I also have hand held testers that give a 0.1 - 9.9 readout of the pulse.
I am currently reorganising the fences so that I can isolate a block to be able to do any repairs. It is no fun using a wire stretcher when high voltage pulses are running through the wire. Isolating the blocks also gives me the ability to turn blocks off when not in use or to turn off a block where there is a short so as not to affect the other blocks that are being used.
Now to my question. I would like to have pulse indicators all over the farm so that I can see if a block is live or not without having to run around with a tester. Basically a LED attached to a fence pole, connected to the fence that illuminates when the fence is live.
Would it be as simple as a LED and resistor that is connected to the fence and earthed?
It would be nice to have a 3 LED indicator to show the strength of the fence at that point (red < 3, yellow < 5, green > 5), but this may not be financially viable.
I know the farm will look like a Christmas tree at night, but at least I will know the fences are working.
Any help would be appreciated.
The farm is divided into blocks. Each block is further divided into pastures. All is fenced by single strand electric fencing. What happens is that the fences short out or are broken by the cows.
I have three controller boxes with LED indicators that show the strength of the pulse it is sending out. I also have hand held testers that give a 0.1 - 9.9 readout of the pulse.
I am currently reorganising the fences so that I can isolate a block to be able to do any repairs. It is no fun using a wire stretcher when high voltage pulses are running through the wire. Isolating the blocks also gives me the ability to turn blocks off when not in use or to turn off a block where there is a short so as not to affect the other blocks that are being used.
Now to my question. I would like to have pulse indicators all over the farm so that I can see if a block is live or not without having to run around with a tester. Basically a LED attached to a fence pole, connected to the fence that illuminates when the fence is live.
Would it be as simple as a LED and resistor that is connected to the fence and earthed?
It would be nice to have a 3 LED indicator to show the strength of the fence at that point (red < 3, yellow < 5, green > 5), but this may not be financially viable.
I know the farm will look like a Christmas tree at night, but at least I will know the fences are working.
Any help would be appreciated.