When it comes to the safety and security of your loved ones and property and controlling livestock, a free standing electric fence is your most effective option. While keeping animals contained with electric fences has been a farming trick used for over a century, recent decades has seen a surge in the popularity of these barriers of protection in urban areas. Now, it’s not just livestock respecting these electric boundaries, homes and businesses are using monitored electric fences to keep their perimeters secure.
As a free standing electric fence is only effective if it has been installed correctly, we at Chemvet Steel & Fencing would like to take this opportunity to touch on the basics of proper installation of electric fencing systems, thereby ensuring optimal security and containment for farmers, residences, and commerce alike.
The Basic Functionality of a Free Standing Electric Fence
The efficacy of a free standing electric fence relies on three basic components, namely an energiser, an earthing system, and a fence line. By converting power into high-voltage pulses that are transmitted through the earthing system to the fence wire, when an animal or trespasser comes into contact with the charged wire, they receive a brief, yet unpleasant, electric shock. The delivery of the current is deliberately designed as a pulsed output to minimise risk, and the shock isn’t lethal. When correctly installed and properly maintained, electric fences serve as an effective deterrent for predators, thereby safeguarding both property perimeters and livestock.
7 Simplistic Installation Steps to Follow
Here are seven steps that should be followed during installation:
- Placing the Energiser
If you are using an electric-powered energiser, make sure that you place it next to an outlet. If your free standing electric fence is being used for strip grazing, we suggest that a battery-powered energiser is used. Ensure that the energiser is off before installing the fence line.
- Putting in the Grounding Rod
The grounding rod for your earthing system should be inserted near the energiser, leaving a few centimetres off the ground (5 to 10 cm).
- Attaching the Grounding Wire
Connect the grounding wire, originating from the designated terminal on the energiser, to each of the grounding posts. Grounding clamps can be used to securely fasten the wire to the posts.
- Insulators
As the electric current is required to travel exclusively through the wires and away from fence posts, it is important to install insulators on each post.
- Installing the Fence Wire
Starting at the post that is furthest from the energiser, run the wire and connect it to the posts. Using a wire tensioner, tighten the wires, but not too tight, as they could snap. For livestock containment, the spacing of the wires is dependent on the type of animal being fenced in.
- Test your Fence
Using a voltmeter, turn the energiser on and test to see that there is current passing through the fence.
- Maintaining the Fence Line
A free standing electric fence is an investment that will only work for you if properly monitored and maintained. If operational abnormalities are detected, walk the fence line to determine what is causing the fault. It could be as simple as the intrusion of vegetation interfering with the current.
The Preferred Supplier of Electric Fencing Systems
We at Chemvet Steel & Fencing are a distinguished supplier of Stafix and JVA fencing products. Our extensive inventory includes a comprehensive array of accessories and services, ensuring a holistic customer experience. As the go-to specialists in customised fencing and steel solutions, contact us for professional installations or DIY solutions that cater to your unique requirements.
