what do you need to build an electric fence

What Parts Do I Need to Install an Electric Fence?

• Charger Livestock typically need high-power chargers or they simply ignore the shock. ...
• Posts Many electric fences are made using either wooden or fiberglass posts. ...
• Wire An electric fence project requires plenty of sturdy galvanized fence wire. ...
• Additional Parts You’ll need insulators to hold the wire for both fiberglass and wooden fence posts. ...

Full Answer

What parts are needed to set up an electric fence?

10 Basic Electric Fencing Parts and Components Needed To Set Up a D.I.Y Electric Fence. 1 1. Electric fence energiser. What is an electric fence energiser? The electric fence energiser (or energizer in the U.S.A) is the control unit that ... 2 2. Electric Fence Posts. 3 3. Electric Fence wire braid or tape.

How do you build an electric fence?

Building any type of electric fence can be broken into three phases: setting up the fence line, setting up the energizer, and grounding the fence. The steps to follow for setting up the fence line will vary based on the type of fence. The energizer and ground rod setup are the same.

How long of an electric fence wire do I Need?

For example, if your fence perimeter is 500’ (150 m) and will have four wires, the length of fence wire you require is 2,000' (610 m). Select an electric fence energizer power source based on your fencing situation.

Can you make an electric fence with chicken wire?

When something touches the energy travels through the animal and into the ground where it’s returned to the controller. Yes, you can make an electric fence out if chicken wire but you need to make sure none of the chicken wire touches ground (or anything else touching the ground).

What materials are needed for an electric fence?

An electric fence consists of a number of essential elements:Energiser. The powerhouse of your electric fence. ... Conductor (Wire) You can use various types of wire, or conductor, for an electric fence. ... Reels. ... Stakes and Posts. ... Insulators. ... Earth Stakes. ... Fence Tester.

How do you make a homemade electric fence?

0:034:15DIY Electric Fence Circuit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHello welcome to ludecke science today I will show you how to make this circuit to make an electricMoreHello welcome to ludecke science today I will show you how to make this circuit to make an electric fence it works at 12 volts and has an output of around 8,000 volts with a current that is not little

How do you make a permanent electric fence?

2:256:19Fencing tips and tricks – Part 1 – Building electric fences - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you've got your brace built. And you get your wire installed. This is a five strand twelve andMoreOnce you've got your brace built. And you get your wire installed. This is a five strand twelve and a half gauge. You know high tensile clasp three electric fence wire that we've got up here.

Do you need 3 grounding rods 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.

Can I make my own electric fence?

0:4211:27PIO POV: How To Make a Small Electric Fence Enclosure - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSystem first thing I'm going to do today is measure out my 8 by 8. Area. To keep your fence fromMoreSystem first thing I'm going to do today is measure out my 8 by 8. Area. To keep your fence from grounding out we need to cut all the weeds around the perimeter that way it'll be well-maintained.

Can you use PVC pipe for electric fence?

0:556:18Build An Electric Fence Using PVC Pipe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI devised a way to use PVC pipe for the fence posts. And a single level fence meant to excludeMoreI devised a way to use PVC pipe for the fence posts. And a single level fence meant to exclude undesirable animals here's a photo of the two PVC pieces.

Can electric fence wire touch itself?

Electric fence wire can only touch itself in specific circumstances. If an electric wire is touching itself because the wire is not pulled tightly enough for the fence, the electric fence will not work. Electric fence wire can touch itself if the wire is twisted around itself, though.

What kind of wire is used for electric fence?

Wire. Use 12½ gauge galvanized high tensile wire. Tie wire properly. For a two wire fence the first wire should be 22 inches from the ground and the top wire 40 inches.

Can you use wooden posts for electric fence?

Permanent electric fences can be adequately constructed with wood posts, T-posts, rod posts, or metal posts. Typically, the type of post chosen is determined by local availability and price.

Will rebar work as a grounding 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.

How far should a ground rod be for an electric fence?

10 feetA general rule is to install a minimum of 3 feet of ground rod per joule of output capacity. A 15 joule fence charger will require a minimum of 45 feet of ground rod. These rods must be installed at least 10 feet apart from each other.

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

If It Isn't Grounded, It Won't Shock When an animal touches the electrically charged fence wire, the animal feels the electric current as the charge passes through the body. The charge then completes the circuit through the soil via the ground rod and then up the ground wire to the ground terminal charger.

Does an electric fence have to make a complete loop?

Does an electric fence have to make a complete loop? The short answer is: no. For an electric fence to be properly installed it should not be a closed loop. When an animal touches the electric fence, this should be the missing link in the loop for the animal to get the shock.

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 you make an electric fence with a car battery?

1. Place two 12-volt batteries, one in front of the other, in an enclosed area next to the electric fence controller. Turn the batteries so that the positive and negative terminals are on the same side and next to each other. For example, place both positive terminals on either the left or right.

What is the voltage of an electric fence?

about 2000 to about 10,000 voltsThe voltage of an electric fence should vary from about 2000 to about 10,000 volts. A 10,000 volt output is the maximum voltage allowed by international regulations. The voltage that is used depends on the desired power of the shock and the distance on the fence that can be shocked up to.

What are the parts of an electric fence?

Parts of an Electric Fence. There are three parts to a good electric fence. The most obvious is the fence itself—the wires and posts that make up the barrier. The second part is the energizer, which feeds power into the fence. The final component is the grounding.

Why are electric fences used?

Electric fences can also be set up on a short-term basis to protect special crops or vulnerable animals, and they can also be used to create rotational grazing systems to maximize pasture yield.

How does an electric fence work?

All the components must be in good working order, free of short circuits, and connected properly. When the fence is set up correctly, the “hot” wire carries electric current from the energizer to the animal.

What happens when you put an electric fence in wrong place?

Carrying the current causes a shock to the animal. When set up wrong, the fence doesn’t contain livestock and becomes a maintenance headache. Animals will frequently walk through fences with weak charge, damaging the fence and requiring time to repair. You can see an overview of an electric fence setup here.

How long does a fence last?

The fence itself can be permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary. Permanent fences stay in place for years. These are best for perimeter fencing or protecting areas with a fixed use. Orchards and long-term gardens are best protected by permanent fencing.

Where do you put solar energizers on a temporary fence?

This kind of energizer can be moved right along with the rest of the temporary fence. Solar energizers are usually mounted on a post that is either part of or next to the fence. Many solar energizers have an opening in the bottom to slide over a fence post to mount the energizer.

Where to put plug in energizer?

Plug-in energizers need to be in a building near an electric outlet and near the fence as well. You may have to drill a small hole in a wall to either run the power cord into the outlet, or the wires out to the fence.

How to improve the earth of an electric fence?

Main Factors that can Improve the earth of an electric fence. Add more earth stakes – Connected together in a bank. Any electric fence over 200m should have at least a bank of 3 earth stakes or an earth wire to connect banks of earth stakes at certain intervals eg: every 200m. Different soil conditions will vary the requirements.

What is an energiser on an electric fence?

What is an electric fence energiser? The electric fence energiser (or energizer in the U.S.A) is the control unit that regulates the pulse on the electric fence, It is responsible for converting the input energy (mains power, battery and solar power) to a safe and pulsed output energy that will run along your fences hot wires or live wires.

What is the purpose of wire braiding on an electric fence?

Electric Fence Insulators. The main purpose of an electric fence insulator is to keep the live wires from touching anything conductive that would cause a short or connection to earth resulting in a ineffective electric fence.

What to use to prevent rust on earth stakes?

Corrosion on the outer layer of the earth stake – Use slow deteriorating materials like galvanized or stainless metals to avoid rust and other electrical inhibitors forming on the earth stakes surface. Things like painted star pickets will not work very well if at all. You need a clean conductive surface.

What happens if you have more earth attraction in an electric fence?

The more earth attraction you have in your electric fence circuit, the better the current will flow and the more shock will be received by anything that contacts the live wires. There are several factors that can improve and worsen the condition of your electric fence earth system. Every electric fence system is different with varying conditions ...

What are the factors that decrease the Earth of an electric fence?

Main Factors That decrease The Earth Of An Electric Fence. Poor soil or ground properties that do not allow for good electrical flow. Dry soil holding little or no moisture resulting in poor conductivity. Earth Stake too far from the point of contact on the fence.

How to increase conductivity of earth stake bank?

Improve the soil conditions. Make a drip system to feed constant moisture to the soils and ground around your earth stake bank. This will greatly increase conductivity.

How is the ground supplied for a fence?

The ground is supplied via a lead spliced onto the fence ground strand ( E) and the second gate strand ( F ). This would also be 10 AWG insulated wire and L clamps used for the splices.

How to connect a fence to a ground circuit?

The first step in the ground connections is running an insulated lead from the negative terminal of the fence charger ( F ). This lead connects to the first of the 3 ground circuit rods ( G ). Insert bridge leads from the first rod to each of the others making sure the first 2 clamps are tight.

How to connect a 10 AWG wire to a fence charger?

First, connect an insulated 10 AWG lead to the positive terminal of the fence charger ( A ). Run this lead to the top lug of the lightning arrestor ( B ). Run a second, short link from the same arrestor lug to the bottom connector of the isolator switch ( C ).

What happens when a fence is idle?

When the fence is idle ( A) the strands of the fence are energized by the solar-powered fence charger. However, they don’t have a return path to the chargers’ ground circuit. This is similar to the open switch part of Fig.1 where the fence strands are ( 3) and the ground circuit is ( 4 ).

How many volts does a battery charger need?

Now you can connect the charger to the battery and check that the voltage reading is at around 8,000 volts. Start off by closing the main isolator switch to put power on the fence to power the main circuit up.

How far above ground should a charger post be?

Any sturdy 6 x 6″ wooden or steel post that’s securely planted will do the job. The post should be long enough to stand around 8 to ten feet above ground level. The post should ideally be placed as close to one corner of the intended fence line as possible.

What is the last hot test for a new fence?

The last hot test for your new fence is the gate circuit. We have included an isolator on the gate circuit so it can be worked on without isolating the whole fence. At the moment the isolated is open so go ahead and close it. Now conduct the same tests on the 2 hot strands checking for correct operation.

How many volts do you need for a fence?

A basic rule of thumb is you need no less than 2000 volts in the summer and 4000 volts in the winter due to thicker hair coats on the livestock and you usually do not get a proper ground because of snow. Tips. Install fencer where rodents can not chew on the wires (preferably in a building)

What is an electric fence?

Electric fences are mental barriers not physical barriers for all classes of cattle and grazing situations. When livestock are trained properly and the fence is working the way it was designed to (ie with the proper voltage on the fence), cattle will touch the fence once and than leave it alone. This includes all seasons of grazing or pasture confinement such as spring, summer, fall and winter.

Why is it important to walk the fence line?

Every spring it is important to walk the fence line to ensure the insulators are still in place and then wire is tight.

How to check if a fence is properly grounded?

Once the fence is installed you should check to see if the fence is properly grounded. This is done by ‘grounding’ out the fence with a metal bar and than checking the ground rods with a volt meter. If the reading on the volt meter is higher than 200 volts you need more ground rods. There should be no volt reading on the meter with a properly grounded fence.

How high should a fence be for a one wire paddock?

Braces are the backbone of any good fence. For a one wire paddock division a lighter brace can be used. Ensure the horizontal brace is 2.5 times the height of the vertical brace post. There are many options to build braces; most critical is to have corner posts (4 to 5") at least at 3.5 feet in the ground.

What is a high tensile wire fence?

Electrified, high tensile wire can be used as an economical, easily install and portal fencing option. his option provides producers with flexibility in rotational grazing systems to divide up paddocks and feed options during periods of drought. Equipment recommended for this type of fencing includes a reel with wire (temporary wore should have at least 6 wires in the tape to carry enough power) and step-in posts.

How to train livestock to respect electric fence?

Training Livestock to Respect an Electric Fence. When training livestock to respect an electric fence it is a good idea to use a smaller pasture, approximately three to four acres in size, with a 3 to 4 electrified wire fence. The goal is to shock the animals once and to do this you may need to attract the animals to the wire by tying tinfoil ...

Spare Insulators

The insulators separating wires from posts are a critical component for any electric fence. You can’t have too many of them on hand.

Voltage Tester

Since touching an electric fence is a poor way to confirm that it’s working, a simple voltage tester is one of your must-have tools.

Ratchet

Unless you’re Hercules, you’ll need a ratchet to help tighten loose fence lines. Letting the ratchet hold the wires tightly in place enables the user to perform minor tightening tasks alone. And it sure beats throwing your weight against the end of a loose wire while a companion rushes to secure the tension you’ve accumulated.

Electrical Tape

You’re working with electricity, and whether you’re wrapping connections or simply securing the frayed ends of wires, electrical tape is a handy item to keep in stock.

Electric Drill and Screws

A must-have tool for every toolbox. If you’re installing insulators on fence posts, try using a single type of screw to keep things consistent.

Claw Hammer

Because even if you installed every insulator using screws, somehow the one that needs replacing will be nailed into place.

Pliers

For loosening and tightening bolts, undoing stubborn knots and more, multiple pairs of pliers (in various sizes) are always a good investment. Their versatility is convenient if you’re dealing with nuts and bolts of many different dimensions.

How big should an electric fence be?

These warning signs must be at a minimum of eight by four inches in size and intervals of no more than 295 feet.

How far apart should electric fence wires be?

Placing electric fence wires too close to each other is a common mistake that should be avoided. You should keep your wires at least five inches apart.

How Does An Electrical Current Work?

Knowing the components that go into making an electric circuit is one thing. However, you must understand how the actual electric current is conducted. By understanding this, it will help keep you and anyone else that is near it safe.

Why is my fence powerless?

This makes the fence powerless because the grounding wire completes the circuit.

Why do you have to make a continuous loop with an electric fence?

The only reason you may consider making a continuous loop with your electric fence is to increase the voltage on the line. Otherwise, it’s simply not necessary. If you are thinking of putting up an electric fence, make sure you adhere to local ordinances, especially if it’s near a populated area.

Why are electric fences more effective?

Electric fences with a full loop are often more effective because the current is stronger. A continuous loop electric fence can be confusing because digital fault finders will struggle to determine the amperage. The best way to understand how an electric fence works is to know how electricity works itself.

How far away should a fence be from a power line?

The fence should be at least 133 feet away from any other electrical system or telephone system. It should also not be attached or ran under any power lines. If power lines are unavoidable, then the fence should run at ninety-degree angles and go underneath it. If this happens, then the fence wire should not be higher than approximately six feet above the ground.

How does an electric fence work?

The loop you may be thinking of is for the charge to go out through the wire and come back through the earth to the ground rod you have put in the dirt for your fence charger. This is why the fence works in the first place, the “shock” is trying to get out of the wire.

What type of fence do we use for a farm?

We use electric netting as the main fence for our farm, but this information would be the same for single strand electric fences (wire or polybraid) and high tensile fence lines, since they all work off of the same type of fence charger.

What happens if your only fencing is electric?

If your only fencing available is electric, then your herd will always be in a loop of electric fencing.

What happens when a fence wire touches metal?

Of course, when your fence wire touches metal it will loose power, as well! Usually you can hear the shock when this happens. Vegetation pulling down the power of the fence is more of a surprise, since it’s normally not one specific place along the fence line, it’s the whole line or a big section of it.

Why do fences need multiple ground rods?

Having a sufficiently large ground rod or multiple ground rods, helps your fence work better, especially in challenging conditions like dry soil.

What happens if grass touches a fence?

A large amount of grass touching the fence, especially if the grass is wet, will take a large amount of power out of the fence line. Once the animals get wise to your fence having little to no power, they will start getting out. This is always much harder to stop than it is to prevent!

Why is it important to keep wires clean?

Far more important than the shape of your fence is keeping the wires clean, as in free of vegetation. Tall grasses and other vegetation touching the fence will get shocked, which takes power out of the line. A large amount of grass touching the fence, especially if the grass is wet, will take a large amount of power out of the fence line.