How to Run an Electric Fence

Electric fencing is a good choice for keeping deer from eating your garden or keeping your dogs in the yard. Electric fencing is less expensive than other types of fencing and is quick and easy to install. Using an electric fence is also convenient, because the fencing structure is portable and can be moved easily. All you need is access to electricity or an alternate way to power the fence, such as a battery or a solar panel.

Things You'll Need

• Fence charger
• Fencing wire
• Fence posts, with insulators
• Ground rod
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Decide where you want to run the electric fence. Determine if you want to enclose the entire yard with the fencing or just a portion of it. Once you have a basic plan, measure the perimeter area so that you will know how much wire you need to purchase.

   You may need to double or triple the perimeter measurement, depending on how many strands of fence you plan to install.

2. Purchase your materials. There are several different types of wire available, such as traditional plain wire, flat tape and round poly braid. The traditional wire is least expensive, but it is also slightly more difficult to handle and not as visible as other types. The flat tape is the most expensive, but holds up well and is highly visible.

   There are also different types of fence posts available. These include plastic step-in posts, round fiberglass posts that you pound in with a hammer, metal posts that you drive in with a post pounder and traditional wooden fence posts that require you to dig a hole and set the posts.

   If you already have an existing fence, and want to add electric wire to it, you can use the existing fence posts by purchasing insulators and applying them to the posts. You will also need a fence charger, which sends electricity to the fence, and ground rods. These are three six-foot rods that you will pound into the ground.

3. Set your posts. Space them approximately eight feet apart, although they will need to be a little closer together in areas where there is an elevation change.

4. Run the wire. Run the electric wire from fence post to fence post, keeping it pulled tight as you go. You may want to give the wire an extra wrap around the clips that hold the tape when you reach a corner or if you notice the wire starting to sag.

   After you enclose the area once, move to where you want the second strand of wire and enclose the perimeter again, with the same run of wire. Remember, it is necessary to run the wire as one piece. If you cut the wire and start a new run, you must tie it in to the existing wire or it will not have a charge.

5. Pound in the ground rods. Pound tthem into the ground about ten feet apart. Connect the ground rods with a piece of insulated cable.

6. Connect to the fence charger. Install the fence charger in a garden shed, garage or some other protected area. Now connect the fence wire to the charger. The charger will have a set of screws that you can use to attach the wire.

   If the fence is located some distance away from the charger, it is possible to connect the charger to a piece of insulated wire, and then, at the fence, tie the insulated wire into the electrical fencing wire.

   If you use this method, make sure to use fence posts to keep the insulated wire off the ground, or sod staples to keep it on the ground, otherwise it becomes a tripping hazard.

References

• Equisearch: How to Select, Install Electric Fence

Resources

• American Fence Supply's Guide to Electric Fencing