Electric fence repair in Exeter
Professional electric fence repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Electric fence repairs to get power back and stock contained. I find faults, replace failed insulators, fix broken connections - whatever it takes to get your fence working again.
When the Fence Has No Bite
Animals pushing through and the fence isn't giving them a shock anymore. Something's failed and stock know it.
💡 Pro tip: Test your electric fence regularly with a proper tester. Catching faults early stops escapees and is quicker to fix.
Common Electric Fence Faults
| Issue | Symptoms | Usual Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Grounding out | Low voltage everywhere | Find and clear short (vegetation, broken wire) |
| Failed insulators | Intermittent or dead sections | Replace cracked/broken insulators |
| Poor earth | Fence works poorly in dry weather | Improve earth stake connection |
| Dead energiser | No power at all | Replace energiser or fix wiring |
What You're Getting
🔧 The Repair
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Test energiser | Check it's actually producing power |
| Trace fault | Work along fence finding where voltage drops |
| Fix issues | Replace insulators, clear shorts, reconnect wires |
| Test | Check voltage is good all along the run |
📦 End Result
- Electric fence working properly
- Good voltage throughout
- Livestock respecting it again
- You know what to watch for
Pricing Guide
| Repair Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple fault (clear short, reconnect wire) | 1 hr | £60 |
| Replace multiple insulators + fault finding | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Complex fault or long run | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Basic insulators included - energiser replacement is extra.
Perfect For Your Farm If...
✅ Stock escaping - fence has lost its shock
✅ Low voltage - tester shows weak power
✅ Storm damage - lightning or wind broke connections
✅ Vegetation overgrown - fence grounded out
Why Choose Us for Electric fence repair in Exeter?
Faults found and fixed
Power restored to fence
Insulators replaced
Stock contained again
What to Expect
Step 1: Test Energiser
Check the energiser is producing power. If it's dead, that's your problem. If it's working, fault's in the fence.
Step 2: Trace Fault
Work along the fence testing voltage at each post. Find where it drops off.
Step 3: Fix & Replace
Clear shorts, replace broken insulators, reconnect loose wires. Test as I go.
🔧 DIY Tips
Electric fence repair is pretty DIY-friendly if you're methodical:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Electric fence tester (essential)
- Spare insulators
- Wire cutters and pliers
- Insulated gloves (fence should be off)
- Replacement wire if needed
📐 Finding faults
- Turn fence OFF at energiser
- Check energiser is working (test light or voltage reading)
- Turn back ON and test at first post
- Work along fence testing at each post
- Where voltage drops, fault is between that post and last post
- Look for obvious problems (broken insulators, wire touching metal, vegetation)
🔧 Common fixes
- Broken insulators: Unclip and replace
- Vegetation short: Clear growth touching wire
- Wire touching post: Reposition or replace insulator
- Loose connections: Tighten all connections at energiser
- Poor earth: Drive earth stake deeper or add second stake
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not testing systematically (guessing where fault is)
- Missing multiple small faults
- Not checking earth stake
- Leaving energiser on while working (dangerous)
- Using wrong replacement insulators
💡 Pro trick: When testing, write down voltage at each post. Pattern of voltage drop tells you what's wrong. Gradual drop = general leakage. Sudden drop = specific fault.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
Earth matters: Poor earth connection causes more problems than people realize. Earth stake needs to be in damp soil and driven deep.
Vegetation management: Main cause of faults. Keep a 30cm clearzone under the wire. Strim it regularly.
Insulator quality: Cheap plastic insulators go brittle in 2-3 years. Decent ones last 10+. Worth using good quality.
Lightning damage: Direct strikes can fry energisers. Can't be prevented but surge protection helps.
Regular testing: Test fence weekly during grazing season. Catch faults before stock find them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has my electric fence stopped working?
Usually it's either grounding out somewhere (wire touching metal, vegetation growing into it), failed insulators, dodgy connections, or the energiser itself has packed in. I track down the fault methodically rather than guessing.
How do you find faults in electric fencing?
Start at the energiser and work along the fence with a tester. Check voltage at each post - when it drops significantly, the fault's between there and the last post. Look for broken insulators, sagging wire touching posts, or vegetation shorting it out.
Can you fix energisers that have stopped working?
Sometimes. If it's blown a fuse or has a loose connection, yes. If the electronics are fried, replacement is usually more cost-effective than repair. I'll test it and advise honestly.
What about replacing broken insulators?
That's straightforward - unclip or unscrew old ones, fit new ones. The trick is finding all the failed ones. Plastic ones go brittle in UV and crack. Worth checking the whole run.
How long do repairs usually take?
Simple fault (obvious short or broken insulator) - an hour. Multiple issues or hard-to-find faults can take two hours. Very long runs take longer to check methodically.
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