How to Install an Electric Fence Safely?

Answer 1

Installing an electric fence is a dangerous job that has to deal with high voltages that can shock a person. Using caution while installing an electric fence by oneself, should be used, and directions should be read thoroughly. There are grounding instructions that should be met before even thinking about installing an electric fence, and one amp or 250 volt fuses should only be used when installing the power fence controller. A DC fencer should never be connected to an AC power supply. When a person grounds themselves before installing the electric fence controller, they should create a path of low resistance for an electrical current. The reason for this is if the electric fence controller has a malfunction, being grounded will reduce an electrical shock due to the malfunction. The operator controllers are AC operated controllers with a two blade attachment plug that should only be connected to a 120 volt circuit. The AC controller will need to be plugged into an outlet that has been inspected and found to be an appropriate outlet up to the proper codes.

First Step for installing an electric fence:

The fence controller should be installed undercover to protect the electrical connections from any type of wetness. The lead out wire from the fence controller will carry the voltage from the hot part of the fence terminal into the fence. The jumper wire will carry a voltage from the electrical fence from one fence into the other, such as multiple wire fence, buried wire, gates, and corners. An insulated cable that is meant for an electric fence should only be used. This consists of a ten to fourteen inch gauge wire insulated to twenty thousand volts. Common electric wire should never be used since it is only rated for six hundred volts.

Second Step:

A six foot galvanized copper ground rod should be installed within twenty feet of the controller. A ground rod clamp should be used to attach the insulated ground wire to the ground rod. The clamp must be firmly settled into the rod and ground wire. The ground wire should be a ten to fourteen foot ground wire insulated from 600 to 20,000 volts. Three ground rods should be installed six feet into the ground and spaced ten feet apart. The ground rods should be installed where there is always moisture, for best results.

Third Step:

Ground rods should not be installed fifty feet from a buried telephone line, water line, or a utility ground rod because these could pick up a stray voltage. If a person hears the pulses of their electric fence in their phone, radios, or televisions, then they have installed their ground rods too close to utility line. Livestock can be shocked if a ground rod is installed to close to a water line where they drink water.

Fourth Step:

Use correct wood posts that are designed for electric fences that can be used without insulators. Good connections should be made with wire clamps, correct splices, and wire connectors. High quality type of insulators should also be used, such as high quality insulator wrap, gate handles, and ultra violet inhibitors. Wrapping wires loosely will cause corrosion where the splices meet and will reduce the power from the fence. Wood posts are always better to use, but if a person is using a metal fence post, they should ensure that the fence wires are not touching the post.