An electric fence energizer converts mains or battery power into high voltage pulses that are sent down an insulated fence line. When an animal touches the fence the pulse completes a circuit and the animal receives a shock.
The shock is physically painful and induces vigilance towards the fence. Studies show that the amount of electricity required to deter specific mammal species is related to their body weight.
Energizers
Electric fence energizers convert mains or battery power into a pulsed current that’s delivered to the insulated fence line. Each pulse lasts a hundred millionths of a second. A person or animal touching the fence receives a brief cramping sensation that will discourage them from coming near it again.
A good energizer will be rated in joules (a measure of energy) to ensure it has enough power to deliver voltage along the entire fence. It will also have a built-in earth leakage monitor to ensure there are no holes in the soil that could drain energy from the fence.
A back-up battery is a must to keep your electric fence working during load shedding. Test your batteries regularly to make sure they’re up to the task. A battery charger is recommended to help maintain a healthy charge in the battery and prolong its life. A quality energizer can run for up to 10 hours on one charge.
Wire
When you buy a fence, count the threads or gauge of the wire – the thicker it is the better. Use a high quality, purpose made wire connector to ensure a good electrical connection to avoid leakage and reduce voltage. Use a voltmeter (voltage tester) regularly to ensure your fence is functioning as designed.
The voltmeter should read between 2 and 12 volts when connected to the live (energized) wires of your electric fence system. Remember that the pulsing nature of the unit only delivers enough voltage to cause discomfort to an animal and not to cause any lasting injury.
Most important of all, a system must have a grounding system. This includes the use of galvanized steel ground rods pounded into the earth in a manner that will ensure they complete an electrical circuit with the pulse once it leaves the energizer, and then with an animal that touches both during that same pulse.
Posts
The strength and rigidity of your electric fence relies on the posts that hold and tension the wire. Without these, the conductor wires cannot remain in contact with each other and will not be able to deliver an effective shock.
Insulators must be affixed to all posts, preventing the fence material from touching any surface that can cause leakage of current or prevent the voltage from reaching the animal being contained. Invest in quality, long-lasting insulators that will not break easily.
The topography of the land must be taken into consideration when determining how many and where the strainer posts should be placed, as well as the spacing between intermediate posts. A free-standing fence line up a steep gradient will require more posts to keep the wire at a consistent height than a fence built across flat ground. Line posts should be a minimum of 25 feet apart on level ground. Choose steel, fiberglass, or wood posts, and consider using short fiberglass stays (also known as stringers) between the corners to keep post spacing even.
Gates
A well-designed electric fence malaysia is a deterrent for both animals and humans. When an animal touches a hot wire it receives a short, but very safe, shock and learns to avoid the fence in future. The system relies on the natural instincts of animals, but may require training and positive reinforcement to ensure that they recognize the boundaries of the fence system.
The energizer pushes electrical energy through the positive fence terminal in very brief pulses and a negative ground terminal absorbs any excess pulse energy and completes the circuit. If the animal or person touches both the positive and negative terminals, a current passes through them and they will experience a sharp shock (shown left).
To maintain performance a good quality energizer is essential as is a high-quality test meter to measure voltage. A good grounding system is also a necessity to prevent shorts. Regularly check the grounding and insulators to make sure they are in good condition. Run insulated cable in plastic pipe under gates to protect the wires and keep them dry.