I replaced a dead barnyard light with a new LED light (a Defiant unit from Home Depot) that is bolted to the outside of large metal barn. I also have a old Parmak FM-1 electric fence charger connected to a separate circuit breaker. After the light has been turned off, I can see the LEDs in the light blink softly, in sync with the 'click' from the Parmak. Somehow, there is voltage from the Parmak leaking through either the circuit panel or the metal barn, energizing the LEDs.
The Parmak is in a wooden box mounted on the side of the barn. There is a single ground rod for the Parmak, which is located about an inch away from the metal barn. If I disconnect the Parmak, wait 20 seconds, and reconnect the Parmak, the LEDs no longer blink. My guess is that some capacitors in the LED light had enough time to discharge so the leaking voltage is no longer strong enough to energize the LEDs. The LED light is connected via 12/2 with a bare copper ground wire. It is possible that the bare copper wire is touching the light's metal mounting frame, which is bolted to the metal barn. It is also possible that the internal electronics of the LED light are directly grounded to the mounting frame.
I am thinking that the Parmak's ground rod is too close to the metal barn, effectively making the entire metal barn part of the ground circuit for the Parmak. The metal barn then conducts the voltage into the LED light.
Does this theory make sense? Aside from actually putting in a new ground rod some distance (20-30 ft?) away from the metal barn, any suggestions for other diagnostic testing that would help identify the cause of the voltage leakage? Thanks!
The Parmak is in a wooden box mounted on the side of the barn. There is a single ground rod for the Parmak, which is located about an inch away from the metal barn. If I disconnect the Parmak, wait 20 seconds, and reconnect the Parmak, the LEDs no longer blink. My guess is that some capacitors in the LED light had enough time to discharge so the leaking voltage is no longer strong enough to energize the LEDs. The LED light is connected via 12/2 with a bare copper ground wire. It is possible that the bare copper wire is touching the light's metal mounting frame, which is bolted to the metal barn. It is also possible that the internal electronics of the LED light are directly grounded to the mounting frame.
I am thinking that the Parmak's ground rod is too close to the metal barn, effectively making the entire metal barn part of the ground circuit for the Parmak. The metal barn then conducts the voltage into the LED light.
Does this theory make sense? Aside from actually putting in a new ground rod some distance (20-30 ft?) away from the metal barn, any suggestions for other diagnostic testing that would help identify the cause of the voltage leakage? Thanks!