Educate me on electric fencing

[Marveltone]

The typical mistake most people make with fencing is too little of a charger. Most solar chargers just can't deliver like 120v. My main pasture is high tensile wire with a Patriot P20. Really packs a whollop! The additional pasture has a Red Snap'r solar charger, but it's only used once the animals have been trained to respect the wire in the primary pasture. I like Patriot, because they are even warranted against lightning!

I guess my point is, get the strongest zapper you can afford.

Joe

 

[EddieWalker]

I have power there, so it will be plugged into an outlet. Those seem to have the most power from the labels I've read. I'll also put in three ground rods ten feet apart like they all suggest for dry conditions and the best results. That's easy.

If I go with rope, how long does it last? Will it zap the animals as good as bare aluminum wire? The rope or wire will be attached to my three rail fence about five inches away, so I'm not worried about the animals seeing it. They will see the fence, and that's really what I want them to be afraid of.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[rmk700]

You can just get some colored plastic clothes pins and clip them on the wire so far apart.

Like other said once your horses get zapped once, it's usually lesson learned and you almost don't even need to plug your hotwire fence in any more.

Speaking of hotwire fence, I have a daughter that can grab a hold and not even be phased by the shock. iIf I touch the same wire I flop like a fish and think I'm dying. I hate getting shocked. Lol. Mine is plugged in 110 outlet BTW.

 

[MossRoad]

I had a solar fencer for about 5-10 years on my garden. The groundhog would just wince and force his way under it. Heck, I could grab it if I had shoes on and it would just give me a tingle. Last year I bought an AC unit. No more ground hogs and it blasted me through my shoes. It kills any weeds or grass that leans up against it pretty quick, too.

Here's a link to Zareba fence Co. and how to choose an electric fence charger.
Expert Charger Tips < About Electric Fencing | Zareba

 

[randy41]

the rope will last for many years as will the tape. get you a fence tester.

 

[Larro Darro]

If you wet the area around your ground rods that helps it shock better. How we could always tell when it was too dry, the charger's beeps would show up on the radio.

Larro

 

[Ken45101]

Let's hold on a moment here folks! Eddie is putting this along board fence. Visibility is not an issue, if the horses can't see the board fence, they are blind and aren't going to see ANY electric fence (and yes, we have had a blind horse.)

Any wire will work just fine along the wood fence. The purpose of it is to stop the horses from leaning over to graze "the greener grass on the other side of the fence", or to stop the horses from using the fence as a scratching post.

For pasture fence by itself, I've been happy with either barbless wire, or electrified rope . The rope is easier to install but requires more maintenance work keep the grass and weeds trimmed away. We have bought ours from Electric Fencing, Ear Tags, Sheep Supplies, Clippers and Shearers, Netting, and more! - Premier1Supplies We have been using it for about 8 years now. Normally I put up two strands. I've only had them break it one time, a new, temporary single strand last year. Not sure what happened there. But I've also had them go through 3 wire electrified fence too, one time, many years ago. With enough panic, I guess a horse can go through just about anything unless it's strong enough to slice them up (stay away from the high tensile wire.)

For what Eddie is doing, I would just run galvanized or aluminum wire along the inside of the top board. A 1 or 2 joule charger will be enough to discourage pushing on the board fence.

Ken

 

[EddieWalker]

Thank you, it's starting to make sense to me now. I read last night that aluminum wire will conduct four times as much electricity as the same sized galvanized steel wire. I also read that the rope is guaranteed for five years, while aluminum should last 20 to 40 years.

From what I've seen pricing, all the brands are pretty competitive with each other and you are paying for the amount of power you get. None of the brands jump out as being a lot better then the other either. Nor have I found one to avoid.

Eddie

 

[WM75Guy]

Most horses learn quick and won't challenge a hot wire after a few tries. I am switching all my tape over to rope. The tape breaks down after a couple of years from UV. The rope looks better and lasts longer. If all you plan to run is a single strand around the top wire would work. I have seen two strands run where the lower one is a ground with rods at each end. Over a long run that eliminates some of the loss. Touch both at the same time and you know it.

 

[Ken45101]

Thank you, it's starting to make sense to me now. I read last night that aluminum wire will conduct four times as much electricity as the same sized galvanized steel wire. I also read that the rope is guaranteed for five years, while aluminum should last 20 to 40 years.

There are different types of rope. Some rated 5 years, some rated 10 or 20. I've had both types up 8 years and no problems.

Aluminum is soft, stretches and breaks easy. While it will last a long time in a perfect environment, in reality (falling trees or branches, animals, deer especially), I wouldn't expect it to last long. But with decent rope, a falling tree can force it to the ground but clear the tree and it will snap right back. We tried aluminum one time, it just didn't last. It was the shortest lived of anything.

From what I've seen pricing, all the brands are pretty competitive with each other and you are paying for the amount of power you get. None of the brands jump out as being a lot better then the other either. Nor have I found one to avoid.

Eddie

Assume you are speaking of chargers? As for rope, I feel that sometimes you are paying for the recognized name brand, which may be twice the cost but no better than a lesser known brand. YMMV

Ken