Regan Hennessy has been writing professionally for 11 years. A freelance copywriter and certified teacher, Hennessy specializes in the areas of parenting, health, education, agriculture and personal finance. During her time with Demand Studios, Hennessy has produced content for Ehow, Answerbag and Travels. Hennessy graduated from Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
SUPPLIES
- Fence posts
- Post-hole digger
- 12.5-gauge high-tensile wire
- Post insulators
- Chalk
- Inline ratchet strainers
- Insulated cable
- Fence energizer unit
- Grounding rod
Overview
High-tensile electric fences provide an inexpensive, low-maintenance alternative to traditional fencing for all kinds of livestock. This type of fence uses a few basic components: posts, wire and an energizer. Keeping the wire pulled tightly is essential to the success of a high-tensile electric fence. It's also crucial to walk the perimeter of the fence regularly to ensure that the charged wires are not grounding out from weeds and other objects.
Step 1
Set your fence posts. Dig post holes for your wood posts using a post-hole digger, then firmly pack the posts into the ground. These holes must be at least 3 feet deep in order to minimize sagging of your fence. Corner posts must be wood. Line posts must be placed at least every 40 feet and can be either wood or steel T-posts.
Step 2
Decide how many wires you want in your fence. This is based on what type of animal you will be containing. A good all-around high-tensile electric fence uses five strands of 12.5-gauge wire. You will be electrifying three strands and grounding two.
Step 3
Use chalk to mark the desired locations for each of the five wires on every corner post. Unless you are containing a very small animal or a very large animal, locate the wires 6 to 9 inches apart. Your goal is for the lowest wire to be about 6 to 12 inches from the ground and the highest wire to be about 48 inches from the ground.
Step 4
Install wrap-around or plastic insulators on the corner posts for each wire. Wrap-around insulators consist of a coil of plastic that encloses the wires and wraps around the posts; this keeps the wires from grounding out on the wooden posts. Plastic insulators simply screw into the post and allow you to run the wires through the plastic coils.
Step 5
Unroll the high-tensile wire and hook it up to the bottom insulator on the first corner. Walk the perimeter of the fence, hooking the wire up to each corner insulator. Tie off the wire when you return to the original insulator. Repeat this same process for each of the five wires.
Step 6
Install inline ratchet-type strainers on each wire. Tighten each strainer until the wires are stretched tightly between the posts. Your goal is for the wires to have no sag between the posts.
Step 7
Connect the energized wires together. Starting with the bottom wire, connect every other wire together using a piece of wire. Coil one end of the piece of wire around the bottom wire near the corner post. Run the attaching wire through the insulated cable so that it won't touch the grounded wire. Coil the second end of the piece of wire around the stretched wire strand that is third from the bottom. Repeat this process from this wire to the top wire. You will have three wires that are connected to one other.
Step 8
Install the energizer unit near the corner post. Be sure it is close to a source of electricity so you can plug it in. Hook the energized wires to the positively charged connector on the energizer.
Step 9
Connect the two grounded wires together in the same way, then attach them to your ground rod. Pound the ground rod into the ground completely.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- WARNING : Do not turn on your fence energizer until you are completely finished building the fence. This is to avoid the risk of shocking yourself.
Resources
