Excellent discussion! But I'm not sure my related questions are clearly answered. I too am in the dry southwest. I'm guessing that for half the year, I will not have enough ground moisture to conduct unless I do daily watering of the entire fence. So I'm planning to run alternating wires (+, ground, +) or to make the wire mesh of the fence the ground. The wire mesh ground appeals as it would be very difficult for a bear (my primary concern) or neighborhood dog (secondary concern) to tear at the fence without contacting both. So if I'm running ground this way, is there any point to putting in ground rods?
It also isn't just the potential time and materials waste of ground rods if they are not necessary. I also understand they need to be 50 ft minimum from other electrical or metal construction. The chicken yard that I'm protecting is too close to my house and a neighbor house for that.
Thanks!
