Selecting the right fence charger is crucial to the success of your electric fence. It maintains voltage on the fence and determines the severity of the shock an animal receives. Low impedence chargers are designed to continue operating when weeds and brush come into contact with the fence. When selecting a fence charger, consider your power source (AC, DC or Solar), the type of animals being contained, and the total length of fence being installed. Be sure to choose a charger that is powerful enough for your needs. Solar chargers draw power from a sealed internal battery that is recharged by sunlight. Prior to the first use each season, recharge the internal battery overnight with a battery charger or by placing the charger in the sun for several days. AC operated fence chargers plug into a standard 110 volt power outlet. DC operated fence chargers require an external battery for power. AC/DC Dual Purpose “go anywhere” fencer chargers can be powered by either 110 volt power outlet or 12-volt battery.
A properly installed grounding system is essential. Without grounding, electricity can’t find a path back to your fencer and little or no shock is given when an animal touches the fence. For proper grounding, your fence charger will have one terminal connected securely to the wire and the other terminal connected to your grounding rod(s). Many electric fence systems with dirt or moist soil will require one 6’ grounding rod and one ground rod clamp. Additional ground rods and clamps, spaced 10’ apart, may be necessary for longer fences or in rocky, sandy or dry soil.
When choosing fence posts, consider whether you will be building temporary or permanent fence. Most temporary fences are built with step-in posts or fiberglass rod posts because they are inexpensive and can be moved easily. T-posts are often used for permanent fencing. Corner posts are usually made of wood, and must be sturdier to handle the tension of corners, gates and fence end points.
Poly wire, rope and tape consist of many strands of poly material interwoven with strands of stainless steel, copper or aluminum for conductivity. Aluminum provides the greatest conductivity and shocking power. Poly wire is frequently used for livestock fencing and temporary rotational grazing. Poly rope is similar to poly wire but stronger and wider in diameter, making it more visible. Poly tape is most often used to contain horses. Because it is wider than wire or rope, it is much more visible. Poly tape creates a look similar to traditional wood fence at a fraction of the price. To calculate how many feet of wire you’ll need, multiply the number of wires being used by the perimeter length of the area being fenced in.
A properly installed grounding system is essential. Without grounding, electricity can’t find a path back to your fencer and little or no shock is given when an animal touches the fence. For proper grounding, your fence charger will have one terminal connected securely to the wire and the other terminal connected to your grounding rod(s). Many electric fence systems with dirt or moist soil will require one 6’ grounding rod and one ground rod clamp. Additional ground rods and clamps, spaced 10’ apart, may be necessary for longer fences or in rocky, sandy or dry soil.
When choosing fence posts, consider whether you will be building temporary or permanent fence. Most temporary fences are built with step-in posts or fiberglass rod posts because they are inexpensive and can be moved easily. T-posts are often used for permanent fencing. Corner posts are usually made of wood, and must be sturdier to handle the tension of corners, gates and fence end points.
Poly wire, rope and tape consist of many strands of poly material interwoven with strands of stainless steel, copper or aluminum for conductivity. Aluminum provides the greatest conductivity and shocking power. Poly wire is frequently used for livestock fencing and temporary rotational grazing. Poly rope is similar to poly wire but stronger and wider in diameter, making it more visible. Poly tape is most often used to contain horses. Because it is wider than wire or rope, it is much more visible. Poly tape creates a look similar to traditional wood fence at a fraction of the price. To calculate how many feet of wire you’ll need, multiply the number of wires being used by the perimeter length of the area being fenced in.
Once you’ve determined a post type and selected a wire, rope or tape, choose appropriate insulators. Insulators come in many styles to accommodate your specific needs. To calculate how many insulators you’ll need, multiply the number of posts being used by the number of wires on each post. Corner insulators are specifically designed for tension points, and are typically used at each corner, gate or end point.
Planning to build an electric fence? These resources can help you further define your fence building needs:
Zareba - Building Your Fence
Gallagher - How An Electric Fence Works?
Power Wizard - Selecting An Energizer
Patriot - Fence Planning
Baygard - FAQ
Lori H
Thanks for posting this! My brother has been worried about what he'll do for fencing. He just bought this old property that he's going to build a house on and wants to build some of the fence himself. He's also been looking to hire someone in Kelowna for fencing to get the rest done.
Posted by: slockwood252 | Friday, February 01, 2013 at 10:20 AM