The measurements taken by the inspectors have agood chance of detecting an electrical condition thatcould become a problem. The Great Lakes Grazing Conference brings in severalhundred livestock producers from all over the Midwest. Last year the Council had a manned exhibit at theconference on proper electric fence installation andeffective electrical equipment grounding. The GrazingConference will again be held at the McCamly PlazaHotel in Battle Creek, Michigan and the Council willset up the same manned exhibit. The Conference willbe February 17 and 18, 1997.
Electric fences are animportant part of livestock grazing management.
Our research into the subject of proper electric fenceinstallation revealed that the new low impedance unitsmust have excellent grounds that are kept separated from electrical equipment and electrical systemgrounds. You are encouraged to attend the GrazingConference which is put on by the Extension staffs in Michigan and several adjoining Great Lakes States. An equipotential plane is metal wire or rodsinstalled in a concrete floor and connected to thegrounding terminal of the electrical panel serving abuilding. The purpose is to connect the concrete floor,which is not a very good conductor of electricity, to thesurrounding metal than may be contacted by livestock. If the floor and the surrounding metal are connectedtogether then livestock cannot become a part of anelectrical circuit if a voltage develops on thesurrounding metal.