User Guide to Buying an Electric Fence Controller

A cow's weight allows it to conduct electricity more easily than goats.

Your electric fence will only work as well as the electric fence controller or energizer that powers it. Learn the facts about what to look for when buying a fence energizer, so you can purchase the right controller the first time.

Size

The power fence energizers produce is typically measured in joules. As a rule of thumb, buy a fence controller that provides 1 joule for every 6 miles of electric wire in your electric fence, according to the University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension.

Considerations

Plug-in fence energizers provide more power for longer electric fences, but they only work if you can mount the energizer near an electrical outlet. Solar and battery-powered energizers typically work well when paired with short, temporary fences that don't need a lot of power.

Identification

Low-impedance energizers resist leakage of electrical energy, especially when used in combination with moist soil, green grass and large livestock, such as cattle and horses. Wide-impedance energizers typically work more effectively for smaller animals like poultry, rabbits and goats, which are often challenging to contain because they don't conduct electricity as well as larger, heavier livestock.

References

• University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension: Fencing System (PDF)
• "Fences That Work"; Premier 1; 2010