Lightning Protection
Lightning poses a threat to electric fence chargers because the spread-out fence wires are vulnerable to lightning strikes, and a struck wire is likely to conduct a huge jolt of electricity right into the charger, where a good deal of it may pass through before blowing the fuse and may damage delicate charger mechanisms. Three types of devices can help counter this problem. Lightning chokes send the huge charge through parallel runs of wire or some other conducter where it generates magnetic fields that interfere with its own passage. Lightning diverters, which require a separate ground rod, offer the charge an easier passage to the ground than that afforded by the charger and its connections. And so-called storm guards, which attach to the charger’s positive and ground terminals, do much the same thing closer in–by offering the charge an easy passage to the ground that does not require passing through the charger’s circuits. Obviously, none of these devices will protect the charger from a direct lightning strike, but all will markedly diminish the lightning problem.