Electric Fence Help

[Domush]

I should have verified the pulse width prior to the original calculation.

Doing some reading on modern electric fences, the pulse width is 10 microseconds, not 3 milliseconds, which makes far more sense, and also explains the high amperage rates, as the shorter time span will increase the effective discharge rate.

For comparison, 10 milliseconds is the pulse width of a modern defibrillator (not something you want as a 'warning' device). Which means a fence shock is one thousandth as long.

One of those small error, big difference things which tend to be the difference between cows grazing where they should and a widow having a Darwin plaque on the wall and some pre-cooked meat.

Joshua, you can put that chicken down, now.

 

[texasjohn]

From this Gallager site I get the following info and stand corrected....it's MICROSECOND...my bad, but it's 3, not 10 for the Gallager, and I think we've agreed it WON'T kill cattle/people:

An animal or vegetation touching the fence will close the system causing the power to flow. The resistance of an animal or human body is 500 Ohm maximum. Energy loss can be caused by poor insulators, shorts and vegetation growth on the wires resulting in a drop in voltage. The heavier the vegetation the more powerful the energizer should be in order to scorch through. In extreme cases always use the MBX-series for maximum results.

Absolutely safe
The brief electrical current or shock emitted by an energzer lasts only 0.0003 of a second. Pulses are spaced 1.2 seconds. An electric fence is completely safe, in fact the system is far more animal-friendly than barbed wire that can cause injury if animals come into contact with it.

 

[Morelia]

Thanks for the reply Texasjohn,

I think I have it all under control now. Don't have much voltage drop at all. I have a speedrite charger which is the same type as the Gallagher. It came with the property. These gallagher style chargers are pretty much the only ones we have available here. Mine is rated to 120km(80 miles?). At the moment I have run out 4km worth of electric fence. I should have plenty of power to fence the 300 acres I have.

I will definitely start placing cutoffs to isolate certain parts of the fence. Thanks for the tip.

Everyone else that replied to the thread thanks. Learn't alot about electrics.

cheers

J

 

[texasjohn]

You likely are already aware of this, but I've found this twister tool very handy.

The 8 knot or reef knot described in this manual is used to join two wires.

Best wishes...you are almost there, just need to attach all smooth wires.:dance1::drink:

 

[texasjohn]

SMARTFIX arrived today.

WOW.....after just a few minutes of experimenting with it I am convinced it will cut my fence problem finding time to less than 10% of what it has been.

Get within a foot or so of the fence, the instrument turns on and indicates a hot fence detected.
Only need to put one end of the tester on the fence. No need to put probe in ground or touch two ends of a tester to two wires.
My favorite readout is the Amps display showing direction of current flow, amps flowing and K volts on the fence.
And, it claims to be water resistant.
Obviously, work on fence finding problem while it is active. Fix one problem and know immediately if all problems are fixed or if another remains. No back and forth turning the fence on and off and retesting.

If you do electric fences, this is the most important tool you can have.

Should have bought one much earlier

 

[joshuabardwell]

If you do electric fences, this is the most important tool you can have. Should have bought one much earlier

I heartily concur. If you have any significant amount of electric fence to maintain, a tester that shows kV, amps, and direction of current flow is a must-have. Yes, I know that you can get by with cutout switches and so forth, but the time you will save with a tester will pay for itself in no time.

 

[MotorSeven]

TJ, where did you find a SmartFix for $77 shipped?

 

[texasjohn]

It was on ebay, a "buy it now" price...just looked, don't see it anymore...said they had 1 left when I ordered ...guess I got the last one.....shipping box out in shop...will see if it left with trash ...if not, will post who shipped it...

 

[Redneck in training]

You are missing two zeros. 3 microseconds = 0.000003 sec. 0.0003=0.3 milisecond.

I also have Gallagher low impedance charger on my fence. If I can't find the leak or short right away I wait till dark and then walk the fence. Quite often the the leak is visible as blue light. I got hit once and have to tell you it was very unpleasant. Almost bit my tongue off for some reason.

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Went on a bus trip once with a group looking at farms. After a long drive we arrived late after dark in the guy's barnyard. Immediately the men in the group ran over to pee near a board fence we could see in the darkness away from everybody. The next day in the daylight we could see an offset wire running down the length of it and the most sobering look on our faces.