Idiots guide to electric fencing

B

Babypony

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 April 2025
Messages
163
Visit site
Please could somebody give me a basic guide to electric fencing? I want to make two strips for grazing two ponies, then make a track around the edges of two sides of the field for both of them to go in together once they've got to know each other. The field is about 2 acres (I have another 1.5 acre field next door). I have read about batteries, energisers, but I'm a bit head foggy and am struggling to get my head around it all, as it is all new to me. I have seen different battery size options, energiser options, and stake sizes, and am not sure what is best. There is a footpath through the field which I think means I need more signs than if it was purely private land. Any help would be very much appreciated.
 
I think I'll put a non-electrified strip of fence alongside the footpath to keep people on it. The track for the ponies won't cross the footpath though.
 
I really recommend getting solar powered fencing units, so much easier than car batteries. They don't come with many instructions, so, if you do go down that route, don't make the same mistake that I made where I didn't attach the battery to the leads inside the unit, thought it wasn't working and took it back to the shop, and the kind man showed me how to take the back off and connect the battery - very embarrassing!!
 
Tarragon said:
I really recommend getting solar powered fencing units, so much easier than car batteries. They don't come with many instructions, so, if you do go down that route, don't make the same mistake that I made where I didn't attach the battery to the leads inside the unit, thought it wasn't working and took it back to the shop, and the kind man showed me how to take the back off and connect the battery - very embarrassing!!
Click to expand...
That sounds like exactly something I'd do 😂 then claim it was my husband who had messed up lol. Are the solar panels more of a target for thieves? How is the charge from them in the winter?

Would something like this be ok? Not sure if I'd need the medium powered one or if the basic one would be ok https://www.ukcountrystore.co.uk/acatalog/Sunpower-Solar-Fence-Kit.html
 
Last edited:
Pace out the max length that you will need to run your electric fencing along depending on your set up, then times it by the number of strands of string or tape that you will be using to get the total length to be energised. That will help you identify a suitable energiser.

I recommend at least three strands, though some people get away with less. Tape as the middle strand for visibility, with string top and bottom. All tape makes it more likely to blown about on a windy day.

There are rules and guidelines re electric fencing near to or across public rights of way which you will need to adhere to.
 
I bought most of my first electric fence stuff from tayna.co.uk

https://www.tayna.co.uk/battery-cha...JdjkBkLRllI1CzQCp8zVRYrsPdxX1178aAhoGEALw_wcB the battery charger. This one also tells you if the battery is faulty and it has a rejuvenation option which has worked when I've had batteries sitting around too long that won't charge.

A medium sized 12v battery, I have several different sizes but the big ones are hard to carry although they do last longer.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/electric-fence-batteries/agribatt/elb70/ this one for example would be okay. Having a solar panel will help it last longer so you don't have to keep taking it away to charge. It usually holds charge for about 3-4 weeks I find so it's good to have another one to swap between the two.

Any energiser is okay, just make sure to choose the one with higher joules. I use this one which isn't that high in joules compared to others but it works well still. It comes with a stake attached to it but you will get more power from having a longer stake. The further you can get it into the ground, the better.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XSTOP-Batt...xt&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A1GHPIEN6Z32NM&gQT=1

For electric that you want running over certain areas but so people don't get zapped, you can put the tape through a piece of hose pipe. I've never tried it but I've heard it works!
 
I was a total novice with electric fencing, still am I guess, but my setup is working which gives me great satisfaction! My top tip would be to use metal connectors to join your tape, don't rely on knots. And contrary to popular (or my!) belief, wood does conduct electricity and will earth your tape (meaning no zap) if you wrap it around a wooden fence post. Although it seems counter intuitive you don't need a complete circuit. The horse, or you, complete the circuit when you touch the tape. Don't ever accidentally touch the clip running from your battery!
 
I've never used solar power on electric fence so can't comment on it. For the last 27 years I have used electric fencing using a leisure battery around the 110Amp Hour size. I don't use old car batteries because they don't like being run down to nothing & keep being recharged. They eventually give up & die. It's easy to set up basically you need plastic posts, don't use pony sized because a horse or pony can jump over them, go for taller. I am using green posts & green electric tape with a minimum of 5 stainless steel filaments in the tape. This can be seen by the horses but from a distance does not stand out to people so job looks neater. Unless you are fitting electric rope to the top of wooden fencing to stop horses chewing the wood do not use it. It is dangerous, it has a massive breaking strain whereas tape has a much lower breaking strain & is safer to use. I won't go into it but my wife had the rope wrap around her legs & pull her to the ground. She was treated for burns & had bandages changed daily. She carries the scars today. Now for some advice, put your battery in a waterproof box it keeps it working better & for longer. Use a 3 feet long earth stake & knock it right in, the fence works better with a good earth. Better to use a leisure battery, more expensive but last a long time. When you run a line of fencing do not tie it off to a hedge/tree, this will earth the electric fence & weaken it considerably. If you want to run electric fence along the side of a public walkway you must attach warning signs at a minimum of 50 meters apart. Always use a proper connector when you join tape together if you knot it then you never know how many filaments in the tape are joined. After 2 or 3 knots you will find that the electricity stops getting through & the fence may as well not be there. Always charge up your battery every month. Remove it from the fence & charge it over night. It will be fully charged by morning & you just clip the leads from the fence back on the battery. The fence should never let you down. It's all pretty easy to do really once you've done it you'll be set for ever. Good Luck.
 
I would definitely recommend a solar energiser - not much more expensive compared with buying a battery + energiser, and so much less work taking the battery away to charge. Gallagher solar energisers are brilliant. Personally I also use their stakes which are metal rather than the plastic ones, they are so much more robust. (I’m not associated in any way with them, just a satisfied customer).

A simple practical tip: roll out the tape or electric rope first, fixed loosely at each end of the length you want, then put the posts in - this way you get a straighter line than trying to line all the posts up. You’ll need a fixed post (a proper fence post) at each end, the temporary stakes aren’t strong enough to hold the tension of the tape and will bend or pull out.

Good luck!
 
We recently swapped our old Fenceman energiser for a Hotline Gemini and it is 100 x better. The Fenceman was always breaking and the zap was pretty weak.

We use a portable solar panel with back up car battery and it's packing quite a punch at the minute!
 
Tarragon said:
I really recommend getting solar powered fencing units, so much easier than car batteries. They don't come with many instructions, so, if you do go down that route, don't make the same mistake that I made where I didn't attach the battery to the leads inside the unit, thought it wasn't working and took it back to the shop, and the kind man showed me how to take the back off and connect the battery - very embarrassing!!
Click to expand...
I have a Gallagher and when I was reading up before buying one, this was SUCH a common issue people had, so you're definitely not alone! I would also recommend solar - my S16 is hooked up to about 1km of fenceline and it does a great job. I don't have to do anything with it, just check it's all still clipped up.
 
Abacus said:
A simple practical tip: roll out the tape or electric rope first, fixed loosely at each end of the length you want, then put the posts in - this way you get a straighter line than trying to line all the posts up. You’ll need a fixed post (a proper fence post) at each end, the temporary stakes aren’t strong enough to hold the tension of the tape and will bend or pull out.
Click to expand...
This would be my top tip too - and if you're fencing a long run or anywhere it's windy, I'd recommend a proper timber post at intervals to weather proof it all.
 
My top tips are:

1. Measure the distance of the planned fence lines on google maps (right click, measure distance), and times by the number of strands of conductor you plan to use. Round up to the nearest 100/add a bit extra in and you'll know how much to buy! You'll also know which energizers are suitable for the length.

2. Don't tie the conductor lines together, use the correct connectors for your chosen conductor (tape, rope etc).

3. Tension! Always keep your lines tensioned. Saggy lines flapping in the wind will break down quicker and be much more tempting for ponies to try step over/under.

4. Following on from tension, starts, ends and corner posts. Either knock in some wooden posts or use the metal mobile fence posts you can buy on UK Country Store, and then the correct insulators. So much less stress than trying to use the plastic posts on the corners as they bend.

5. Get yourself a nice big earth stake, and if you're feeling flush, get a second and a connecting cable. Knock them in and chuck a bucket of water over them in hot, dry weather. This helps your fence deliver a good zap.

6. And my final tip, if you work up the courage to check the zap the fence is giving by touching it yourself, and find it's giving only a tiny tingle, kneel and touch your knee to the ground and try again. Chances are your shoes are insulating you somewhat, so touching your knee to the ground provides a better route to earth and thus, assuming your fence is working correctly, allows you to feel the full effect of the zap. Weird noises and flailing around on the floor are technically optional, but very likely ;)
 
Nasicus said:
6. And my final tip, if you work up the courage to check the zap the fence is giving by touching it yourself, and find it's giving only a tiny tingle, kneel and touch your knee to the ground and try again. Chances are your shoes are insulating you somewhat, so touching your knee to the ground provides a better route to earth and thus, assuming your fence is working correctly, allows you to feel the full effect of the zap. Weird noises and flailing around on the floor are technically optional, but very likely ;)
Click to expand...
Or invest in an electric fence tester!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top