FAQ and Advice
We provide a lot of advice to our customers and here is a list some tips for Autumn/Winter and some of the most frequently asked questions. If you have any other queries or need to know anything else, ask Bill by email or give us a call: 01360440611
Electric Fencing Tips for the Autumn/Winter
- Small branches that fall to the ground and then lean on electrified wire/tape may well cause the fencing to short.
- The best time to check that there are no cracked insulators which will cause a short on the system is when it is raining. Walk the installed system and listen for the click click sound. This will tell you where a short is actually taking place.
- Even blown autumnal leaves can lodge in an insulator and cause a short. The insulator may be okay but the leaf is touching the wet wooden post and the fence could short. Keep checking your fence.
- In windy areas where the tape, wire or polywire could possibly have rubbed through the insulator (and frayed) you might well find a short taking place when it is wet.
- With regards to tension, check all electrified wires, ropes and tapes before the winter gales start. Ensure good tension in your fence - use in-line tensioners.
- Finally do not forget that in the Winter months ice formed round a wet insulator will short out an electric fencing system.
Bill "The Fence" Answers Your FAQ
We provide a lot of advice to our customers
and here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions. If
you have any other queries or need to know anything else, ask Bill.
Crocodile got a good connection?
When is the best time to check the power in your fence?
Another reason for earthing/shorting
What is an electric fence system made up of ?How does an electric fence work ?
How do I start building my electric fence?
How do I choose the most suitable electric fence energiser?
What is the most common installation error with electric fencing?
My climate and soil make it difficult for me to install a good earthing system. What alternatives do I have?
What are the advantages of electric fence over conventional barrier fence?
If I use barbed wire, can I electrify it?
How do I use electric fence to contain bulls?
How does an electric fence work with rotational and strip grazing?
Is electric fencing safe for my horses?
Why is electric fence better than other types of horse fences?
What's the best way to fence aggressive horses or stallions?
How do I prevent "cribbing"?
Is electric fence safe for my pets?
Why would I use an electric fence instead of a traditional fence?
Can I electrify an existing wood, vinyl or chain link fence?
A reason for shorting
The short live and earth cables that go from the energiser to the main fence wire and earth rod will crack over a period of time. If it rains the water will enter the cracks and the system may well short.
Crocodile got a good connection?
Crocodile clips when out in the elements can go rusty over time. Check them at the beginning of the year and replace them if needs be. Nothing beats a good connection. A few pounds spend will make all the difference to the effectiveness of your fence.
When is the best time to check the power in your fence?
You may not like it but the best time to check an electric fence is when it is raining. For example you may have had a permanent fence system up for 4 or 5 yeas and one screw-in insulator may have cracked. There will be no noise when the sun is shining but when it is raining the water will enter the crack and touch the screw thread and this will short the fence out through the wooden post. Just walk around your fence and listen for the spark to crack.
Another reason for earthing/shorting
When it is wet a slack fencing line, be it rope, tape, wire or polywire could become very close to an earthing point (a wooden post or tree or grass). The electric pulse will try to jump the gap and hey presto the system will not be working correctly. Just walk around and listen for the crack noise and check where it is coming from.
Pigs and electric fencing.
Pigs tend to charge forward when they get a shock from electric fencing. Always ensure that your fence is fully tensioned - use inline tensioners within your system or corner pulley/egg insulators at corners.
Gates for horses
We suggest that you never use a spring gate for horses... Horses tend to stand with their backs to fences and gates. The spring gate will swing in the wind and like a concertina will open and shut. Horse tails whipping back and forth can get caught and not only will the horse get a shock it will have tail hairs pulled out! So use an electrified rope or tape gate.
Where to put your earth stake.
- Never put an earth stake near a building where there could be foundations near to the surface.
- Never put an earth stake near to a tree - this will make the electric fence system ineffective.
- Make sure your earth stake is in moist ground and at least
three quarters of the earth stake is in the ground.
What is an electric fence
system made up of and how does it work?
An electric fence system comprises of
3 main items: an energizer,
wire/rope/tape
or electric
netting and power supply (either mains or battery).
You will usually also have posts
(to support
the wire/rope/tape/netting), an earth
stake (to complete the circuit)
and, depending on your specifications, some insulators
(to ensure good
conductivity), line
tensioners (to keep ropes/tapes taught) and warning
signs.
The power supply (mains or battery) powers the energizer which in turn
sends an electrical pulse down the wire/rope/tape/netting. When an
animal touches the fence it receives a short sharp shock as it creates
an earth and completes the circuit.
How do I start
building my electric fence?
For best results, we recommend that
you buy an energiser recommended by us for your application (see
energiser selection chart).
Ensure you install a good earth system and
test its effectiveness as explained; use high-quality wires with good
conductive characteristics and high specification insulators (Note,
energisers with high joules will require better insulation than low
output ones so always select appropriate products). Service the fence
regularly by checking the voltages on the fence and earth and clearing
vegetation growth.
How do I choose the
most suitable electric fence energiser?
The energiser you choose depends on many variables, including the type
of animal being controlled, the length of the fence, its location, and
even the climate (wet climates can drain energy from the fence and dry
climates can cause earthing problems). In general, choose a higher
powered energiser than you think you need to handle unexpected
challenges such as vegetation and to allow for possible future
expansion of your fence.
What is the most
common installation error with electric fencing?
Ineffective earth systems account for 95 percent of all
electric-fencing problems. When using portable fences, use the correct
earth stake as recommended. In dry, rocky or sandy soil conditions more
than one may be necessary. When using mains energisers in a fixed
position, use at least one x two metre long galvanized earth stake.
Make sure to use bolts to attach the earth wire and tighten firmly. The
drier the soil, the more extensive the earth system needs to be. Always
check the earth immediately following installation and at periodic
intervals, particularly in summer. If excessive voltage readings are
found, add more earth stakes at 2 metre spacing until the voltage is
within tolerance levels.
My climate and soil make it
difficult for me to install a good earthing system. What
alternatives do I have?
In sandy or rocky soils, in extremely
arid climates, or where the ground is frozen for much of the year, the
standard earth system may not prove adequate. In these situations it
may be necessary to wire the fence with alternative wires being live /
earth. Such a fence will then no longer be dependant on moist soil
conditions. When an animal touches the live and earth wires
simultaneously, the current will travel back to the energiser's earth
system, completing the circuit and delivering a shock.
What are the
advantages of electric fence over conventional barrier fence?
Electric fencing costs less, is easier
to install, requires less maintenance and can control livestock better
than barbed wire or many other types of fencing. In addition, livestock
are frequently injured by barbed wire and will damage woven-wire fences
by leaning on the fence.
Because livestock avoid contact with an electric fence, it will last
longer than other types of fence. Barbed wire or woven-wire fences may
only last 7 - 12 years, while permanent, high tensile, electric fences
can last 20 years.
If I use barbed wire, can I
electrify it?
Barbed wire is designed as a physical
barrier, using barbs to deter animals. Because of the barbs, there is a
greater chance the animal can become entangled in the wire. Electrified
barbed wire could cause even more damage to the animal therefore barbed
wire should never be electrified. For a selection of safer poly wire
and tape, refer to our tape, wire and rope sections
How do I use electric
fence to contain bulls?
If normally kept segregated for
breeding purposes, bulls or other aggressive livestock may become
highly motivated to escape confinement, especially when nearby cows are
in heat.
To contain bulls, maintain 4,000 volts on the fence line and a minimum
of 1.5 joules of stored energy. Four to five wires are best. For more
aggressive animals, you want the electrified fence to deliver a more
intense shock to discourage them from going near the fence again so
higher joules would be desirable on long fences.
How does an electric
fence work with rotational and strip grazing?
Electric fencing is an excellent
solution for containing animals on a short-term or temporary basis, as
in rotational or strip grazing. The lightweight mobility of portable
electric fencing is ideal for frequently moving livestock to different
sections of pasture.
We have all the components needed to create grazing system
including: plastic
posts, poly
wire and poly
tape, reels
and
energisers.
Because pastures frequently are not located near a MAINS
power source, a full range of battery
powered energisers is available.
Is electric fencing
safe for my horses?
The short sharp shock your horse
receives from an electric fence will not injure it, but will teach it
to respect and avoid the fence. Very roughly, the shock produced by a
small energiser is similar to a sharp whack by a riding crop.
Traditional fencing is more apt to injure horses when they get scared
or spooked and attempt to push through or jump over it. A properly
installed electric fence system is the safest, most visible method to
keep your horses contained.
Why is electric fence
better than other types of horse fences?
Electric fencing is the most cost
effective and efficient method of containing horses while safeguarding
them from injury. Barbed wire, woven-wire, and wooden fences can injure
a "spooked" horse that attempts to run through or jump over them.
Injuries a horse will sustain if it gets tangled in barbed wire may be
fatal.
Electric fencing is lower cost, easier to install, requires less
maintenance and controls horses more effectively than traditional
fencing.
What's the best way
to fence aggressive horses or stallions?
If normally kept segregated for
breeding purposes, stallions or other aggressive horses may become
highly motivated to escape confinement, especially when nearby mares
are in heat.
To contain aggressive horses, maintain 3,000 - 4,000 volts to the end
of the fence line. Three or four strands of fence wire are best. The
more aggressive the horse, the more higher the shock must be to
discourage them so generally higher joule energisers are recommended.
How do I prevent
"cribbing"?
An electrified wire can easily be
added wire to an existing fence. This option can prevent "cribbing" or
chewing the tops of wood fences, as well as keep horses from jumping,
or prevent animal pressure on the fence. A range of insulators is
available to allow an electrified wire to be erected on the top or
interior of the fence. Offset type insulators will put the fence wire
150mm out from the existing fence, preventing animals from pressing
against it.
Is electric fence
safe for my pets?
The short, sharp shock your pet
receives from an electric fence will get their attention, but not harm
the animal. This will teach it to avoid the fence in the future and
stay within the boundary.
Why would I use an
electric fence instead of a traditional fence?
Electric fences are portable and far
less costly then a barrier type fence. Additionally they can be
unobtrusive - you do not block the view. Using electric wires on the
top or bottom of a chain link or wood fence can prevent digging under
or jumping over the fence.
Can I electrify an
existing wood, vinyl or chain link fence?
You can easily add an electrified wire
to an existing chain link or wood fence. Our insulators are available
in a variety of styles that give the flexibility of putting an
electrified wire at the outside top of the fence (to keep dogs, cats,
and other animals from climbing or jumping over) or at the outside
bottom to prevent dogs from digging underneath. This is a simple, low
cost way to "dog-proof" an existing fence.
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