Electric Fence- Idiots Guide Please!

[HairyCob]

Question is in the title really... can someone post an idiots guide to setting up electric fence for me?!

I have the fencing unit, posts, tape and a battery, also what I think is an earth pole (metal stake that I seem to remember has to be stuck in the ground!) but I can't for the life of me remember all the finer details of setting it up- haven't used it since HC's last summer with me, which was two years ago.

I seem to remember something about attaching the tape to something 'earthing' like a fence post at one end, but that is from my did and distant memory....:confused:

I have to get the fence set up soon, as YO's have decided to put Dolly out 24/7 on grass and I'm concerned that she will get the dreaded Laminitis. She's already looking a bit porky, and she's only on 'short' grass at the moment- within days they will decide to turn them all out onto the 'lush' (6"+) grass with no thought for laminitis because theirs 'don't get it' (I know, I know.. I've tried, but I'm wasting my breath!)

So... electric fence set up idiots guide please!:D

[LMS]

Can you describe the setup you have? How you put it all up depends on this. (My current setup is totally different than my friend's setup.)

So which unit do you have? Type of posts? Type of electric fence?

[HairyCob]

Ohhh, ummm, I'll try!

Plastic 'traditional' posts, 20mm tape fence. The fencer unit has a stake that you push into the ground to hold it in place, two wires running from it from the top- one red, one black if I remember rightly, with crocodile clips that attach to the tape (one to top line of tape, one to lower, I think- not sure if the tape should be two seperate strands for this, or one continuous loop) it also has two wires with connectors that attach to the battery (that bit I can work out!).

I think it also has a wire that connects to the 'earth pole'.. or maybe that's one of the connectors I've already mentioned!

Sorry, that's not much help- I'll get it out later at the yard, and post photos!:D

[eventerbabe]

hmm, from what i remember from our fencing (we have a Rutland energiser and tape/posts) the big red crocodile clip goes onto the tape, then the second clip (which is green on my set-up) clips onto the earthing post. both earthing post and energiser are secured in the ground and the battery connected up to the energiser with clips/wires.

You might find some useful advice/help on here
http://www.rutland-electric-fencing.co.uk/info/

[artemis]

I remember it by "red to the rope" & "green to the ground" (ie. earth pole)

[HairyCob]

I've sussed it! I really am an idiot... I'd forgotten that I had kept the instructions:rolleyes:

Actually it was very simple... blue clip to fence, red clip to red bit on battery, black clip to black bit on battery ... done! No earth pole (that's on the YO's fencer... which isn't very effective, hence buying my own!) and no mention of it having to be attached to a handy tree or fence post, so I didn't.

I wimped out of testing it myself, but Dolly touched it accidentally, and from her reaction I can definitley say it's working!

Thanks for all your replies anyway folks:D

For no particular reason, here's a photo of the unit... I took it just in case I couldn't get it to work!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/HairyCob/100_2769.jpg

edited to say, the black and red wires ARE going into an upside down broken bucket... hole punched in the bottom deliberately to put them through- battery underneath, keeps it dry. Stone on top helps stop it getting kicked over!

[becs]

We test ours by holding a blade of grass against it - goes buzz (hopefully).

BTW, my daughter demo'd how NOT to test it in a sheep field (stronger version) - she stepped over it, misjudged the height and got zapped between her legs! Yow...

[LMS]

Your unit is attached to a battery? Hmmmm...
What's the power output on the unit? And the battery is what type?

I've been researching self sustaining fencing units for the past year (ones that don't require to be plugged into an electrical outlet)

I have a tiny Gallagher right now and am trying to figure out how to hook up my big unit (has a 3 prong plug!) because we'll be expanding the paddock quite a bit. I'd really like to know a bit more about yours:)

[LMS]

We test ours by holding a blade of grass against it - goes buzz (hopefully).

BTW, my daughter demo'd how NOT to test it in a sheep field (stronger version) - she stepped over it, misjudged the height and got zapped between her legs! Yow...
Hehehe my son did that last winter. The crust of snow let go under him & "zip": it bit him. Felt like a big pinch! We're still chuckling over it.

[becs]

We have only ever used batteries for ours, though we don't use it all year. Our energiser is a Rutland Shepherd. The lantern batteries (approx 6 x 6 x 12cm) are a PJ996 which is 6V (volts) I think. We get them from B&Q but cheaper from Screwfix. Some energisers run off 12V eg car battery.

OH (nerdy elect engineer, yawn) has always nagged that it's not dangerous like mains power because the energiser makes the volts go right up and the amps right down (whereas mains has high ampage). And it builds up to release; so a high voltage pulse is sent every 10 secs or so = why they beep quietly if you bend down & listen closely - another way to test if it's working. BTW, I've been zapped several times - just like a sudden sharp sting but didn't hurt after.

[HairyCob]

Your unit is attached to a battery? Hmmmm...
What's the power output on the unit? And the battery is what type?

I've been researching self sustaining fencing units for the past year (ones that don't require to be plugged into an electrical outlet)

I have a tiny Gallagher right now and am trying to figure out how to hook up my big unit (has a 3 prong plug!) because we'll be expanding the paddock quite a bit. I'd really like to know a bit more about yours:)

Battery powered energisers are the norm here in the UK... not many people have mains powered ones, unless it's for permanent fencing. Personally I wouldn't trust horses+mains electric+water (rain etc!):eek:

I use a rutland 9v battery, which is re-chargable for mine- though you can use smaller (cheaper!) batteries if you want to- the 9v gives quite a zap- which I needed for HC when I had him- he'd just go through anything less powerful!

Check out the link in eventerbabe's post above- that company do lots of battery operated units. Mine isn't a rutland (though battery is!)- I bought mine from the local feed merchants- unit cost about £80, battery £20...money well spent I think!

[LMS]

That's great thanks! As soon as OH has a chance; I'll look it over with him.
See we're off grid on our property and will soon be powered by battery, generator & solar.

Right now, we've been getting our electricity (when needed) via a generator.