An electric fence is an economical way to contain livestock without the risk of physical injury. Electrified fences generate low amp pulses of electricity that will startle but not hurt animals.
A component called a power energizer converts 110V electricity into brief high voltage pulses that travel along one terminal of the fence wire and through metal rods implanted in the ground called “ground rods”. When an animal touches both the bare fence wire and a grounded ground rod the circuit is completed delivering a shock.
Energizers
A poorly powered electric fence is useless for containing animals. Just as a drip irrigation line requires sufficient water pressure to deliver the right flow rate, your electric fence needs enough voltage (measured in joules) to discourage livestock from touching it and to keep them away.
An energizer converts power into electricity that runs through a transformer, increasing the electric potential of the fence wires. The increased potential is then stored in a capacitor (voltage multiplied by capacitance equals stored energy – often measured in joules).
Energizers are most efficient when powered from a permanent source such as a hydro line, solar panels or deep-cycling 12 volt marine batteries. It is advisable to purchase an energizer that has sufficient output joules to meet your expected fence load (fence length plus the capacity of any leakages in the fence) for years to come. It is much cheaper to do this than to buy an energizer that is too small, which will only waste energy and cause it to wear out quickly.
Wire
A component called a power energizer converts mains or battery power into a short high voltage pulse that it sends down an insulated wire about once per second. The pulse completes a circuit when an animal touches both the wire and the ground.
The pulsating current causes the animal to feel a sensation similar to a muscle cramp that makes them remove themselves from the wires. It doesn’t cause harm unless they touch something other than the fence wires such as dry timber.
Using double insulated HT/G cable throughout the electric fence improves the travel of energy down the line. Connecting all live wires together at the beginning and end of each fence section and under gates also increases the conductivity of the system. Regularly check your earthing as 90% of all problems with electric fencing originate from a poor connection to conductive soil. This can be caused by a poor earth point/rod/stake or a fault on the fence line itself.
Posts
Posts are essential for the stability of a fence line. Corner posts at significant changes of direction, corners, fence starts and ends, and gates require special high quality, insulated posts that can absorb the tensile forces that are exerted upon them. Intermediate Y-standard posts are used in equidistance between corner posts and are typically fastened to the conductive material by insulators.
Choose plastic electric fence malaysia posts that have a convenient step-in flange to easily install conductors (twine, wire, and tape) and insulators. They’re perfect for temporary fencing needs like grazing livestock, managing rotational grazing or garden protection, and even semi-permanent applications like perimeter security and animal confinement. Equipped with a sharp, strong, heavy duty steel chisel point end they penetrate deeper into harder, rockier soil for hassle free installation. They’re also rot resistant for longevity and come with (8) open clip positions to accommodate various widths of electrified tape and twine. Using good quality insulators, conducting material and proper grounding is key for keeping your electric fence working properly.
Grounding
Grounding is one of the most important parts of any electric fence system. Without good grounding the electricity is unable to complete its circuit from the energizer down the fence wire and through the animal and back into the soil. The grounding system can be a long steel rod pounded into the ground, a plate dug three to four inches into the ground or a combination of both. It is recommended that a minimum of 3 feet of ground rod be installed for each joule of output capacity of the fence energizer.
The conductive earth in which the grounding rod is placed needs to be free of other conductive materials such as metal roofs, plumbing and telephone lines. Regularly checking the condition of your grounding system during limited soil moisture conditions will help to ensure your electric fence is able to perform as intended and keep your livestock and predators contained and safe. For the best performance use a voltmeter to check for voltage readings on your fence wires and grounding system.