Electric Fencing Explained

Electric fencing is both a physical and a psychological barrier, following a few simple rules will ensure you have an effective charge. Your horse is far from stupid and will avoid the fence at all costs!

The Power
Most energisers produce from 7000v to 9000v, whether you are using mains or battery supply. Energisers also have a Joule rating; this represents the power behind the shock. If you imagine your fence line as a water pipe the joule is the pressure which pushes the volume of water through. The joule is the ‘vehicle’ by which the voltage travels, the higher the joule, the greater ability the energiser has to get an effective voltage over distance and through vegetation onto the fence.

Earthing
This can be the most overlooked aspect of electric fencing; the ground is a very important part of the fence system. A poor earth will take away the power from your fence. Consider the fence, ground and the animal as a circuit, the animal is the connection which completes the loop, both the fence line and the ground need to conduct the charge as efficiently as possible. Do not be tempted to attach the earth connection to the spike or foot on your energiser, use at least one 1m earth stake to provide a solid return for the charge.

The Fence Line
There are many tapes and ropes on the market with varying specifications, there are pros and cons for each. As far as performance is concerned; the general rule is the larger the metal content, the more efficient the product. If we return to the water pipe analogy, a 10mm tape with four or five filaments of metal can be viewed as a small pipe allowing limited flow compared to a large pipe represented by a tape or rope of higher specification.

Insulation and Undergrowth
To work well, the live lines of your fence need to be as if suspended in air, with no contact from any extraneous objects. Any contact with wooden posts, undergrowth or other forms of fence will suck the power from the fence into the ground. Invest in good insulators and maintain the external environment in which the fence is installed.

Plastic posts are a useful and flexible addition to the electric fencing armoury. Available in a wide array of colours and sizes, they can be used in both temporary and semi permanent situations. Tensioning of the fence line, in a semi permanent context, takes the structural aspect away from the post and extends the life. If using in a stand alone, temporary enclosure it is advisable to tension at the corners using guy pegs, similar to that found on tents. Plastic posts can also be secured to wooden posts with twine, pairing the structural benefits of the permanent post with the insulating qualities of the plastic and giving a solid foundation to secure a temporary fence.

This article was kindly provided by Electric Fencing Direct (C/O Hotline Electric Fencing).