The significant work you have done in installing your fence would be wasted if you don’t use the right charger to give power to your wires.

Imagine having a 10 mile fence The work you have done to install this should have cost you a significant amount of money, time and effort. The one weakness in all your planning and hard work was the type of charger you picked. You were eager to release your animals and proud of the work you did when suddenly your animals showed you that there are parts of your fence with almost no power on the wires. Your face would be red as you tried to corral your animals back in, scratching your head as to what went wrong.

At the onset of the planning phase, you should consider which charger would be suited for your electric fence.  In deciding on the appropriate charger, you should consider the following factors:

• What power source you will use;
• What kind of animals will you be keeping within the enclosure;
•  How long is your fence and your electric wires;
• What type of electric fence wire; and
• Other factors.

AC vs. DC vs. Solar

What power source you will use will affect which type of charger you will need.  There are three types of chargers based on the power source they use: AC, DC, and the solar chargers.

AC chargers run on alternating current and are plugged directly into an outlet.  These types of chargers are most recommended if you have access to a reliable power source. It is also recommended for maintaining a high electric charge, which is advisable for the enclosure of larger and more aggressive animals.

Chargers running on AC can generate more power compared to other sources, and the higher voltage they generate makes them advisable for long-distance transmission.  AC types of current can also be easily stepped up or down by using transformers, making it possible to adjust the current in you electric fence. It can even be easily converted to DC current.

DC chargers are battery operated. The main advantage of these types of chargers is the smooth flow of the current they produce. Since wires are less resistant to DC, it takes lower voltage to run this type of current and it produces less heat on the wires compared to AC. DC chargers are also not subject to reactance. This lowers the possibility of losing power on some parts of your fence.

Solar chargers are chargers which basically run on DC-type current.  These are the most economical types when maintaining farms on remote areas far from power lines. These types of chargers convert sunlight into electricity and store them in batteries.  When fully charged, these types of charger can maintain power for up to two weeks.

The following matrix would give you a larger view of the difference between these types of chargers:

	AC Chargers	DC Chargers	Solar Chargers
Power	Strong	Average	Average
Distance charged	Can carry current to long distances due to its higher power output.	Can carry current to a reasonable distance.	Can carry current to a reasonable distance.
Current conversion	Can easily be converted to DC type of current	Much more difficult and costly to convert to AC	Much more difficult and costly to convert to AC
Output conversion	Output can easily be increased or reduced using transformers	Power supply must match the load	Power supply must match the load
Effect to electric wires	Shortens life of electric wires due to heat it produces as a result of resistance and reactance	Prolongs life of electric wires due to lesser heat it produces	Prolongs life of electric wires due to lesser heat it produces
Cost	More costly	Economical	Economical
Efficiency	Less efficient due to wire resistance of the wires to this type of current and impedance it causes	More efficient to use	More efficient to use
Location	Advisable for any location with a reliable power source	More advisable for remote areas	More advisable for remote areas with more exposure to sunlight
Animals for enclosure	Advisable for enclosure of larger and more aggressive animals.  Also advisable for herd types.	Advisable for more sensitive animals which requires lesser enclosure area.	Advisable for more sensitive animals which requires lesser enclosure area.

Use this matrix in order to properly identify the type of electric fence charger that will be most suitable for your needs.  Being prudent in choosing these chargers saves a lot of time, money, and effort.

Helpful guides to diagnose defects in your electric fence.

Maintaining your electric fence could be costly if you call an electrician each time you have a problem. For example, sometimes problems like having low or no charge could be caused from faulty wiring or a damaged charger, requiring professional help. Or, it may be something as simple as a blown fuse or a wrong setting. So here is a guide to use before calling your electrician. Hopefully you’ll be able to save some money.

An electric fence system is composed of the fence charger, the ground wire, the ground system, the lead out wire, lightning diverter (optional) and the fence wire. If you know these parts well, you’ll have a leg up in troubleshooting your own system. We recommend researching exactly how your particular brand of electric fence works and fits together.

There are two main problems that may occur on your electric fence system: either there is no power on your fence wires, or the power is too low to be an effective deterrent.

If the there is no power on your electric fence, you should consider the following causes:

• No power from main source
• Charger not plugged in
• Blown fuse
• Dead batteries
• Corroded terminals
• Defective charger
• Faulty lightning diverters
• Line break
• Short circuits
• Improper/inadequate grounding

Possible reasons for having low power are similar. Examples includE:

• Low voltage from main source
• Corroded fuses
• Low-charged batteries
• Corroded terminals
• Defective charger
• Faulty lightning diverters
• Short circuits
• Improper/inadequate grounding

To pinpoint the actual cause of the problem, you should use the elimination method in checking your electric fence system.  Here’s how to do it:

(Note: you probably don’t need to be told, but you’re working with electricity here, which could be dangerous or fatal if you don’t take the proper precautions! If you feel out of your depth, don’t try to do this yourself; call an electrician. Be sure that you only have power running through your systems when you need it. If it’s not neccesary, turn off the power at the breaker box to prevent shocks.)

Step 1:  Check the main power source and electric chargers

For AC chargers you should check whether your chargers are plugged into the main power source. If they are, check the main power source for lack of power or low voltage output.

For DC and solar chargers, check the charger batteries. Make sure they are properly charged. As you do so, check the output terminals for corrosion. Do the same of the input terminals of your electric charger.

If no defects are found, check your electric chargers. Use a tester to measure its power output. Check output terminals for corrosion.

If no defects are found, proceed to the next step.

Step 2:  Check lead out wire

You should disconnect the lead out wire from the main system. Do the same with the ground system. Turn off the power before you do so. Once isolated, turn the power back on and check the lead out wire for voltage output.

If no defects are found, connect the ground system.

Step 3:  Check ground system

Once the ground system is connected, check the voltage. If it’s defective, check the ground system. This may be caused by a wet ground where ground rods are buried, improper spacing of the ground rods, or underground water system or other underground utilities that are affecting the ground system.  Further familiarization with the grounding system is recommended to properly carry out this job.

If no defects are found, connect the lightning diverter.

Step 4:  Check lightning diverter

After connecting the lightning diverter to the lead out wire, check for voltage output.

If no defects found, connect the fence wires.

Step 5:  Check fence wires

If you are maintaining multiple levels of wire fence, you should test each level for power charge. In doing this, always disconnect all other wire levels not being tested to isolate the cause.  Once you have found which wire level or levels are faulty, it’s time to make your rounds of the fence.

You should check for the following while making your way around you fence:

• Tree branches touching the wires;
• Weeds touching the wire;
• Damaged insulators;
• Line breaks; and
• Short circuits.

You may check for short circuits by using an AM radio.  Short circuits cause interference in radio signal.  Once interference occurs, you will know that you are near the part of the fence with a short and it would be easy to locate the damage.

In doing the entire troubleshooting process, don’t forget to always check for corrosion on the wires or any parts of the circuitry.  Repair or replace the damaged part of the electric fence system if you think you are capable of doing so.  If not, seek the help of an expert.

Protect yourself while doing the troubleshooting by using insulated gloves and being careful in each step.  A defective electric fence can always be repaired; injuries or fatalities due to electric shock might not be so easy.

Electric systems need to be grounded in order to prevent electric shocks. A grounding system carries electric current away and leads it into the ground, where it is absorbed. It’s important that your electric fence is properly grounded to protect yourself and your loved ones.

In an electric fence, grounding is a vital element since the wires are exposed and can easily be subjected to short circuit or human contact.  To prevent accidents, you should know how to install proper grounding before starting the installation of your fence. Soil conditions, charger capacity, and the composition of the grounding materials are the most basic considerations in proper grounding.

Soil conditions:

Dry soil or soil with low moisture content is more difficult when it comes to grounding. Dry soil needs to have longer grounding rods in order to be correctly grounded. High moisture soil is a grounding-friendly type of soil. Moisture will help the grounding rods dispose of the fault current from the circuit, since wet soil conducts electricity better. The presence of minerals and organic matter in the soil also improves the grounding capability of the buried rods.

Charger capacity:

Charger capacity and required grounding are directly proportional. The higher the capacity of your electric charger, the more grounding you will need. Be sure you know the power of your charger, and the required length of your ground wire.

Grounding materials:

Knowing a bit about the types of metal available for use as grounding rods will help you decide which ones to use for your fence:

1. Aluminum rods – will easily corrode in the soil. Not recommended for use as grounding rod.
2. Galvanized steel rods – last for long periods but tend to lose conductance once they corrode. Can be used as grounding rods.
3. Copper rods or copper clad steel rods – last for longer periods and never lose conductance, even if they corrode. These are most recommended for use as grounding rods.

In the installation of your grounding system, you should use a 600 volt to 20 kilovolt insulated ground wire. The first ground rod should be placed within 20 feet of the charger.  For best results, use 6 ft to 8 ft rods driven into the ground, with a distance of 10 ft between each rod.

Use at least 3 ground rods for your electrical fence. If 3 rods would not provide proper grounding, use additional ground rods until the desired effect is achieved. These rods should be placed a reasonable distance away from drinking areas for your animals. You should also make sure that the ground rods are away from any underground utility lines, as this would disrupt signals of telephone lines or any electric utilities. Use grounding clamps in connecting the rods to the ground wire as these will not easily corrode when paired with the appropriate ground rod.

Grounding is an important part of the electric fence system that you are installing, so you should allot a considerable amount of time and effort to it. Once you have done these and made a faultless ground, you have already solved 90% of the connection problems that may happen to your electric fence.

If you own a dog, you may have considered trying to keep your dog in your yard, where it’s safe, or keep undesirable critters out, with an electric fence. You might be surprised to know that there are electric fencing options for your pets. These options are safe, humane, and people-friendly, and when installed properly, will train your pet in no time that digging or climbing is not allowed.

For better planning of your yard perimeter electric fence, the first thing you should do is know your own dog and its behavior. The following are the qualities of your pets that are relevant to the installation of your electric fence:

1. Jumping capacity – knowing how high your dog could jump will help you determine the height of your fence. The higher their capacity to jump, the higher your fence should be.
2. Athletic composition – If your dogs are bigger and more muscular, you’ll need a multi-level, multi-wire fence. But for less brawny, “jumpier” dogs, less levels will suffice.
3. Hair type – the type of fur your dogs have will determine which type of electric fence charger is appropriate to use. The more fur, the more voltage you need.
4. IQ – believe it or not, your dog’s IQ may help you in planning your electric fence.  Bright dogs would easily grasp the perimeter of your electric fence through exposure to it while less intelligent dogs may need constant reminders that there is an electric wire that would prevent them from getting out of your yard.  For intelligent ones, you may opt to use steel or aluminum wire.  For the not-so-smart ones, it’s better to use tape to make the fence more visible to them.

Another thing that you should consider in installing your yard perimeter fence is the vegetation around your premises.  You should make sure that there are no shrubs, weeds, ornamental plants, or other vegetation in contact with you electric fence. These would drain energy from your fence.

Yard perimeter electric fences are similar and at the same time different than other electric fence types (e.g. fences for cows, horses, and other livestock). The similarity is that you are installing the same type of fence, and you will need the same components.  Fence chargers, fence wires, grounding systems, fence posts – all of these are still the same vital parts for you yard perimeter electric fence.

There are a few differences and they are as follows:

1. Wire levels – to fence in your pets, you may need a greater or lesser number of wire levels of depending  on the type of dogs you own.  The spacing of your wire levels is also smaller than those for livestock fences.  Ideal wire level spacing for dog fences ranges from 4 inches to 12 inches.
2. Lowest fence level – for dog fences, you need your lowest fence levels to be nearer to the ground.  This is to prevent your dogs from escaping by digging the ground below the fence.
3. Accessories – you may need more accessories for your dog fences.  These fences may have a low electric current — not enough to do too much harm — but they will certainly cause annoyance to anyone who come in contact with them. Having adequate warning devices around your fence will ensure everyone stays safe and happy.

As you’re researching the best components to use for your electric fence, you may have been confused by the difference between solid state and low impedance chargers. And since the charger is by far the heart of the electric fence, you need to make sure you’ve chosen the best option for your needs.

The basic differences between these two charger types are as follows:

Shock force

Low impedance chargers can a deliver high amperage shock, which makes these types of chargers the best choice for bigger livestock, such as cattle or horses.

Solid state chargers on the other hand deliver a smaller-amperage shock. This type of charger is most suited for smaller animals. You would want to pair your solid state chargers with bare wires made of steel or aluminum. The smaller resistance in these wires will help increase the effectiveness of the charger’s shock force.

Power perks

Low impedance chargers increase power output if given additional load, while solid state chargers do not. This makes low impedance chargers more suited for heavy weed conditions and longer fences. This type of charger is also recommended in handling animals with a lot of fur.

Solid state chargers do not have this quality, which makes the more suitable for low-to-moderate weed conditions, average fence length, and animals with less fur. When using these types of charger, you should make sure that your fence perimeter is clear of weeds. Weeds will ground your electric fence and cause additional load, which will cause a shortage of power on your fence. Solid state chargers do not pack additional energy to cover these loads.

Having understood these two basic differences, you’re ready to choose the right type of charger to use on your electric fence. You may wonder why are there low impedance chargers being offered for your electric fence while you haven’t seen any high impedance chargers. Are high impedance chargers the same as solid state?

The answer is no. High impedance chargers pack stronger shock forces and have more power perks that low impedance chargers. These qualities make these types of chargers have a high tendency of burning weed, which runs the risk of starting fires.

Cattle raising may be geared towards dairy or meat production or its combination.  Many cattle raisers may think that if they have chosen the right breed and gave them the right food, then their animals will give them the optimum production that they desire.  For them, these two factors are the main contributory aspects for cattle raising and they tend to consider other aspects as insignificant such as providing adequate fence for their cattle farm.  If this is also how you think, then you are taking the wrong path in cattle raising whether for dairy or for meat production.

It is true that choosing the proper breed and providing adequate food will greatly enhance your production but there is another factor that you should consider.  That is – providing the right living conditions for your animals.

Exposing your cows to a stressful environment will significantly decrease their dairy production.  Too much stress would even cause a cow to stop producing milk.  It will also affect the quality of their beef due to the constant strain in their muscles caused by stress.  It will take away the moisture and would toughen their beef.

Installing an electric fence would prevent your cattle from straying and would also help provide the ideal environment for your livestock by warding away external disturbances such as stray animals from other farms.  Knowing which type of electric fence to install will lead you one step closer to your goal of having optimum production.

 

Which kind of electric fence is best for cattle?

For cattle enclosures, the bare type wires are most recommended particularly the steel wires.  This type of wire carries higher charge and would serve both purposes for installing your fence which is to keep your cattle in and to keep other animals out.  Installing high tensile fence would enhance current flow and would improve the overall quality of your fence.

The height of your fence should be at least 4’ and the spacing between fence posts should be about 6’ to 10’.  Use wooden posts for corners and wood or fiberglass as line posts.  Don’t use metal posts since these would dampen the flow of current.

In choosing the correct fence charger, make sure that it can carry power throughout the mileage of your fence.  It would be a grave mistake to leave other parts of the fence poorly charged due to lack of power.  Your fence is only as strong as its weakest parts.

 

Introduce your animals to the fence.

Training your cattle to the effects of the fence would condition them to stay away and would prevent too much stress.  The cattle herd training would require repetition.  You should let them graze near the fence while maintain a low charge so they could grasp the effect of the fence.  You could increase the charge every training session until such time that your animals would develop an instinct to maintain a considerable distance from the electric fence.

In order to achieve your goal of earning high returns, you should invest money and time for every dime you want to earn.  Installing an electric fence and considering these simple steps would help ensure that your cattle have an ideal environment to live in until such time that they are fit for harvest.  This is a simple milestone to your ultimate goal.

Quality Items = Quality Fence

Choosing the right items for an electric fence could be a gruesome endeavor especially if these items are of the same use, with similarly sounding names, and most sellers of these products who only anticipate gain and somehow forget to explain slight differences in these items.

Take for instance in setting-up electric fence for animal enclosure, you will encounter MR. Poly Wire, Mr. Poly Rope, and Mr. Poly Tape.  Never mind Mr. Steel and Mr. Aluminum since you are already long acquainted with them but, at least you should know the difference between the previous three Mr. Poly.

What would help you identify which item is which?  The main difference between these three is their sizes and these are as follows:

Poly wire – This is he thinnest of the three poly items.  Its diameter may range from 0.100” to 0.125”.

Poly rope – Thicker than the poly wire with diameter ranging from 0.125” to 1.000”.

Poly tape – This is the most visually identifiable from all three poly item since this is shaped like a tape unlike the first two which are rounded.  Poly tapes width ranges from 0.500” to 2.500”

 

Now that you know these simple vocabularies, which type of wire should you choose?  This depends on what type of enclosure you need and what type of animals you need to fence-in.  Larger and stronger animals would need stronger wire with higher charge.  Permanency of the fencing should also be taken into consideration in choosing the type of wire to use.

 

Below is a simple matrix that would help you decide:

 

Type	Visibility	Charge	Durability	Ideal Fencing Use
Poly wire	Acceptable	Low	Will not rust.	Temporary
Poly rope	Good	Average	Will not rust.	Temporary
Poly tape	Excellent	High	Will not rust.	Temporary/Semi-permanent
Steel wire	Poor	Very High	High tensile.	Semi-permanent/Permanent
Aluminum wire	Poor	Poor	May sag.	Permanent

 

Another important item one needs to choose carefully for electric fencing needs are the posts he would use.  There are various types of posts wood posts, rod posts, T-posts, fiberglass posts, step-in posts, pigtail posts and others.

 

Wood posts

Amongst all the available fences posts sold in the market, wood posts are the sturdiest of them all and the only one that would qualify as corner posts due to its resistance to strain.  Due to their effective value these post may come in at a slightly higher price but they are worth every penny you put in buying them.  Due to this, wood posts are seldom used as line post but they will properly serve this purpose and are most advisable if what you are planning to install is a permanent fence.

 

Aside from wood posts, there is no other type of fence post which is advisable for use as corner post due to the tension and stress carried by these areas.  For line posts however, you may consider other types which are more customized for such use.

 

Steel rod posts

These are durable post which can be used as line posts particularly for temporary fences due to easy installation.  This type of posts will not be able to carry too much strain so they are not recommended for corners.

 

Fiberglass rod posts

Fiberglass rods are similar to steel rod except for their composition.  These posts which are lighter than steel rods are also recommended only for use as line posts of temporary fences.

 

These rod type posts would need clams for attaching the wire to them so you also need to consider this in choosing them.

 

Step-in posts

Step-in posts are the best type of post for use as line posts.  These posts are made with large step-in flange for holding wires which makes it most recommended particularly when you will be using poly tape wires.  Other features of this type of posts are its reinforced ribs, bottom spikes, and color.  These features add strength, prevent rotation of the posts, and increase its visibility which makes it more appropriate for use.

 

Pigtail posts

A feature of this type of post which earned its name is the top loop which makes it look like a pig’s tail.  Most recommended for cell grazing or Managed Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG) due to its portable use and ease of installation.

 

T-posts

These posts are more durable than step-in posts thus, are more recommended for use in permanent fences.  These types of posts will last longer than other types due to its sturdy composition.

 

The wires and the posts are the most vital items for electric fencing.  There are other items that you may need to acquire such as the fence chargers which are also vital items, anchors, fence insulators, and accessories.

 

Fence chargers also needs careful deliberation and will be discussed separately.  Anchors, fence insulators, and accessories are items that you need to purchase according to your needs and are pretty much easier to choose.

 

The best thing that could help you in choosing the right items for your electric fence is to know what you need and which type of items would be suitable to be used as such.  You should also keep in mind that quality does not necessarily mean expensive.  There are affordable quality products you can find if you know where to look.

For beginners, installing an electric fence is a little complicated and may cause harm if not done properly.  Here are a few steps that may help you in this task:

 

Step 1: Plan the job.

Great endeavors human have made were not carried-out through sheer talent and expertise.   Most of them succeeded due to carefully laid out plans.  So is your electric fence installation project.  Planning your electric fence will make the job go smoother, prevent accident, and save you a lot of time and more likely, money.  Now what should one plan about?

 

The things you need to know in planning the phase of your work is the type of materials to purchase, the kind of material to purchase, the amount of materials to purchase, the positioning of the post, the positioning of the wires, the installation of the wire chargers, and how and what accessories to add.   An important part of the planning phase is the fence layout which will guide you in the installation.

 

After laying out these plans you need to procure the tools and manpower need.

 

Step 2: Procure needed manpower, materials, and tools.

For manpower, it is advisable that you work with a two or three person team and make sure that at least one of you has knowledge regarding electrical jobs.  This will save you time and you will have a knowledgeable partner should electrical problems arise.

 

For acquiring materials, it is recommended that you find a supplier who specializes in electric fence products so you will be sure that the materials they will provide are of high quality.  Most of these specialized stores will have all the things you need so you will no longer spend time store hopping for items you need.  Another advantage of this is that you could ask advice from these specialized suppliers for the efficiency of your work and the adequateness of the materials you will purchase.

 

Since, you will be installing an electrical fence you will need tools that are customized for the job.  Having someone knowledgeable in electrical works will help you know which tools to use and how to use them in order to avoid damaging the materials.

 

Step 3: Pole down.

Now to proceed to the work proper, the first thing you should do is to install the fence posts.  This is a pretty easy job of dig and fill but you need to be accurate in your pole spacing.  In case your poles have flanges, you also need to be sure that line posts face in the same direct so you could have your wires laid out on a straight path.

 

You need to install corner posts first and line post next.  In installing corner posts, be sure that they have sturdy foundation in order to avoid uprooting since these posts will take higher amount of tension and stress.  For permanent fences, it would be beneficial to cement the foundation of your corner post.

 

In installing line posts, you need to accurately space them in order to properly carry the weight of the wires.  Be sure to measure, re-measure spaces between posts in order to be certain and refer to the fence layout you have made.  Having a spacing guide will help in the accuracy of your measurements.

You also need to ensure that posts flanges are facing the same position.

 

Step 4: Wire in.

Wirings are easy to install except for the knots and splice techniques that you need to apply.

 

While installing the wires around the fence, make sure that you properly insert them into the flanges of each line post for proper support.  In the absence of flanges, use wire clamps in attaching the wires to the posts.  Be sure that attachments to corner posts are sturdy and properly installed to withstand tension.

 

In connecting the wire, make use of the western union splice, the eight knot, or the reef knot.  The reef knot is most advisable in corner posts wire connections.  You must drill in a rod into the corner post and use it as the anchor where the center of reef knotted wires is placed.  Using connectors in joining electric wires will enhance electric flow and will ensure that the joints will be able to take a higher degree of strain.

 

When connecting poly products, you need to strip the end of the wires in order to maintain uninterrupted flow of electricity.  You should insulate these ends with an electrical tape once connected.

 

Step 5: Charge up, ground down.

In installing your electric chargers, make sure that they are boxed or placed in an area protected from the weather.  An ideal location is somewhere free from moisture.  This is with the exception of solar chargers which are needed to be placed outdoors where sunlight concentration is relatively high.  Nevertheless, you should always make sure that your chargers are elevated from the ground.

 

Connect the ground wire of your charger to ground rods.   Three properly spaced (8’ to 10’ apart) grounding rods would be considered as proper grounding.  Connect the ground wire to the rods through the ground rod clamp.  Then, bury the rod to the ground.  In doing this, make sure that there are not underground lines that are in contact or near you ground rods.

 

Finally, you need to connect the lead wire to your fence wires.  Install jumpers to distribute current to other electric wire levels in your fence.

 

Step 6: Accessorize.

The purpose of your electric fence is to enclose animals in and not injure anyone who comes into contact with them.  In order to prevent this, you need to accessorize your electric fences.

 

The most useful accessories are the warning devices.  You should install one or more warning devices in each side of your fence to warn anyone from touching the wires.  You may also use insulated clamps in order to prevent current from flowing into the post if these are positioned outside of the wires and are intended not to carry any current.

 

Lightings should also be installed around the fence in order to ensure visibility during night time.  For high tensile wires, strainer should be used to tighten them.  You may also need electric wire testers to test presence of electric current around the fence.  For storm prone areas, lightning diverters should be installed to prevent lighting from striking you fence and causing unwanted power surge.

 

Step 7: Final check.

A final check will be needed to ensure proper installation of your electric fence.  Check for the following as you tour around your fence:

1. Test if electric current is distributed through-out the fence by using an electric wire tester.
2. Make sure that there are no animal drinking vats near the fence.
3. Look for other obstacles that may come near your fence such as tree branches, grass, and others.  These will impede electric current.

 

After such check, you will be confident enough that your fence would serve its purpose.  Now, you should never install and leave your fence as they are.  Don’t forget to do regular maintenance checks or have someone to do this job.

Installing an electric fence is an excellent way to contain your animals.  This may seem to be a simple job but, installing electric fences needs careful planning and proper execution.  In the planning phase of your fence installation, knowing the vital measurements needed is crucial to the job.  The basic measurements you need to know are the length of the fence, the height of the fence, the height of the grounding posts, the number of grounding posts, and the total length of the wire.

1. The length of the fence is easiest to obtain.  You just need to measure the perimeter of the area that needs enclosure less the length of the parts that needs no fencing (e.g. walls that form part of the enclosure).

2. The height of your fence has a directly proportional relationship to the height of the animals you wish to keep inside the fence and your assessment on their fence jumping and fence bumping capacities.  Taller animals with higher fence jumping tendencies and stronger fence bumping strengths need to be enclosed using a higher fence. 

3. The height of your posts is dependent on the height of your fence and can be computed using the simple formula below:

HoP = HoF + Sink + PA

Where “HoP” is the height of your posts, “HoF” is the height of your fence, “Sink” is the measurement of the part of your post you wish to sink to the ground, “PA” is the post allowance ranging from 2” to 4”.

4.      The number of posts depends on the length of the fence and the desired distance between each grounding post.  An advisable distance between two posts is 6’ to 10’.  Now, compute the number of grounding posts needed as follows:

 

GP = /(LoF / DP)/ + 1

 

Where “GP” is the number of grounding posts, “LoF” is the length of the fence, and “DP” is the distance between posts.  Only consider the absolute values in the division process and don’t forget that you need to add 1 for the end post.

1. 5.      The length of the electric wire depends on the length of the fence and the number of wire levels you need.  You will get the total wire length (TWL) by multiplying the length of the fence (LoF) by the number of wire levels (WLv) and adding an allowance (WA) of 6’ or more depending on your estimate (this allowance will be used in connecting your electric wire to its charger).

 

A sample computation for the total length of electric wire you need – assuming that your fence length is 90’ and you need 4 wire levels and decided on a 12’ allowance – is as follows:

TWL = (LoF * WLv) + WA

TWL = (90’ * 4) + 12’

TWL = 360’ + 12’

TWL = 372’

 

Obtaining these measurements, no matter how basic they may seem, is crucial to the success of your electric fence installation.  And you need to be prudent in doing these simple computations.  Remember even the genius may have the ability to compute the complex but they usually flunk the basics.

Power has always been associated with horses due to their muscular build and the strength of their limbs.  This mindset may convince you that horses need harsher treatment in order to contain them.  As what most would say, “To tame a horse, you need to break them”.

 

You may be thinking of the following options to avoid keep your horses from visiting your neighbors:

–          Buy and use barbed wires as fences to restrict these powerful creatures.

–          Keep them tied.

–          Hold them in a barn.

 

The first option would most likely literally break your horses and cause unwanted injuries.  The second and third options would restrict your horses and prevent them from maintaining a part of their wild side which is considered by most as beneficial to their growth.

 

Horses are sociable creatures of the wild.  They need to run with the herd.  But as their owner, you need to keep them from straying away.  While causing harm to them is not an option.

 

How would you solve this problem?

The answer is simple.

Install an electric fence.

 

Contrary to the power they possess, horses are gentle in nature.  When feeling threatened, their first instinct is to flee rather than to attack.  They are also easy to train and can retain memory of certain things that are repeatedly introduced to them.  These characteristics of the equine herd make an electric fence the ideal enclosure for these animals.

 

Poly products are the most advisable electric fence wire to use for keeping you horses at bay.  These colored wires will help in training your horses to keep away from the fence since they have a more solid visual impact.  These types of wires also conduct lesser amount of current which is enough to convince a horse to keep away but not too much to make it run in panic up to the other side of the enclosure or to retaliate against the fence.

 

Permanent enclosures:

For permanent enclosures for horses, one may use wood in the bottom part of the fence with a height of 3’ to 4’ and add two layers of poly tape wires (or other types of poly products) on the upper portion.  Painting the wooden fence white is recommended for this type of fence.  This would strengthen your enclosure and also add to the visual weight of the electric fence.

 

In choosing the electric fence charger, pick the ones with low impedance.  A charger having low impedance will distribute only a small amount of current around the wires.  This will be enough to make the horses feel an uncomfortable shock when they hit the fence without causing panic to them.

 

Temporary enclosure:

Step-in posts and poly tape wires are most advisable for use in temporary fences for horses.  These products will provide ease in the installation of your temporary enclosure and will help in training your horses to stay within.  It would be advisable to keep your horses tied until they become accustomed to the effect of the temporary enclosure.  If you have a permanent enclosure and are maintaining temporary fences only for grazing purposes, use the same color of wires for the permanent enclosure and the temporary fence.  This will help in the conditioning of these animals.

 

Make sure to also choose a charger with low impedance for your portable electric fences.  Solar chargers are most recommended for this type of enclosure.  This will prevent running out of power and losing your horses due to un-charged fence wires.

 

Electric fences will be very beneficial to maintaining a herd of horses since these animals can be trained and conditioned to stay within the enclosure.  You don’t need to break them just to keep them in.