Electric fencing for dummies

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monkeynut

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The dummy being me!

In all my years involved with horses I've never had to deal with electric fencing but now I have my own stables and grazing I need to section some off.

I have the tape and posts... And well, that's it. So I'm looking at batteries... I only need to do about 100yds at a time with two strands (one side of field to the other)

Would something like this be ok?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/360267349497

Or this solar powered one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/131552836008



So I get the battery and what else do I need? Please explain in simple terms!
 
The first link is for just a battery so you will need to buy an energiser. Price will depend on how much punch you want and how much fencing you need to electrify.

I just use car batteries that I get from my local scrap yard for a tenner each. They don't last as long as leisure batteries before you need to recharge them but I have three so one on fencing, one charged and one waiting to be charged.

You will also need a battery charger!

The second link is for a solar powered fencing kit, which includes the energiser unit. I can't comment on these as I've never used a solar one. This model only has an output of 0.1 joules....the one I have for example is 1.2 joules so it will depend on if your horse respects fencing as to whether this is strong enough!
 
What Bertoli said about Joules is dead right - 0.1joules would only really be suitable for a chicken run. As a rule of thumb 1 joule is enough if they are naked, but if they are wearing rugs you might be better with 3 joules. Go as high as you can as if you go low and they learn it doesn't hurt, you're only going to have to get a more powerful one anyway. I have a 6 joule one and it is amazing!

Also consider the number of earths - an extra on halfway along with make it work better, but with only 100m or so it shouldn't matter so much.
 
Thanks- I definitely need it strong enough to give a bloody good shock as my mare will walk through any temp fencing otherwise.

So I need a battery plus an energiser...

I don't have electric close to where I want to put it if that makes a difference... It's so confusing, someone should design a dummies guide!
 
As a quick set-up from scratch I've been really impressed with my new wolseley midge energiser - http://www.ie.screwfix.com/wolseley-bx120-electric-fence-energiser-battery-operated.html, though you'd probably need a different supplier for UK. I got it as a needed a spare super fast after my main one had to go back for repair (luckily under warantee) and the cheap spare broke after 1 week. OH was ordering from screwfix and stuck one on the order as sick of me complaining!

It has everything you need built in (except the battery), including the earth stake, seems to pack quite a punch as its kept my greedy cob in, and has a warning light if the fence is earthing. Just connect an old car battery and your done.

Last time I needed a new battery for the fence I bought a new battery for the car and used the old one.
 
laura_nash said:
As a quick set-up from scratch I've been really impressed with my new wolseley midge energiser - http://www.ie.screwfix.com/wolseley-bx120-electric-fence-energiser-battery-operated.html, though you'd probably need a different supplier for UK. I got it as a needed a spare super fast after my main one had to go back for repair (luckily under warantee) and the cheap spare broke after 1 week. OH was ordering from screwfix and stuck one on the order as sick of me complaining!

It has everything you need built in (except the battery), including the earth stake, seems to pack quite a punch as its kept my greedy cob in, and has a warning light if the fence is earthing. Just connect an old car battery and your done.

Last time I needed a new battery for the fence I bought a new battery for the car and used the old one.
Click to expand...

Even the most expensive of those is only 0.35-0.6 joules - your cob might be greedy but clearly respects the fence ;)

This is what I use and it would stop a rhino ;)

http://www.agrisellex.co.uk/electric-fence-energiser-copel-m7.html
 
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I can recommend Hotline energisers: my uncle started using them when he was farming some 40 years ago, and they always kept his cows back!!

They're good, durable, long-lasting little beauties; and I've always found their after sales service second to none, handy for me as their office is here in the Westcountry :)

Highly recommend.
 
The Rutland tips and advice page is pretty useful.

http://www.rutland-electric-fencing.co.uk/PageSelectingAnEnergiser.aspx

Remember that if any vegetation touches the string or tape, it will short out. Always get an energiser that is plenty powerful enough, rather than one that is just about up to the job.

I use Gallagher's mains energisers, which are good but pricey.
 
This link may help you understand electric fencing. Initially you may think it's bound to be complicated but it really isn't'

http://www.electricfence-online.co....ce-advice-faqs/guide-to-electric-fencing.html

You say you only need 100 yards of fencing but you will need more than one strand of tape so each strand will add another 100 yards. I would always go for a 12v energizer powered by a leisure battery, you can recharge these batteries which obviously works out cheaper than having to buy 9v batteries as they wear out.

I use a Hotline Falcon which will power all the fence you'll ever need. There are plenty of new companies come to the market that offer very reasonable prices for energisers so shop around :)
 
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Thanks for the replies so far- I have sorted a good energiser and battery, now I have more questions!

I want to split my field in half, how do I create a gateway at the point it meets the post and rail? I know I need gate handle and fixings to attach it to the actual post, but when I open the gateway, how do I stop all the fencing then going slack and touching the floor? Do I need to put a semi permanent post the other side of the gate (the 'hinge' side)?
I really have no idea!!
 
At a gateway you can always push 2 plastic posts into the ground & then loop the electric tape around them a couple of times to secure the tension on the tape along the fence. Then when you unhook the gate the fence should stay quite tight. Unless you have a semi permanent wooden post knocked into the ground at the gateway you'll always get some loss of tension but does it really matter? I take my horses up to the paddocks with the power off & when I'm done the gate is put across & I turn the power on. Then I turn the power on. You don't have to have the power on while your putting the horse into the paddock. You can turn it on once they're in, that's what I do. My horses respect the electric tape & don't touch it but I always put it on just i case.
 
I use proper corner posts at all corners and both sides of the gate, that way there's no loss in tension. I hate messy looking electric fencing!
 
Yes, corner posts or two posts at angles will give you tension for the gate. Remember you need the earth stake! Fwiw, I can keep a 16.2 and 17.2 pair of nuisances in the right place with two D batteries in a small energiser, but they do respect electric fencing.
 
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