Electric fence syndrome

[bwc-hunter]

I was out today on a new permission which, in theory, has lots of potential.

However, the first field I was searching (probably three or four acres) had an electric fence running around its perimeter and this was playing havoc with the Manticore. I tried resetting the Noise Cancel on umpteen occasions, turned down the Sensitivity and also rebooted the detector at least 10 times. But no matter how many adjustments I tried, or how far away I got from the fence line, it seemed like the detector had locked onto the EMI like a pit bull terrier onto a baby and wasn't going to let it go. Which is a shame as the interference was making life really difficult, despite the fact that I found a few bits and bobs.

So, can anyone tell me what else I can do to try and get around the problem. Or is it just one of those hazards for which there is no known cure?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer

[Let The Sun In]

Switch to single frequency and lower the sensitivity

[bwc-hunter]

Switch to single frequency and lower the sensitivity

Thanks for the advice, Sunny.

And please forgive my lack of knowledge, but does switching to a single frequency, as you suggest, affect the Manticore's efficacy? And is there a preferred single frequency when dealing with electric fences?

[HammeredDeus]

Going to single frequency helps, but you obviously lose the smf advantages. EMI from electric fences varies with ground moisture levels IME - wetter is better - you could try and find the earth spike and saturate the ground around it.
Most livestock quickly learn to respect an electric fence and stay away from it thereafter - your best best is, with permission, to turn the zapper off (but obvs turn back on after!!).

PS the emi from fences is broad spectrum, so all freqs affected to much the same extent, but ground effects matter.

[Let The Sun In]

Thanks for the advice, Sunny.

And please forgive my lack of knowledge, but does switching to a single frequency, as you suggest, affect the Manticore's efficacy? And is there a preferred single frequency when dealing with electric fences?

I've had successful finds by switching to 10 kHz, especially when the environment is particularly challenging. This adjustment appears to stabilize the machine's response just enough to optimize detection performance and improve the chances of a successful find.

[Oxgirl]

Or ask if the land owner would be ok if you switched it off?

[Verulamium]

I can’t use my Manti within 150m of electric fences….it just goes bonkers! My old Deus I is much better in this regard…

[LuckyB]

The 2d screen doesn't work as intended with a single frequency so I would always try a lower sensitivity and noise cancel first

[JohnDeus]

As Cath says ask the landowner to switch it off whilst you are there, I did some pasture with the same pain in the ass fence and asked the farmer if he would turn it off. He said NO but you can but don't forget to switch it back on when you leave

[Easylife]

On one I found the battery halfway down the field and unclipped it whilst I detected, but reconnected it before I left.
On another the electric fence was doing nowt when it was supposed to, so informed the landowner only after I had finished detecting.

[HammeredDeus]

.....
On another the electric fence was doing nowt when it was supposed to, so informed the landowner only after I had finished detecting.

"Farmer electrics" is sometimes pretty dodgy, just like "farmer plumbing". Some think baler twine can fix anything.
To be fair, even a tractor battery runs down surprisingly quickly - almost certainly when you're not there - and they're heavy things to shift when they need recharging (damhikt!).

[Graham]

To be fair, even a tractor battery runs down surprisingly quickly -

They also disappear overnight quite regular, especially if we put them near a road. Always put them at far end of field now. Our permanent main electric fence runs for 1 1/2 miles and runs off the mains, never touched it myself but saw the owner once getting a belt, fell to the floor as if been tasered.

[HammeredDeus]

They also disappear overnight quite regular, especially if we put them near a road. Always put them at far end of field now. Our permanent main electric fence runs for 1 1/2 miles and runs off the mains, never touched it myself but saw the owner once getting a belt, fell to the floor as if been tasered.

I guess it's a trade-off between arm-stretching stamina and scrap value! Mains-powered is so much better, but I guess not always viable.

[bwc-hunter]

I once had the misfortune to end up straddling an electric fence on my brother's sheep farm. I can honestly say it wasn't the most enjoyable experience I've ever had!

However, I did fare better than the ewe that had had its head stuck in the same fence for over a day. Once it was released its whole body kept convulsing at exactly the same rate as the electric pulses had been passing through the poor thing's body. Needles to say, it didn't last much longer after that.

On a slightly happier note, I bumped into a farmhand I know while out on my new permission this afternoon and he kindly turned the electric fence off for a while. What a difference!

[clint]

I have a field that is plagued with a pulse signal from a gas main monitoring box,well that's the only thing I think it could be! It's a complete nuisance and that precise you can step in and out of the signal!