Electric fence is a fence which has electric current passing through it to stop or barricade people and animal pass through a boundary. It uses electric shocks to keep a check on trespasser and doesn’t allow the locked ones to go out of the limits. The voltage of the shock may differ and have different effects which could be from uncomfortable, to hurting or even fatal. Effects of shocks differ due to voltage, electric current used and degree of contact between the fence and the contractor.
Mostly fences were used in older years to provide privacy, security, landscaping, demarcate a property and to keep livestock out of reach of predators. However electric fences are used to keep areas of high security and animals under control. One terminal of power energizer releases an electrical pulse along a connected bare wire about one second which is of a high voltage. Another terminal is connected to ground rod which is connected to metal rod implanted in ground. When a person or animal touches the wire the whole process gets completed and an electric circuit starts conducting the pulse which
causes electric shock.
There are 3 types of fences which are categorized as following:
1. Temporary Fences/ Portable Fences- These electric fences are easily movable, constructed, maintained and are ideal for short-term use. Its best used for pasture management where its made so that animals can graze in that area properly without being a prey to wild animals and they come as a better solution for animal management.
2 Semi-permanent Fences- These electrical fences are designed to be there for a little longer than the temporary fences and are there for two-three years. They are used for animals such as horses, pigs and poultry and to protect plants and crops from the animals. These ones are generally having wooden posts and are heavier than the temporary fences.
3 Permanent Fences-These electrical fences are long-term fencing solutions. It should be economical, easy to install and maintain, should have minimum contact with the animals. It should have a good installation system with good insulators as the permanent fences have high voltage and poor quality of insulators will not be able to take high voltage jolts. Generally used for security purpose such as the prisons and sensitive areas to be under high scrutiny.
Mostly fences are made up of smooth wire and simple barbed wires but often these turn out to be lethal ones if not done properly. Now day’s people use synthetic webbing and strand of rope-like fencing woven material with fine conducting wire (stainless steel) to make electric fences.
Electric fences seem to be the easiest option these days but we have to keep certain things in check to ensure it’s safe for us. These includes keeping a check on earth grounding to reduce the weak shock problem, not to use different types of metals together which might result in poor contact, fence-posts at correct distance and at a right number, good quality insulators inserted, not building new fences near old ones which can cause short-circuit and having a voltmeter to check the level of how hot the fence is and keeping wires at a safe distance from each other.
With keeping all these important facts in your mind you can have a nice electrical fence for yourself. But remember “Safety is in your own hands”…
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