By: Phillip Edwards, David Hall, Jason Mallard, Sarah Beth Thompson, Wesley Porter
As we move into planting season full force and start to need irrigation systems either started up for the first time for application or just to move them out of the way to plant, you may be starting systems that have been sitting dormant since last fall. If you have not operated your system since last season, you should be very careful as you go to visit the site and operate it for the first time during 2026. Safety is a major concern when working around these systems as you are working with 480 three phase voltage! I have also seen pictures of systems that have been damaged across the state from the recent rounds of storms that have moved through. Any time after a major weather event comes across your farm use extreme caution when operating the system as there is potential for damage to the power systems and you can become the ground for an energized system.
First, always ensure that the main power to the system is off before troubleshooting anything on the system. And by main power, I mean the line feeding the system not the power inside of the panel box. As shown below, inside of the panel box, the off switch just opens and closes the switch that allows power to flow from the source to the pivot control panel. It does not stop the power from entering the control panel. The wires at the top of the fuses in the control panel will have electricity to them if the main power is not off. Thus, if there is something wrong with the system and there is a short, the structure of the system, including the panel box, towers etc. can be electrified. Additionally, if you are sticking tools into the system and the tops of those fuses/wires are energized and you accidentally touch them it will travel into you.
As you approach the system, think about a few things, assume the control box and structure is electrified until you determine otherwise. On initial touch, use the back of your hand because three phase power causes muscle contraction. If you grab the system with your open hand, your muscles contract and you will be locked onto it, and anyone who touches you will also be contracted to you until the power to the system is shut off. If you touch it with the back of your hand it will cause you to pull away from the system. It is always good to keep a non-contact voltmeter handy when working around pivots. Most if not all of our Extension Agents have one of these, and they can be bought for $5-$15 depending on brand and capability.
A visual of how a non-contact voltmeter work is shown in the example picture below. A standard 120-volt breaker panel was used for this example, but the non-contact voltmeter will work the same inside of a pivot panel box. You can see that when the breaker is off (two pictures on the left) power is not flowing through the circuit thus, the meter does not detect power and the light is not on, however, once the breaker is flipped to “on”, power is present on both sides of the breaker and the light comes on and an audible beep is heard. One of these non-contact meters can help you see if your panel box or structure is electrified without you touching it.
A critical component of irrigation systems that is usually overlooked is the grounding wire. It is the first and best defense one has against power surges or surges from lightning, especially on the newer fully electronic controllers. Just like the grounding wire on a house, this grounds the system. As shown below the rod should be either in the ground next to the concrete pad or directly in the pad. Ensure the wire nut is tight because over time, the expansion and contraction of the copper wire due to weather and electrical vibrations can loosen the nut.
A few other things that need to be checked on the grounding wire:
- Is the copper wire in place?
- Is the set screw to the ground in the control box tight?
- Is the copper wire intact? As shown below the copper wire has been hit by a mower and is just laying loose on the pad. Thus, anything that touches the structure will then become the new ground path.
Always stand to the side of the panel box and main power to the system, if the fuses blow in one of these systems they are not like a standard house or car fuse. These fuses can cause a gun-like explosion, and you do not want to be in the direct path. I have heard plenty of stories (luckily have not seen this myself) of fuses blowing holes in panel boxes. Remember, if by chance a fuse blows, it could be its time to give, but most likely there is an underlying problem that may need professional attention. On the note regarding professional assistance, anytime a service technician is present, have the safety cut off and low-pressure switches inspected for faults.
A lot of our pivot points and pumping stations end up looking like this picture over a long summer and into the winter.
If your system has grown up and has a lot of weeds around either the pump or pivot point or both, it is critical that you use caution when you are working around the system for the first time. All sorts of critters like to use situations like this to hide, especially if the fields around the system have been tilled and pushed them out of their winter hiding spots.
In addition to snakes and wasps, mice love to use parts on the pivot to make nests. Thus, as you open your system up for the first time, check carefully. As you can see below, field mice find control boxes nice and dry for the winter. This could be a detriment if they chew on wires inside of the panel box.
In conclusion, as you start to operate your systems for the first time use caution for grounded out systems, critters that have made homes in or around the pivots and pumping stations. In many cases we can downplay some of the dangerous issues associated with irrigation systems, but I urge you to use caution when working around pivots and the associated electricity that is used to operate them. Use good judgement and be cautious when you working around these systems. We all have heard too many stories of incidents and accidents around pivots where people have either been seriously injured or even killed. While we do not offer pivot troubleshooting and repair from UGA Extension, we encourage you to use a licensed dealer for most of these problems. We also want to remind you of the precautions you should be using with regard to all agriculture equipment.