The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Techniques and skills => Topic started by: Chicka17 on March 14, 2016, 02:40:13 pm
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Hello, I hope this makes sense and it's not the most stupid question in the world (to date)
I have never put up an electric fence before but I have read up on it and understand the principles. I have set up my posts and am now ready to run my polywire.
Looking at my set up, which will be 3 strands high, I can see that I could run one continuous wire through the insulators to the end post and then simply move up to the insulater above and run the wire back to the start post and then repeat for the 3rd strand. Thus eliminating the need for jumping wires (which I don't have).
Will this work?
Mandy
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Yes that's the way to do it.
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Yes. The point that took me longest to learn despite it being in all the literature is that good earthing is critical. Especially if you are in a dry area. I now have three 1m deep earth stakes in series.
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And don't do what my friend did and try it with his hand whilst wearing trainers :roflanim:
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Yes, both options work - either one long strand running back and forth, or multiple strands running one length only and joined at the ends.
I have both, and both work well. If I was installing anymore, I would opt for the multiple strands joined at the ends. Simply because it is easier to tension the individual strands rather than an extremely long strand running back and forth. The downside is that there are more connectors to purchase and maintain.
The downside to a single long strand running back and forth, is that a break anywhere in that wire will fault the entire length until repaired.
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And don't do what my friend did and try it with his hand whilst wearing trainers :roflanim:
Test it using a blade of grass. Grass is a poor conductor, so you will feel the pulse but at a much reduced level. I'm a wuss, so I pick a nice long thick blade of grass, hold it at the cut end and drape the tip over the wire. Gradually move it closer until I feel the pulse.
Or you can get a friend wearing trainers to touch it for you, of course :roflanim:
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I must be a bigger wuss because I forked out the £10 for a fence tester gadget. But still manage the odd head of collision doh.
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I must be a bigger wuss because I forked out the £10 for a fence tester gadget. But still manage the odd head of collision doh.
:roflanim: :dunce: :roflanim:
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Thank you so much for confirming. I did not want to set it all up and then find It did not work. Also for the info about the earthing, tension and the testing. I don't have a tester so will be grabbing it by hand, the blade of grass info will help enormously.
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Easy and instant test without shocking yourself is just to push the lowest strand down onto the floor with your welly . As it touches the floor you should hear it clicking away and may even see a spark if you've got a good jolt in it. I used to have an old piece of scythe handle with a rubber grip and a metal shaft. I used to stick it in the ground next to the fence then move it onto the wires. Once again a spark and audible clicking could be heard if the fence was working. No need for expensive fence testing gadgets.
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It's all working! Again...many thanks.