How to Install a Two Strand Electric Fence
Livestock owners and gardeners interested in cost-effective fencing often opt for electric fences, which use an electric shock to dissuade animals from entering or leaving gardens or pastures. Electric fences create a psychological barrier; once an animal gets shocked, it avoids coming in contact with your fence. Two-strand electric fences work well for temporary pastures, but you'll want to install additional wires before using your electric fence for permanent fencing, especially if you're planning on containing animal like goats or sheep that are notoriously difficult to fence. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Mower
- Wooden stakes
- Hammer
- Steel T-posts
- Hand-held post driver
- Clip-on plastic insulators
- 14/17.5-gauge electric fence wire
- Wire cutters
- Insulated cable
- Fence charger
- 3 galvanized grounding rods, 6-foot
- Grounding clamps
Instructions
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1
Move stones and excessive vegetation, such as weed growth, from your fence line. Mow the grass down to two inches or less in height so your bottom charged wire doesn't ground out on it. Pound in wooden stakes to mark your corner post locations.
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2
Position a steel T-post at the first corner post location, pushing the base of the post several inches into the ground with your foot if possible. Slide a hand-held post driver over the top of your T-post, grasping the handles and bringing the driver down on the top of the post firmly to sink the post into the ground. Repeat this pounding motion until you've hammered the corner post 12 to 16 inches into the ground. Repeat the entire post installation process for each corner post for your two-strand electric fence.
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3
Snap two clip-on plastic insulators onto each corner post. Locate the bottom set of insulators six to eight inches from the ground and the top set of insulators at a height that matches two-thirds of the height of the animal that you're trying to contain or exclude. For example, if you're using your two-strand electric fence for cattle that measure 54 inches tall at the shoulder, then you'll want the top set of insulators to be approximately 36 inches from the ground.
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Thread a single strand of 14- or 17.5-gauge electric wire through the bottom set of corner post insulators. Pull the wire taut so it doesn't drag on the ground and tie it off by wrapping it back on itself three to five times. Repeat this process for the top set of corner post insulators.
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5
Pound steel T-posts along the outside edge of the fence wires to serve as line posts for your two-strand electric fence. Position the line posts approximately 12 to 20 feet apart. Install two clip-on plastic insulators on each line post at the same heights as the corner post insulators. Slip the strands of electric wire into the plastic clips on the front of each line post insulator.
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Peel back the last three inches of insulation from a strip of insulated cable. Wrap one end of the cable around the bottom strand of your electric fence; wrap the second end of the cable around the top strand. Repeat the same process to connect the bottom wire in your two-strand electric fence to the positively charged fence terminal on your fence energizer.
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Hammer three galvanized grounding rods into the ground at 10-foot intervals, positioning the nearest rod no more than 20 feet from your fence energizer. Connect the grounding rods together with strips of insulated cable, exposing the cable at the ends and attaching the exposed cable to the grounding rods with grounding clamps. Attach the nearest grounding rod to the negatively charged ground terminal on your fence energizer in the same fashion.
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Tips & Warnings
According to the American Fence and Supply Company, you should use insulated cable manufactured for use with electric fences which can withstand up to 20,000 volts.
Accidental electrical shock could occur. Unplug the energizer whenever you're working near the fence. Post warning signs.
