Electric Fence

oldyouth

Hi There

I'm looking for a bit of advice on an electric fence that I have just installed in my garden to stop my dog getting out. It is a Pel battery energiser designed to cover 1km. I have run 3 rows of nylon string with the wire through it, approx 200m in total. I have earthed it to the metal spike in the ground on one of the plastic posts. I have the unit attached to the wire around halfway through total length as recommended in the instructions.

It is working, because I got a bit of a zap off it myself but I'm not sure is it operating properly. Firstly, is it supposed to give an instant zap when it is touched, as it seems that you need to touch it for a few seconds before it kicks in? Does the wire need to complete a circuit, as I have it starting and ending on 2 different posts? Do I need to strip the nylon fully away for where the unit is attached to the wire?

All advice appreciated

bbam

It's unusual to use this type of fence to keep a dog in a garden.

It doesn't need to be in a loop, a straight run is fine.

The shock is only delivered in pulses there'll be a tick or light flashing on the fence unit that corresponds to it being sent out.

If your getting a shock then it's set up fine.

Usually it's the invisible type fences that people use for dogs. I'd say you'll only have limited success with your current set up.

oldyouth

bbam wrote: »

It's unusual to use this type of fence to keep a dog in a garden.

It doesn't need to be in a loop, a straight run is fine.

The shock is only delivered in pulses there'll be a tick or light flashing on the fence unit that corresponds to it being sent out.

If your getting a shock then it's set up fine.

Usually it's the invisible type fences that people use for dogs. I'd say you'll only have limited success with your current set up.

Thanks for that. It was recommended by the dog trainer I'm bringing my puppy to. He hates the shock collars that are available and tells me he gets at least 1 call a week from owners whose dog gets traumatised or burnt from them..

I have the garden fairly well secured, but this is to prevent him making a determined effort at escape.

49801

Thinknyou would be better of using solid wire than the nylon strin with little filaments.

Also the earth you describe does not sound that substantial.
2/3 earthing rods would be better. The earth system is half of your fence and it sounds like you only have a couple inches of steal in the ground.

bbam

It should be fine with one earth rod it's only for a dog.
Keep it clear of grass etc touching the fence as this reduces it's efficiency.

Check it yourself every few days.

iverjohnston

If you had a 3 foot length of rebar or similar, and sledge it into the ground, leaving a foot above ground and join your earth lead to this, clamping it tight with a Jubilee clip or similar.

Testing. Using another length of bare metal bar, stick one end into the ground a few inches, by hand, and gently lean the top of the bar towards the tape. a millimetre away or so, the spark should jump the gap to the iron bar, without shocking you. You will soon learn to judge the strength of the spark, and thus, your fencers level of shock.

delaval

iverjohnston wrote: »

If you had a 3 foot length of rebar or similar, and sledge it into the ground, leaving a foot above ground and join your earth lead to this, clamping it tight with a Jubilee clip or similar.

Testing. Using another length of bare metal bar, stick one end into the ground a few inches, by hand, and gently lean the top of the bar towards the tape. a millimetre away or so, the spark should jump the gap to the iron bar, without shocking you. You will soon learn to judge the strength of the spark, and thus, your fencers level of shock.

Another great way to test would be to put one hand flat on the ground and with the other one gently touch the fence.

It'll give you a good idea

Farmer Pudsey

delaval wrote: »

Another great way to test would be to put one hand flat on the ground and with the other one gently touch the fence.

It'll give you a good idea

Idealy on a very wet day:D

hoseman

You could always use the old trick of the blade of grass.Hold a blade of grass between your two fingers .place it on the fence and move your fingers closer to the fence you should feel the pulse get stronger as the closer you get.

freedominacup

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Idealy on a very wet day:D

While standing on an old car tyre that the rubber is starting to rot on;). Maybe put one foot in a galvanised bucket to be sure.:eek:

oldyouth

Thanks for all the advice lads, as well as the testing suggestions

freedominacup

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Idealy on a very wet day:D

While standing on an old car tyre that the rubber is starting to rot on;). Maybe put one foot in a galvanised bucket to be sure.:eek:

mf240

Sounds like the earth is not good enough , you would need at least two earth rods. You can buy a fencer tester where you bought the fencer.

rancher

mf240 wrote: »

Sounds like the earth is not good enough , you would need at least two earth rods. You can buy a fencer tester where you bought the fencer.

Have a dog here that runs up to the wire, stops..waits... and then charges through. Never gets shocked, wonder does he sense the pulse

oldyouth

rancher wrote: »

Have a dog here that runs up to the wire, stops..waits... and then charges through. Never gets shocked, wonder does he sense the pulse

Well my lad is a 3 month old pup and he got his first zap off it when I turned it on. I'm hoping he is young enough to just accept that you don't go near the fence. As I mentioned earlier, this is an inner ring around the garden and the boundary is fairly well secure

Zr105

For a pup id say you have more than enough of an earth, there designed to keep cattle at bay so any shock from it will keep a pup at bay. 3dogs here and all have had a zap off the fences. There wary of anything that looks remotely like it now. Had a length o builders line strung across a gate one day when setting out pillars and the dog wouldn't cross it

Viewtodiefor

oldyouth wrote: »

Hi There

I'm looking for a bit of advice on an electric fence that I have just installed in my garden to stop my dog getting out. It is a Pel battery energiser designed to cover 1km. I have run 3 rows of nylon string with the wire through it, approx 200m in total. I have earthed it to the metal spike in the ground on one of the plastic posts. I have the unit attached to the wire around halfway through total length as recommended in the instructions.

It is working, because I got a bit of a zap off it myself but I'm not sure is it operating properly. Firstly, is it supposed to give an instant zap when it is touched, as it seems that you need to touch it for a few seconds before it kicks in? Does the wire need to complete a circuit, as I have it starting and ending on 2 different posts? Do I need to strip the nylon fully away for where the unit is attached to the wire?

All advice appreciated

Seen a set up like yours once to try stop cats making their escape. They discovered after about half an hour that if they jumped between the wires they could escape. (They were wild though) I would imagine the dog might figure that out too. Catch the dog and touch his nose off of it while he is on the ground, that will give you a good idea of the shock.

Rovi

Viewtodiefor wrote: »

Catch the dog and touch his nose off of it while he is on the ground, that will give you a good idea of the shock.

PLEASE, OP, don't do this

All you'd be doing is teaching the dog that YOU are the source of any pain he feels and that you aren't to be trusted.
Also, you'll get a shock too.

We've had dogs around electric cattle fences for decades, and without exception, once a dog has gotten a tickle for the first time, they'll go to extraordinary lengths to avoid the experience again.
Any bit of wire/string will be an effective barrier, no matter whether there's current in it or not.

A fencer unit at its lowest setting is plenty, you're not looking to push current through a thick hide or a dense fleece.

oldyouth

Rovi wrote: »

PLEASE, OP, don't do this

once a dog has gotten a tickle for the first time, they'll go to extraordinary lengths to avoid the experience again.
Any bit of wire/string will be an effective barrier, no matter whether there's current in it or not.
.

That's what our dog trainer told us. He says he hasn't powered his one up in 2 years, yet the dogs don't go near it. My lad is learning fast and is not keen to go near it, but he has had a couple of zaps off it

have2flushtwice

rancher wrote: »

Have a dog here that runs up to the wire, stops..waits... and then charges through. Never gets shocked, wonder does he sense the pulse

yes, they know. and so does anything else with four legs. always wonder why they "know" when the fence is off?

a 4 legged animals front legs are closer to the fence than the back legs. they can feel the potential difference between front and back and know if its on on not.

Bizzum

have2flushtwice wrote: »

a 4 legged animals front legs are closer to the fence than the back legs. they can feel the potential difference between front and back and know if its on on not.

If I got down on my hands and knees would I know?

who the fug

Bizzum wrote: »

If I got down on my hands and knees would I know?

while down there don't do what one our wealings did and bite the bloody thing

Dont be daft

have2flushtwice wrote: »

a 4 legged animals front legs are closer to the fence than the back legs. they can feel the potential difference between front and back and know if its on on not.

Cattle breath out through their noses onto the wire. The condensation in their breath becomes a conductor and creates a sensation on their noses.
That's how they work out whether or not the fence is on. It was thought that they could smell electricity because it looks like their sniffing the fence when their really exhaling on it.


BTW fair play OP for making the effort to keep your dogs in. More of that attitude needed.

georgepower

Electric fences are a great way to keep in any animal, they work the same with you as they do with the animal, once you get a shock you wont forget it for a while and if you do you get a good reminder.

Phil Iam

oldyouth wrote: »

Hi There

Do I need to strip the nylon fully away for where the unit is attached to the wire?

All advice appreciated

Yes you need to have the wire striped of its cover to get a good connection!