I have experienced issues with animals getting into crops for years. I have contemplated using different types of fencing, but need a simple solution that can be taken down or removed, as well as put back up quickly, easily, and effectively. An electric fence might just be the answer.
An electric fence is a portable fencing option that uses an electrical pulse through the fencing fabric and deters animals from crossing the fence. An electric fence is a good option for temporary fencing of livestock, or keeping animals out of areas.
Electric fences have been used for years on ranches, homesteads and gardens with great success. Let’s look into some basic electric fences and see if it they really are the answer for those who may be seeking a solution to keep large and small animals from entering or destroying pastures, fields, gardens, orchards, and crops.
What is an electric fence?
An electric fence is a relatively simple concept. It is a fence that creates a boundary with an electric current that passes through it. The electric current causes a minor shock upon anything that makes contact with it.
Electric fences can be a very effective deterrent for large (cattle, horses, sheep, or goats) or small animals (raccoons, skunks, rabbits etc.) and have been used for years in a variety of methods. Because of the use of electric current however, caution must be used in both installation and use. Injury and death may occur depending on what kind of fence, and how powerful of an electric current is used.
How does an electric fence work?
An agricultural electric fence is typically composed of an electrical conducting wire or wires alone, or wires interwoven with synthetic cord and connected to a plastic, or nonconductive insulator. A high voltage electric pulse is passed through the wire by an energizer at about 1 second intervals.
Most electric fences utilize grounding rods pounded into the ground at various intervals (for larger pastures typically suggested every 18 feet) along the fence line. The grounding rods are hooked back to the energizer with an insulated wire. When an animal or person touches the fence, they are standing on the ground. With the charged wire, the energizer, grounding rod, and wire in place, when the animal or person touches the electrified wire, they complete the circuit and experience an electric shocked.
Though electric fences have historically been designed to bring lethal force, (see 1905 Russo-Japanese War or 1915 German “Wire of Death”), beginning in the 1930’s, electric fences have been more commonly used in the United States and New Zealand for agricultural use in non-lethal forces. Since the invention of the electric fence at the turn of the 20th century, public safety concerns, legislation, and better materials have improved both the safety and effectiveness of electric fences worldwide.
The components of an electric fence include:
- Electrical wire, wires, ribbon, or netting
- Fence posts, flexible plastic posts are recommended
- Insulators for wires if metal fence posts are used
- Energizer to put current through the wires
- Grounding rods
- Insulated grounding wire
- Grounding wire clamps
- Cutoff switches
Electrical fence wires are usually made out of galvanized wire. The wire is sometimes woven into a synthetic or poly tape, creating a wider contact surface. Electrical fence netting has galvanized wires woven into the fence fabric.
Visibility of these wires is key to the success of the electric fence. If the animal or person sees the wire and has been shocked before, they are more apt to avoid it when they see it in the future.
Electrical fence wires can be arranged in one single strand, multiple strands, or netting. If the need is to keep larger animals out of an area, then perhaps one wire 3-4 feet off the ground would be fine. If you need to keep sheep corralled then perhaps a 2-wire set up will be more effective, one about 4-6 inches off the ground and one more 12 inches up from that wire. You can tailor your fence based upon your needs. Netting is extremely useful when trying to keep raccoons, skunks, or even rabbits and chickens out of an area, like a garden or corn patch.
The electric wire is suspended with fence posts that don’t conduct electricity. You can use metal or wood posts, but you will need to use insulators to keep the current from getting grounded.
The insulators work well but can be fragile and break often. Many people will use plastic fence posts or plastic-wood composite fence posts to bypass the insulator issue. It’s recommended to use highly flexible fence posts when using an electric fence where there is a concern about harming wildlife.
An energizer is the power source of the electric fence. The energizer is designed to emit a high voltage electric jolt about every second. Energizers have been designed to be plugged into an outlet, use a battery, or some are even solar powered.
Grounding rods are used to create the circuit from the wires to the ground. Grounding posts are made of steel or copper. Copper grounding rods are a better conductor, however they are more expensive and corrode faster. Galvanized steel is what is generally used for grounding rods. These rods are driven into the ground typically at 18 foot intervals.
Grounding wire is an insulated wire that is attached to the grounding rods. The wire is also attached to the energizer. This grounding wire is attached with grounding wire clamps. They need to be attached tightly to create a good connection.
Cutoff switches are switches that can be installed at strategic locations that allow a fence owner to discontinue the fence current without needing to disconnect the energizer. For example, cutoff switches are a good choice on either side of a gate. These switches make getting into and out of the area a bit easier.
Different types and uses of electric fences.
There are a few different types of electrical fences. Some have been used as a lethal defense in the past. During World War II they were used in concentration camps and prison camps. These fences had a constant lethal electric charge in the wire intended to kill anything that touched it.
Another type of electric fence is called a stun-lethal electric fence. These fences have been and are still being used to guard prisons and correctional facilities. These fences have been designed to stun on the first shock then be lethal on the second shock.
The kind of electric fence used in agriculture is a non-lethal fence. You can turn the fence down to be a deterrent, but not a killing shock. This is the type that most people use for agricultural applications. Farmers, gardeners, and folks who want to protect their crops, or to coral their animals to a particular area can use an electric fence with great effect.
Another electric fence that is being used is a buried electric fence. This is where the wire is buried around an area and a collar is put on a pet or livestock. When the pet goes across the wire it receives a shock from its collar. This is generally used as a method of keeping animals inside a yard or particular area.
The pros of electric fences
Electric fences have a lot of positive benefits. These fences are portable and can fence off an area simply and easily. They can be effective and non-lethal. They have worked in applications where nothing else has. For instance, keeping racoons out of a corn patch.
Electric fences are relatively simple to construct and easily maintained. Once an animal has experienced a shock from the fence, they often will avoid it even if it is turned off.
The cons of electric fences
There are some downfalls to an electric fence. The electric field from the fence can interfere with telephone, radio, TV, and dial up signals. Some people have their pacemakers affected by the electrical field as well.
The electric fences may not work quite as effectively in dryer areas. Moister soil is a better conductor of electricity. If you are in a dryer climate you may need to modify your system with more grounding rods.
The electrical circuit may be compromised by pipes or wires in the ground near the grounding rods. For instance, water pipes, gas pipes, electric power wires, cable tv wire, etc.
Animals with thick fur or hair can push through a fence without feeling a shock. Some animals learn the pulse pattern and can time it to break through the fence. Some animals have learned to push another animal into the fence and use them as a buffer to break the fence.
Diagnostics of a fence that isn’t working can be frustrating and difficult to determine.
Electric fences can be detrimental to animals, particularly wildlife. Some electrified barbed wire fences have been lethal to animals.
How to put up an electric fence
Installation of an electric fence is relatively simple. You first need to determine how long your fence needs to be. The longer the fence, the bigger the energizer needs to be.
Decide on what kind of wire you need. One wire to keep a large animal like horses in or out? A two or three wire stack to keep a smaller animal such as sheep under control? Netting to keep raccoons or chickens out?
You also need to consider where to locate the bottom of the fence. The more your fence wire touches grass or weeds and bushes the less effective it will be. The fence wire will need to be off the ground to stop it from grounding out and loosing voltage.
Once you decide what kind of fence you want then you pound the fence posts in. Space the fence posts about a rod length or 16.5 feet. The fence posts don’t need to be as frequent as barbed wire fence posts.
Stretch the fence wire or netting around the desired area and hook it to the fence posts. Plastic or plastic-wood composite flexible fence posts are recommended. These posts will be effective without insulator installed. They will also help to avoid problems with wildlife.
If you are using metal fence posts, make sure you use good insulators. This will keep the current from being directed down the metal post.
Pound in the grounding rods. The grounding rods need to be spaced 80-100 feet apart. This may need to increase if you have dry soil and you need to have better conductivity.
Locate and put the energizer where it needs to be. If it’s a solar charged one, then put it where it can receive sunlight. If you need to plug your energizer in, locate it close to an outlet.
Install any cutoff switches that you have in mind. For a smaller area you may not need any cutoff switches. You can simply turn off the energizer. However, if you have a long fence and are using a gate you may find cutoff switches to be helpful.
Attach the insulated grounding rod wire to the grounding rods with the grounding rod clamps. Make sure these clamps are tight and secure. This will create a better tighter circuit. Then attach the insulated wire to the energizer terminal.
Attach the electric fence wire to the energizer terminal. Make sure your energizer is large enough to service the area you have fenced. It’s generally 1 joule of output per mile of fence.
You should inspect your whole fence and double check to see if it’s hooked up correctly. If is looks good, apply the current and see if everything is ok. You should be able to see a light on the energizer that flashes in conjunction with the electric pulse.
Is an electric fence for your farm, garden or homestead?
An electric fence is a great tool. It can keep your crop safe. It can help manage livestock and keep them in a prescribed area allowing it to fairly portable.
An electric fence is a deterrent to many pests including raccoons, deer and foxes. It surely can be an answer to a lot of issues to the farmer, homesteader, and backyarder.
Some smaller gardens or backyards may not want to use an electric fence due to pipes in the ground. The interference with modem, radio, telephone, and TV signals can be problematic as well. a little due diligence is needed here.
With a little analysis you can determine if an electric fence is something to use for your plot. It is a great tool of you have livestock or are trying to protect a crop or garden from animals.