how does electric fence tape work

Every electric fence system consists of three main components: an energizer, an earthing system, and a fence line. From this source, the power is fed into the energizer, and it then converts electricity into a high voltage pulse. The other person unwinds the tape and puts it onto standards, testing the power at each standard. It depends on the voltage and the quality of conductors. The electric fence option is also more versatile; you can take it down quickly and re-install somewhere else. First of all, conditioning has been a staple of animal training forever. GrantK;421464 wrote: Or you buy an energiser with a Remote Control/Voltage & Current meter such as some Stafix models have: Crops Review is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. What is more, harsh weather conditions can even break the wire and damage the construction, so it becomes completely ineffective. A fences shocking power is only as strong as its ground system can receive. Around 10 15 cm (4 6) of the rods should stick out of the soil. The animal touching the wire gets shocked because the electric current finds the shortest path to close the circuit through the animal. Different ground conditions can affect how effective the ground system is. If you will ever have the need to contain or keep out animals, you really should consider an electric fence. Massey Ferguson vs. John Deere 2022 Comparison! Contrast the shock of an electric fence with the physical and lasting harm caused by barbed wire or similar stock fencing and the choice is easy. Poly wires are not as strong as steel wires, so they are recommendable for temporary electric fencing. Pasture management refers to practices for cultivating and conserving native grass and plants to improve forage production and ensure ecological health. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. A wire connects the positive terminal of the energizer to the charged electric fence wire. Should I find a short in the tape, do I just need to cut out the damaged tape and tie a fresh piece to it? An electrical circuit is a closed loop of conductive material, usually copper wire, through which an electrical current flows. There are, of course, a lot of details and tricks that make it work, so if you want to learn all about it, keep reading because we are breaking it up for you in this informativeElectric Fence 101 article. It has a source of power, a conductor, and a grounding system. Even just keeping a small electric fencing kit that can be set up in a pinch is a really good idea on a homestead of any size. However StockGuard electric fencing tape also: Image- StockGuard Traditional Brown Tape, 2022 StockGuard Pty LtdABN 87 116 981 855 But what are the reasons why many people still choose traditional fences? Cattle are usually quick learners, when shocked once with a 5000-volt fence, they rarely touch it again. It will break. we had a horse being grazed here that was leaning on the fences(proper fences) so I suggested the owner take her cover off for a couple of days & nights, which worked then the horse was only leaning & pushing on the gates which I fixed in 5mins with my portable fence unit. If you stand on the ground and touch the electrified fence, you will get shocked. www.gallagher.co.nz/fence_tool.aspx?mktprodid=3297, katieb;421554 wrote: we have one of these running the fences here Home Farm Tools and Equipment Fence Electric Fence 101: How Does an Electric Fence Work Detailed Explanation and Useful Tips. Dogs learn really quickly and I dont think mine have been shocked since day one. Tie proper knots to reconnect. Do not turn cattle out into a strange pasture or with cattle that have not been trained to electric fence. The tape is made of woven strands of polyethylene, which is not a conductive material. Still, we cannot say that the shock is entirely painless. We have lots of hills in the way of our unit. A volt is a derived unit of electric potential, or to be more precise, a potential difference between two ends of conductive wire. When a grounded animal contacts the fence, the electrical circuit is complete and the animal receives a short duration shock. On the other hand, dry soil is less favorable to conducting electricity, so exactly the same fencing system will result in a milder shock. To ensure your grounding system is correctly installed, you can check it with your digital voltmeter. Dont fall into the trap of thinking an electric fence is cruel, the alternatives are much worse. Since the electricity is discharged in less than a second, the sensation is very short. The weave of the tape helps prevent short-circuits of the fencing system. Second of all, wild animals, such as bears, can be very determined to break or jump over the conventional fences. They are not touching the ground, so the circuit cannot be closed. Do not leave your fence tight over winter; the wire will contract and pull your braces out of line. The shock that an electric fence produces is not entirely painless, but it wont cause any physical damage, that is for sure. The rods and clamps are connected back to the energizer using galvanized wire. Horse Fencing Hunter Valley Well their dog got out a week later and was hit by a car. The current flows through the point of contact and down through the animals feet into the earth. This will allow for ensuring enough voltage is flowing through the wire to deal with brush and wet grass taking some of the power and for future expansions. This is done by grounding out the fence with a metal bar and than checking the ground rods with a volt meter. The current sent from the energizer flows along the wire. Does it need the power unit to be within line of sight? Therefore, electric fencing does require maintenance, given that dry soil, snow, or even vegetation can impact its efficiency. With conventional fences, there is far more material needed and more physical work included in building a fence that is less effective than the electric system. This will help you ensure the proper voltage is being delivered on a regular basis and if you have a fault finder it will speed up the repair process by indicating the direction of the problem. Current returns to the energizer up through the ground spike and into the negative terminal of the energizer. This happens very quickly and the animal receives a short duration shock. I don't use a wire unless there is also a tape on the fence, because the animals just don't see it, especially when they are playing chase around the paddock. If you are already using solar water pumping system in a remote area or elsewhere you can hook your energizer up to the existing structure. Most fence energizers send high-voltage pulses somewhere between 2000-6000 volts down the conductor every one or two seconds. I am not going to lie, an electric shock does hurt. The same goes for electric current. Voltage represents the potential difference in charge between two points in an electric field. Joule is essentially a derived unit of energy, calculated by the following formula1 J = 1 kg.m2/s2. muri;421497 wrote: Grant, this is what my fencer told me, and as well as that, even the tape against the standards in a strong wind will weaken the wires in the tape as it is rubbing against the standards. If it does read more than that, something is off with your grounding system. All Rights Reserved. To get a nice taught tape i do tend to wrap it round and round the pegs, is this ok or am I reducing the effectiveness of the tape? However, thin steel wire can be almost invisible to animals and cause them to run into the fire and hurt themselves. There are three components to every electric fence. It is used for permanent and mobile fences, and its very strong and durable. Im reminded of an acquaintance whos dog kept getting through gaps in their fencing. What You Must Know! Every spring it is important to walk the fence line to ensure the insulators are still in place and then wire is tight. If you place a pencil vertically on the panel at this time of the day there should be no shadow. Which One Will Win? Do not use low quality/power robbing supplies - you WILL replace it ALL over time and will not be HAPPY. On the other hand, barbed wire can cause serious injuries. Once the fence is installed you should check to see if the fence is properly grounded. Why? Basically, if an animal gets near the fence and touches it, it will be mildly shocked. I know which option I would prefer. All electric fences follow the basic pattern described above. The most common problem with electric fence is low voltage. So, if your ground is not a good conductor, you can do the so-called positive-negative system. Permanent systems will usually be hard wired but temporary/relocatable systems like mine use little alligator clip wires. An electric fence energizer converts mains or battery power into a high voltage pulse that it releases through an electrified wire roughly once per second. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. www.stafix.com/ Rural areas with pastures, farms, and ranches are predominantly enclosed with electric fences. Therefore, its hard to determine one voltage for all cattle fences. The animal feels the initial shock and learns not to let the same thing happen again. Finally, you need to put a lot of thought into figuring out where to set up your electric fence. They are either made of copper or galvanized metal. Unless an animal touches the wire then that is all that happens. There should be no volt reading on the meter with a properly grounded fence. And then, the tape is laced with conductive metal strands that transmit the high voltage pulse. Grant, this is what my fencer told me, and as well as that, even the tape against the standards in a strong wind will weaken the wires in the tape as it is rubbing against the standards 1995. Typically stock will test the fence and after an initial shock or two they will stay away (or respect the fence). As well you can check for debris such as fallen trees which will decrease the power running through the wire. Electric tapes wear out and the fine wires in them come apart, especially where they have been shorting. Building a good electric fence is like anything else, you get out what you put in. does an electric fence work? Shock happens when the electric fence circuit is closed. The electric shock is not strong enough to hurt the animal, but its memorable, so they learn to stay away from it. Although electric fence systems have been around for a while, there are still people who find them cruel or hurtful to animals. High Tensile Fence Systems. This is particularly useful during times of drought when there are pasture shortages and producers are looking for additional grazing options. How many volts is an electric fence for cattle? Other kinds of electric fences are more likely to short-circuit due to the lightness of the wire within the braid, limiting their use in controlling livestock. Dare Products Inc. Larry FischerLivestock Technician, Central RegionManitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Melinda GermanCow/Calf SpecialistManitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Everything You Need to Know About Electric Fencing, Comptrollership Support Services Division, Production and Economic Development Division, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, For Researchers and Industry Service Providers, Burning of Crop Residue and Non-Crop Herbage Regulation, Impact of the Manitoba Crop Residue Burning Program, Estimating Program Uptake and the Nature of Costs-Benefits in Agro-Manitoba, Study aims to provide new tools for farmers dealing with excess moisture, Intergrated Watershed Management Planning, Basic Good Manufacturing Practices Program, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Federal Acts and Regulations Dealing with Food, Manitoba Acts and Regulations Dealing with Food, Provincial Food Processing and Distribution, Food and Value Added Agriculture Statistics, Manitoba Weather Network Existing Stations, Commercial Community Kitchens For Rent Listing, Install fencer where rodents can not chew on the wires (preferably in a building). Most people use household cables for their electrical fencing. And that is basically how electric fences work. Porcelain or plastic strainers are acceptable. Approximately once per second the fence energizer releases a high voltage pulse along the electric wire (out through the positive terminal). The ground system or earthing is an essential element in electric fence systems. Sheep on the other hand need a more powerful fence and will test it more often. A basic rule of thumb is you need no less than 2000 volts in the summer and 4000 volts in the winter due to thicker hair coats on the livestock and you usually do not get a proper ground because of snow. Once shocked, animals learn to stay away from the fence line; therefore, they will not repeat the same behavior and wont be frequently shocked. Case IH vs. Massey Ferguson: A Powerful Battle of 2022, Case IH vs. Kubota: Who Is the Ultimate Winner? Poly rope is less visible fencing than poly tape but still obvious enough for cattle and horse fences. Therefore, the animal is not frequently shocked. 2022 Comparison, Who Will Take the Crown: Case IH vs. New Holland 2022 Comparison, Mahindra vs. Kioti: Whos the Best? After about three to four days all animals should know to avoid the fence. his option provides producers with flexibility in rotational grazing systems to divide up paddocks and feed options during periods of drought. In order to avoid getting shocked, your legs would need to be in the air, not touching the ground. However, steel wires are only recommendable for slow-moving animals and not horses because they are almost invisible. Traditionally one part of the energizer connects to an electric fence, the other connects to a rod that is earthed into the ground. And then, when the animal touches both the positive and the negative wire, it closes the circuit and gets shocked, regardless of the ground conductivity. Do not run electric wire in conjunction with barb wire. Do not tighten high tensile wire if it has been kinked. In the winter, if the energizer is not in use, it should be stored in a clean, dry place. It is, in fact, a simple electric circuit that conditions animals not to pass the ground limited by the fence. All equipment should be purchased from a reputable company, thus ensuring good materials that will be backed by your supplier. On hilly ground spacing should not exceed 30-40 feet. The electric fence is a psychological barrier, it relies on an animals respect for the fence. GrantK;421484 wrote: I doubt that it will damage the wires as such, but it does tend to cause tangles unless you unwind the tape very carefully, and keep the twists out of it. *Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. This includes all seasons of grazing or pasture confinement such as spring, summer, fall and winter. It seems a bit light as a barrier for horses which is why i always use the thicker tape with them. Use galvanized materials they do not rust. There are many options to build braces; most critical is to have corner posts (4 to 5") at least at 3.5 feet in the ground. Equipment recommended for this type of fencing includes a reel with wire (temporary wore should have at least 6 wires in the tape to carry enough power) and step-in posts. Its design is similar to poly tape; it consists of a rope that is not conductive, laced with metal strands to transmit the electric pulses. They provide the electric current that flows through the wire or netting. An electric fence works on the principle of a basic electric circuit. A second wire connects the negative terminal of the energizer to the grounding spike. Conditioning has been used as a form of animal training since the dawn of time. Most people use them for rotational strip grazing or internal fencing, but they are not strong enough to contain fast-moving animals. A running animal will break the wire within 1.2 seconds, so won't get a shock. Even when they are, the shock lasts less than a second and doesnt hurt the animal. Post spacing can be up to 60-75 feet with high tensile wire on level ground. Most farmers define an electric fence system as a psychological barrier that is widely used for keeping livestock within certain limits and other animals out of it. Electric fencing is both cheaper and easier to set up than traditional fencing. The high visibility of the tape due to its width means horses are more likely to see the electric fence- making it a more effective deterrent. Can you touch an electric fence and not get shocked? They can be powered by mains, battery or even solar. On the other hand, barbed wire can cause the same or even worse injuries, so I still think that electric wire is a less dangerous option. It can either be an AC electric outlet or a battery, or a solar panel. Use 12 gauge galvanized high tensile wire. Electric Fence 101: How Does an Electric Fence Work Detailed Explanation and Useful Tips. They require minimal maintenance and have a long life, so they are an excellent choice for permanent electric fencing. These wires are more visible, lightweight, and easily constructed, but they dont last long. Most people use a fence energizer that delivers at least 2000-3000 volts, but if you have bulls or other aggressive animals, you should opt for a stronger energizer. In that way, the electric fence circuit would not be closed, and you wouldnt feel the shock. Another reason is animal cruelty, of course. Any conductive spike driven into the earth will work as a ground, I use the star picket that I mount my energizer on. The charger itself costs somewhere between $50 and $300, and you need additional electric fencing supplies; according toPastureManagement.com, labor and materials for a standard two-wire permanent electric fence cost around$0.20a foot($1,056a mile). There are a number of advantages that electric fences have over more conventional fencing. How long this takes depends on the animal. Horse Fencing Southern Highlands, Home | Sitemap | Privacy | ContactDesign by iEnhance. Any repair issues can be addressed simply and easily. An electric fence is a suitable (often the best) solution for so many animal fencing needs. What it doesnt do is cause actual physical harm. Copper is more conductive, but it can rust, and then it loses its conductive power. How to Ensure the Electric Fence Works Properly? The energizer is mounted somewhere safe. If you use the proper equipment and maintain the fence the result will be a permanent structure just like the barb wire you use to use. Fence systems cannot cause any physical injuries or burns, so the severity of the shock is really low. The red one is hot, which goes up to the fence, and the green one is the ground one that goes down to the ground rods. Whether they be animals you are trying to keep in or out, domestic or wild, an electric fence will generally be the cheapest and most effective solution. You will need a minimum of 3, 6-8 foot long, rods placed at least 2 meters away from the energizer and 3 meters a part from each other. For an electric circuit to work, it has to be closed. It's a brilliant idea, long overdue and saves so much time around our place when there is a short on the electric fence, or a piece of tape that isn't working.

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