Cabling an electric fence may seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with electric fences, but the process is quite simple. Electric fences operate on basic electrical principles: they create an open circuit with the fence wires, a fence energizer, and the floor. When an animal touches a “hot” wire, the animal’s body closes the circuit, meaning that the electricity is a full path away from the fence.
Things that you need
- Wire (polydire or 12.5 gauge electrical cable)
- insulators
- Insulated cable (insulated to 20,000 volts)
- wirecutter
- fence charger
- Three 6-foot copper grounding rods
- rod brackets
Instructions
- Determine how many wires your fence needs. Choose the number of cables for your electric fence based on the type of animal you want to contain. For example, cattle typically require fewer wires than goats. An excellent all-around electric fence uses 5 to 7 cables that are 6 to 8 inches apart.
- Install insulators and wires. Measure and mark your posts to view the wire positions. Your bottom wire should be about 6 inches off the ground. Install insulators at the corner and line posts. Thread the bottom wire through its insulators, making sure that the cable is tight before you tie it to the last corner post. Repeat this process for each wire.
- Install an insulated wire on the corner of the post closest to the energizer. The jumper wire connects all the wires you want to turn on, so they do not touch the grounded wires. Cut off a short piece of insulated cable. Isolate the insulation from the ends and wrap one end around the bottom wire; wrap the other end around the third wire. Repeat this process for every different cable and connect the third wire to the fifth wire and the fifth wire to the seventh wire.
- Install the lead-out wire. The lead-out wire connects the cables you want to power to the fence picker itself. Measure a section of the insulated cable that goes from the energizer to the jumper wires. Isolate the insulation from the ends and wrap one end around the exposed end of the jumper wire on the bottom live wire. Make sure your energizer is not plugged in, and cover the other end of the outlet cable into the positive fence connection of your Energizer.
- Install your grounding system. The earthing system determines the success of your electric fence machine. Therefore, you must complete this step correctly. The grounding system required for each energizer varies. Therefore, consult the manual of your energizer for specific installation information to maximize the safety of your electric fence system. As a rule, you should insert 3-foot copper rods into the ground at 10-foot intervals. Measure enough insulated wires to get from the fence to all three grounding poles.
- Peel off a small portion of the insulation and use a clamp to connect the end of the cable to the grounding rod furthest away from the energizer. Repeat this process for each grounding rod, and compare the other end of the insulated wire to the negative ground terminal on your fence charger. Check all components of your electric fence energizer to make sure they are installed correctly, and then connect your electric fence energizer.
Top
- If in doubt, always follow the instructions in your Fence Energizer Manual.
Warning
- Ensure that the earthing bars are at least 50 meters away from supply lines, telephone cables, and water pipes to prevent stray radiation.
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