Smooth steel wire is the material most often used for electric fences, ranging from a fine thin wire used as a single line to thicker, high-tensile (HT) wire. Some energizers can be powered by more than one source. For shorter periods, dry cell batteries may be used. The power consumption of a fence in good condition is low, and so a lead-acid battery powering several hundred metres of fence may last for several weeks on a single charge. Most modern fences emit pulses of high voltage at a given interval of time, and do not take into account whether there is an animal touching the conductive wires, except for the voltage multiplier based electric fence charger that stores high voltage potential and dumps its charges as soon as a conductive load (grounded animal) touches the wires.ĭepending on the area to be fenced and remoteness of its location, fence energizers may be hooked into a permanent electrical circuit or run by lead-acid or dry cell batteries or a smaller battery kept charged by a solar panel. Although still available, they have declined in popularity. These were responsible for many grass fires when used during dry weather. 'Weed burner' fence chargers were popular for a time and featured a longer-duration output pulse that would destroy weeds touching the fence. Later systems replaced the switch with a solid-state circuit, with an improvement in longevity but no change in pulse width or voltage control. The switch mechanism was prone to failure.

The pulses were wide and the voltage unpredictable, with no-load peaks in excess of 10,000 volts and a rapid drop in voltage as the fence leakage increased. The effects of the shock depend upon the voltage, the energy of the pulse, the degree of contact between the recipient and the fence and ground and the route of the current through the body it can range from barely noticeable to uncomfortable, painful or even lethal.Įarly alternating current (AC) fence chargers used a transformer and a mechanically-driven switch to generate the electrical pulses. An animal touching both the wire and the earth during a pulse will complete an electrical circuit and will conduct the pulse, causing an electric shock.

Another terminal is connected to a metal rod implanted in the earth, called a ground or earth rod. One terminal of the power energizer releases an electrical pulse along a connected bare wire about once per second.

A component called a power energizer converts power into a brief high voltage pulse. This material is more visible than wire, but most often used for temporary fencing.Įlectric fences are designed to complete an electrical circuit when touched by an animal. Detail of an electric fence material made of synthetic cord with metal interwoven through it, attached to a steel fence post with a plastic insulator.

Don t whiz on the electric fence