Mains powered electric fencing: feedback please?

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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As title really.

Have a ten acre field which we've roughly separated out into four "quarters"; currently are thinking about buying another battery-powered energiser as the bottom bit of the field needs something on it. But wondering if it would work out cheaper long-term were we to install mains fencing???

The bottom of this particular field is a quarter of a mile from our house.

Does anyone else have mains-powered electric fencing?

Who did you get to install it???

Any issues???

How easy is it to change "field parameters" around with this sort of set-up? i.e. if you need to sub-divide another bit (am worried about cables etc across the field).

Some advice re. setting it up initially especially appreciated. And what sort of equipment/wiring/cables etc needed. Presumably one would not be able to install this oneself? i.e. would need an electrician?? What depth would the cables need to be buried??? etc etc.

Am a total numpty on this so any advice welcomed.
 
Go into a farmers' suppliers to find out costs, etc. We used one on our silage pit, which worked well, and we also had some grass keep and the landowner fenced the whole perimeter, even so it was quite powerful.
I don't know what the running costs are, but it will be more reliable than a battery powered system and probably pack more of a punch and be able to power a much longer fence run. Presumably you can get different sized units for different lengths of fence.

I don't think you need an electrician, you plug the unit into the mains and just run it like a battery powered unit, so you can move the fence, or extend it or reduce it.

You need to have a walk round regularly to make sure the fence line is ok and no branches or vegetation have got onto it, which would short it and reduce the power in the rest of the fence line. Also keep the unit under lock and key if it is in an outbuilding in case the cousins come calling.
 
If you have the mains energiser housed somewhere on the yard, you can then use insulated 'lead out' cable to reach the area of field that you want to be electrified. It can be clipped to an existing fence as it runs from yard to field. It would need to be good quality lead out cable as otherwise it would provide too much resistance.

Disclaimer, I am not electrically minded, but OH is! He reckons that it should be doable.
 
When we bought our house and stables,the land was all already fenced off with mains electric fencing. We bought an adjoining 3acre field and had it fenced identically & it was easily just 'added' to the existing fields,without extra underground cabling.

I'm sorry,can't help at all with the installation info (we used the same company that installed the original fencing,after having rung the previous owners of the house to find out who they used) but can tell you; it always works,gives off a hell of a punch (handy for 2 or 3 of ours;)) and has needed only a little bit of maintenance/attention in the 6 years we've been here (usually horse-related when people have failed to switch it on!)

If I want to section off part of a field,I use the plastic elec fence posts,electric tape/rope and clip it at the ends to the wire of the mains system-again,hell of a kick to it,which they all respect.
 
The only difference with a mains energiser is the unit is plugged into a normal mains three pin socket, it no different to any other appliance. It will be able to send out more power depending on the unit so even if the line gets earthed out by vegetation or dropped on the floor there is usually enough kick in it to stop them going through. I have mainly electric fencing so I invested in one that sends messages to your phone and tells you if there is a problem and it can be monitored and switch on or off remotely, it also charges the back up battery.
 
I have mains electric in the largest paddock, my husband installed it and it makes life so much easier. With a bit of common sense it's not too much harder than using a charger. The control panel just plugs into a socket in the house. Its just running the cable to connect it so that it doesn't get trashed by vehicles or horses. As with any electric circuit it can be earthed by vegetation. Go for it...
 
I am pretty low tech too, the board plugs in to a normal 13 amp socket, 3 point plug. The the wire leads to the fence which creates a circuit in the same way you do with a charger. The cable really needs to be buried where it needs protection from horses, vehicles etc., so gate holes, if it crosses your drive, or if it's just plain unsightly. Hope this makes sense?
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Soooo........ guys/gals: the "mains energiser" - is this like a battery-powered unit, only one that can be plugged up to the mains instead of bunging a battery in it???
Click to expand...
Pretty much! It needs to be under cover, so a secure outhouse is fine. You can connect the lead out cable directly to the energiser and then run the cable as far as you need. It would be better buried if it has to cross a gateway, OH sinks a length of blue plastic water pipe underground in gateways and runs the cable through it.

If it's easier, you can simply run electric string or wire on plastic posts to get to the area you want electrified, it doesn't have to be lead out cable.

Mains electric fencing is much easier to maintain once its up and the energisers last for many years.
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rutland-L...K_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item3a86db7299
You connect this to the live output of the fence energiser, the cable the goes to were ever you want the fence to start, mine is clips to the beams of the barns, then runs outside to the first post of the fence. You also use it to extend fences where you would want the live fence to be, ie under a gateway, you need these to join.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-X-WING...438?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a2419515e
If you ring any of the sellers on e-bay they will able to tell you what you need.
http://www.rutland-electric-fencing.co.uk/pdfs/horseponyguide.pdf
 
I'd suggest doing a Google on "mains electric fencing" and having a look at the sites of the major manufacturers. They usually have a FAQS which will answer lot of your questions.

I have almost all mains electric fencing here (30 acres) and a lot of the fencing contractors are knowledgable about erecting it.

Assuming your fields are fenced now, you need not replace with electric but merely put a single wire on offsets to keep horses away from the existing stock fencing. Your fences will mostly be used to distribute the electricity as well, so a lead out cable is only needed from the energiser to your first bit of fencing. You will also need to take a cable under gateways -- unless you put it over head.

Get a bigger energiser than you think you'll need as that will take care of a lot of minor leakage through vegetation. I've had mains electric fencing here for at least 25 years and put it all up myself as when I moved in I found it difficult to get a contractor to put up traditional stock fences. Once you have the energiser, electric works out a lot cheaper.

Once the strainers are in, the fencing is not difficult. You can run temporary fences (white tape) off the permanent fence anywhere you want so it is very handy for strip grazing or temporary paddocks.
 
Hi, your mains electric fencer is to all intents exactly the same as a battery energiser. However, rather than out in the elements, your mains unit needs to be located indoors. IE in a barn or stable. My tips are as follows.

1) Situate your fencer unit close to a mains 13a socket. Ideally on a wall which is closest to the paddock you wish to electrify.

2) Purchase a roll of "lead out" cable from your farm supplies shop when you get your energiser.

3) Most mains units, will have either two or three terminals on the front. On will be an earth terminal. The others will be hi voltage. Sometimes one will be hi,one low.

4) Drill two holes through your building wall close to the energiser, then from your Energiser earth terminal run a length of lead out cable through the wall and take it some distance from the building. Then connect using good strong connectors to a minimum of 1 x 1m earth stake. (2 or more is better).

5) Then run a length of lead out cable to your high voltage connection on the energiser. Run this through another hole in the wall and then feed it out to the start of your fence, or the point of your fence closest to your building.

6) I then suggest you buy a cut/out switch from your farm supplies shop. Screw this to a wooden post close to your fence and connect your high voltage line to one terminal of the cut out. From the other terminal run a short length of fencing cable to your fence line and make a good connection.

7) Check your fence perimeter for good connections and any vegetation growth on the line (this will short the fence). Then go in and turn on your energiser at the mains socket. Then if you go out to your fence, rather than have to enter the building to cut the power off, use the cut out switch. (saves a walk!)

8) It is worthwhile buying a "five lite" fence tester when you get your energiser, these prove invaluable to check your line and much less painfull that touching it!

9) That should be it, the unit will work the same as a battery unit, but you will have the security of knowing that you have not got to keep changing and charging batteries.

10) Look at your choice of energiser carefully, especially for Horses. You do not need a 10 Joule "cow frier". In normal fencing situations I would say a maximum 2 to 3 Joule output unit if more than enough. Once animals have been trained to the shock, they will respect it and in some instances you can change the power to low.

11) Finally remember if your fence runs parallel to a public footpath or bridleway, you need to hang warning signs from the fence. (your farm dealer should stock these).

12) Happy fencing and if you need any more advice.Pm me......

this is worth a read.....

www.gallagherusa.com/electric-fencing/downloads.aspx

Download the Smart fencing manual, it is for their units but is a mine of info.
 
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