Choosing an electric fence depends primarily on the type of animals you need to control, your weed conditions, and the total length of your fence.
Selecting the right electric fence requires considering several variables to ensure it effectively contains or excludes animals and functions reliably. The key factors, as highlighted by experts, include the type and size of the animals you wish to control, the prevalent weed conditions along the fence line, and the overall length of the fence. These elements directly influence the specifications of the fence controller, the required grounding system, and the type of fencing materials needed.
Here's a breakdown of the crucial considerations:
1. Type of Animals
Different animals have varying levels of sensitivity to electric shock and different containment needs.
- Livestock Size and Temperament:
- Small Animals (e.g., chickens, rabbits): May require multiple wires closer to the ground.
- Larger Livestock (e.g., cattle, horses): Often need higher voltage and wire spacing appropriate for their height. Horses are more sensitive and may require different materials to prevent injury.
- Stubborn Animals (e.g., sheep, goats, hogs): Their fleece or thick skin provides insulation, so they require higher voltage and sometimes pulsed output controllers.
- Predators/Wildlife: Keeping animals out often requires different strategies than keeping livestock in, sometimes involving fences designed to deter digging or jumping.
2. Weed Conditions
Vegetation touching the fence wires can "load" the fence, draining voltage and reducing its effectiveness.
- Heavy Weeds: If your fence line is prone to heavy weed growth, you'll need a more powerful fence controller (measured in joules) that can push through the resistance caused by vegetation contact. Low-impedance controllers are generally recommended for handling weed loads.
- Managed Weeds: If you consistently clear weeds or use weed control strategies, you may not need as powerful a charger, but adequate power is still essential for reliability.
3. Fence Length
The total length of your fence line is a critical factor in determining the required power of your fence controller.
- Longer Fences: As fence length increases, so does resistance in the wire, which reduces voltage. You need a controller rated for the maximum length of your fence (often specified in miles or kilometers) to ensure sufficient voltage reaches the end of the line. It's often wise to choose a controller rated for slightly more than your actual fence length to provide a margin for error or expansion.
- Shorter Fences: Require less powerful controllers, but proper grounding is still vital.
4. Fence Controller (Charger)
The controller is the heart of your electric fence, delivering the electric pulse. Its size, type, and wattage (output joules) are determined by the factors above.
- Type: AC-powered (plug-in), DC-powered (battery), or Solar-powered options are available depending on power source availability.
- Output Joules: This indicates the power of the pulse. Higher joules are needed for longer fences, heavier weed conditions, and more difficult-to-contain animals.
- Low Impedance: Controllers designed with low impedance maintain voltage better under load conditions like weed contact.
5. Grounding System
A proper grounding system is essential for the fence to deliver an effective shock. The electricity needs to complete a circuit through the animal, the ground, and back to the controller's ground terminal.
- Ground Rods: The number and placement of ground rods are critical and depend on the controller size, soil conditions (dry soil requires more grounding), and fence length.
- Installation: Ground rods should be driven into moist soil if possible and connected securely to the controller's ground terminal.
Choosing the Right Components
Selecting the appropriate components involves balancing these factors.
| Factor | Key Considerations | Impact On |
|---|---|---|
| Animals | Type, size, temperament, number, wool/hide thickness | Controller power (Joules), Wire height/spacing, Type of wire/tape |
| Weeds | Amount of vegetation contact expected | Controller power (Joules), Need for low-impedance charger |
| Fence Length | Total length of electrified wires | Controller rating (Miles/km capacity), Number/placement of ground rods |
| Power Source | Availability of AC power, need for portability | Controller type (AC, DC, Solar) |
| Soil | Dry or moist conditions | Effectiveness of grounding system, Number of ground rods needed |
By carefully evaluating these variables, you can select a fence system that is reliable, effective, and safe for your specific needs. Consulting with a fencing professional or using online fence calculator tools provided by manufacturers can also help ensure you choose the correct components.
