How to Construct an Electric Fence
Electric fences are generally constructed where the cost of permanent fencing would be excessively prohibitive and are often used to contain animals on large-acreage farms and ranches. To build a properly working electric fence, you will need to dig holes for wooden or metal posts and have ample feet of fencing wire to complete a circuit around the enclosed space. Following some simple steps will assist you in reducing your workload. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Metal or wooden posts
- Electric fencing insulators (plastic)
- Spool of fencing wire
- Electric fence charger
- Surveying equipment (optional)
- Level
Instructions
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Building the Fence
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1
Survey your property to ensure you will be digging your holes in a straight line around the property. To ensure precision, use surveying equipment to measure equal distances between posts and their exact locations and mark each of the hole locations well.
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2
Dig holes for the posts, each at an equal depth, so that no less than four feet of each post is visible above ground.
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3
Install each post into the post holes and fill each hole halfway full with soil. Use a carpenter's level on all sides of each post, checking that the pole is vertically straight, repositioning the pole until level. Fill in the remainder of the hole with soil and tamp the soil with equally firm pressure on all sides of the post. Repeat for all posts.
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4
Install fencing insulators on all of the posts surrounding the property, two or three per post, separated at equal lengths vertically. Repeat the same measurements and insulator installation on all posts.
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5
Run the wire around the property until ending up where the run started. Make a second trip around the property, picking the wire up off the ground, and snap the wire into each fencing insulator. Repeat for each run of wire.
Electrifying the Fence
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6
Run an insulated cable containing the positive wire from the fence charger to the fence post nearest to the building with electrical service. Connect the positive charger wire to all runs of wire so a good contact exists at each wire junction.
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7
At the charger location, drive a grounding rod into the ground to a depth of at least four feet. (Six feet is ideal.) Connect the negative cable from the fence charger to the grounding rod. It is best to use a grounding strap block to secure the wire to the rod.
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8
Plug in the fencing charger. If the charger has a voltage adjustment knob, adjust the voltage to the desired level and turn the power on.
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9
Test the fence wire at various points around the property to verify that the full length of each wire run is receiving a pulse. The simplest way is to use a portable AM radio receiver. Tune the receiver to a quiet frequency where only "static" is heard. As you walk around the fence, you will hear a popping noise every time the fence is pulsed by the charger. The popping sounds will only be heard when holding the radio within four to six feet of the wire.
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Tips & Warnings
When running the wire, use a shovel handle inserted through the spool spindle so two people can pick up the spool and walk with it. Alternatively, a pickup truck can be retrofitted so that the spool can be supported between two holders on the back of the pickup bed.
