QA

How To Build An Electric Fence

How do you make an electric fence at home?

Does electric fence have to make a complete loop?

The answer is no, an electric fence DOES NOT have to make a complete loop. Creating a continuous loop will increase voltage on the fence line, because power is pushed in both directions. Essentially, with a continuous loop, voltage only has to travel half the distance.

How far apart do you put electric fence posts?

Although it’s really up to you, the commonly accepted distance between posts is 12 feet. However, others recommend anywhere between 15 feet and 30 feet.

How high off the ground should an electric fence be?

Place the bottom wire at least 12 inches above the ground. At least 2 to 3 strands should be electrified. More wires will be necessary for bulls and aggressive breeds.

Can you use chicken wire for an electric fence?

Can I electrify chicken wire? As long as no part of the chicken wire touches the ground, or a steel post set in the ground, it can be electrified. Existing chicken wire fences usually have ground contact somewhere, so electrifying those fences won’t work.

Can I use a car battery for electric fence?

You can certainly use solar fence chargers; however, one easy way to keep your electric fence charged is to hook it up with to 12V car batteries in a parallel manner. Doing this doubles the amount of time that you have before you need to recharge your fence.

What happens if you don’t ground an electric fence?

When an animal comes in contact with an electric fence, a pulse travels from the fence, through the animal and into the soil. Via the soil moisture, this pulse is captured by the ground system and returned to the energizer. Without proper grounding, the fence’s electrical circuit can not be completed.

Can electric fence wires touch each other?

Wires tend to flip due to the wind. Many people tend to install in-line strainers above each other, but this is not the right way to do it. You should separate them by a fence post so that they don’t catch on each other.

What is the best wire to use for electric fence?

Most electric fences use 14 or 17 gauge wire depending on how long the fence is and what animal is being contained or repelled. Keep in mind that the lower the gauge of wire, the thicker the wire will be.Aluminum Long lasting. Conducts a strong electrical charge, stronger than steel. Very flexible and easy to work with.

Can you use metal posts for electric fence?

Permanent electric fences can be adequately constructed with wood posts, T-posts, rod posts, or metal posts.

Does electric fencing use a lot of electricity?

Electric fences do not consume a lot of electric power and most homes will experience no more than a R 15.00 increase on their electric bill after installation.

Do you need a grounding rod for electric fence?

In fact, the majority of electrical fence systems will actually require at least three grounding rods. These rods should be about 10 feet apart and should be placed at the start of the fence. Grounding rods can actually interfere with phone service as well as electrical lines that may be located on the property.

Why is my electric fence clicking?

Clicking is part of normal fence operation when a charger releases energy that travels along the fence. Almost all radio noise generated by electric fences is caused by a spark or arcing of the electrical current across fence hardware.

Does electric fence keep foxes out?

To keep foxes out, we recommend electric fencing, in combination with a Foxlight for optimum deterrence. The Foxlight keeps the foxes at bay. If foxes do get close, they are put off by the electric fence.

Will electric fence keep predators out?

A properly installed electrified high-tensile fence can provide protection from these predators. Due to wolves and coyotes very thick, insulating fur, a low impedance fence charger that can maintain 4,000 to 5,000 volts on the fence line should be used.

Will electric fence keep predators away from chickens?

Most electric fences are easy to set up, much easier than other fencing options that rely on being strong and sturdy. The benefit of electric fences is that they are effective against the most common types of predators that chase down chickens.

What is the most powerful electric fence charger?

The M10000i packs 100 joules of stored energy and will outperform any other electric fence energizer on the market powering 125 miles / 3,000 acres of multi-wire fencing.

How long does a 9v battery last on an electric fence?

The advantage of this type of battery is that they can usually run the energiser for between 3 months and 9 months depending on the Ah of the battery and the type of energiser and fence you have – this means no more worrying about lugging a heavy 12 volt battery across a field for recharging.

How long does a 12 volt battery last on an electric fence?

We always recommend the use of leisure and deep cycle batteries with electric fencing as, unlike car batteries, they are designed to be repeatedly discharged and then re-charged. This battery should have a life of 200 cycles and can last up to 2-7 years if treated correctly.

Can you use rebar as a ground rod?

Proper Grounding Rod In most cases, pipe or rebar can be used. The grounding rod needs to be made of galvanized steel and also needs to be at least four feet in length for best results.

Does grass affect electric fence?

Grass or other vegetation touching your electric fence will reduce power going through the fence line. Excessive grass contact on an electric fence can completely ground out your fence.

What is the minimum depth for a ground rod?

The only legal ground rod must be installed a minimum of 8-foot in the ground.

Where do ground rods go on electric fence?

To ensure ground rods come in contact with enough soil moisture to complete the circuit, best practice is to install 90 cm (3′) of ground rod below the water table for every joule of output provided by the energizer.