Putting up an electric fence is a great way to keep livestock contained or prevent wild animals and other intruders from getting into an enclosed space. And most of the time, you can easily install one by yourself. Keep reading to learn how to plan for , install , and test and maintain an electric fence.
A Quick Guide to Installing an Electric Fence
- Set up your electric fence charger, but don’t turn it on.
- Put in at least one grounding post, and attach your grounding wire.
- Install your fence posts and mount the insulators.
- Mount your fencing wire to the posts.
- Turn on your charger and test the line with a voltmeter.
Steps
Installing the Electric Fence
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Set up your charger. If you’re using an electric charger, look for a weather-resilient spot near an AC outlet. If you’re using a solar charger, choose an area that receives plenty of sunlight. To protect the charger, hang it on a post or wall of an outbuilding. Do not turn on the charger until you’ve installed the fence. [6] X Research source
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Put in grounding posts. To install electric fencing, you need at least 1 grounding post that is 6 feet (180 cm) or longer. Place the grounding rod near the charger and use a post-hole digger/slammer to set it. Leave at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the post above the ground. If you’re using multiple grounding posts (many people recommend using 3), set them each 10–20 feet (3.0–6.1 m) apart. [7] X Research source
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Attach a grounding wire. Attach the grounding wire so that it extends from the ground terminal of the charger to all of the grounding posts. Secure the wire to the posts with a grounding clamp . The grounding wire ensures the fence will deliver an electric shock when an animal touches it. [8] X Research source
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Install your fence posts. Use a long string to mark a straight line for your posts, and use a post-hole digger to set them securely in the ground, each about 10–20 feet (3.0–6.1 m) apart. [9] X Research source As a general rule of thumb, at least 1/3 of the overall length of your post should be underground. Corner posts should be larger in diameter than the posts along the sides and installed with at least 1/3 of their length underground. Properly brace them as needed.
- Note that installing too many posts won’t make your fence stronger or more secure.
- If you plan to install your posts 40 feet (12 m) or more apart, install stays along the wires to keep them evenly spaced and create greater stability.
- To install wooden fence posts
, licensed landscape contractor Mike Garcia says, “You need to dig a [narrow] hole. Make sure that it’s bigger than the fence post, and then fill it with a quick-set concrete. Gently work the post in and out so that it gets wet, then let it dry. Put a level on top of it so that it’s straight.” [10]
X
Expert Source
Mike Garcia
Licensed Landscape Contractor Expert Interview
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Set up braces on corners and gates. Some posts will be exposed to more stress than others, including corners and gates. To avoid damaging your electric fence, reinforce these areas with braces , cement footings, or anchors. [11] X Research source
- Many cattle ranchers use the “floating diagonal” brace, which is a 4 in by 10 ft angle brace notched a half-inch into the main corner post. The other end is set on the ground opposite the corner.
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Mount the insulators. Installing insulators will keep the electricity in the wires and away from the fence posts. The type of insulator you need depends on the type of fence you purchase, as manufacturers usually include and design insulators tailored to their products. Follow their guidelines to attach the insulators properly, but in general, you’ll clip them to the fence posts. [12] X Research source
- Some of the most common insulators are those that allow braided or rope-style fencing enough space to slide through. This helps avoid rubbing.
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Run the electric fence wire. Use the connector clamps included with your fencing wire to mount the wire on the posts. Begin at the post farthest away from the charger, and hang as many lines as you need to charge the line. Pull the wire tight with a wire tensioner or cable puller . [13] X Research source
- Never wrap the wire around the fence post, as the cable will come loose more easily, and corrosion can occur.
- Tighten the wire as much as possible, but take care not to place so much tension on it that it breaks, as this can result in serious injury.
Testing & Maintaining the Electric Fence
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Turn the charger on and test the lines. To test your electric fence , use a voltmeter to ensure the electricity flows through the entire fence. Write down the voltage, and keep the number on hand to compare to daily checks of the current. Depending on the strength of your charger, it should read somewhere between 6000 and 10,000 volts, unconnected. [14] X Research source
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Schedule daily checks of the current. Check your electric fence regularly to prevent signal problems and to make corrections as necessary. [15] X Research source Moisture and vegetation buildup can cause temporary leeching of the current, leading to lower-voltage readings. However, if your current is regularly lower than usual, it might be time to do a closer inspection of your work and fix it up.
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Keep shrubs and weeds away from your fence. Grasses, bushes, and weeds growing up along your fence can lead to a loss of voltage. [16] X Research source Remove any plants that have grown along your fence, and spray a glyphosate herbicide, like RoundUp , to reduce plant growth in the area. Remember to turn off your fence while you’re working near it!
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do we connect the electricity to another high-tension wire?Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.Pull the wire from one end post to the other end post. Attach it vertically down the post to desired height and pull wire back the other way. You will have to tighten the wire and anchor it well before creating the 'loop'.
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QuestionI want to make a corral instead of a straight line fence. Where do I start stringing with ewire if it has to be the post furthest away from the charger? How do I connect the wire to complete the circle/corral?Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.Start at one of the gate posts and attach from post to post all the way around the corral to end at other gate post. Put the charger any where convenient but not to near the gate as it could get in the way of gates.
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QuestionWhat about the ends of the runs? What about entrance points?Community AnswerThe end of runs will simply be made into a loop and wound over on itself. It does not have to be a full circuit and can easily be used with one to three sides.
Video
Tips
- Hang electric fence warning signs so that people know the fence is hot.Thanks
- Check the fence lines at least 2 times a week with a voltmeter.Thanks
- If you’re setting up a perimeter or boundary fence, talk to your neighbors first to avoid any conflicts.Thanks
Warnings
- Never use barbed wire on an electric fence.Thanks
- Don't stand near the fence during an electrical storm.Thanks
- Research local and state fencing laws to make sure it’s okay to put up an electric fence.Thanks
- Always turn your electric fence off before working on or near it.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Electric fence charger
- Wood or metal posts
- Electric fencing wire/tape
- Grounding post
- Grounding wire
- Grounding clamp
- String
- Posthole digger
- Corner braces
- Electric fence insulators
- Voltmeter
References
- ↑ https://austinfencecompany.org/how-to-install-electric-fence/
- ↑ https://austinfencecompany.org/how-to-install-electric-fence/
- ↑ Ben Barkan. Garden & Landscape Designer. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://austinfencecompany.org/how-to-install-electric-fence/
- ↑ https://fencearmor.com/blogs/news/how-to-install-an-electric-fence-a-handy-guide-1?srsltid=AfmBOoq1U1D4o6q2L52h8KnWGiso7R5fpuUbxgTILXVu3pMji9-WvLAO
- ↑ https://fencearmor.com/blogs/news/how-to-install-an-electric-fence-a-handy-guide-1?srsltid=AfmBOoq1U1D4o6q2L52h8KnWGiso7R5fpuUbxgTILXVu3pMji9-WvLAO
- ↑ https://www.beefmagazine.com/grazing-systems/7-common-cattle-fencing-mistakes?page=1
- ↑ https://barrycanfixit.com/installing-an-electric-fence-safely/
- ↑ https://morningchores.com/how-to-install-an-electric-fence/
- ↑ Mike Garcia. Licensed Landscape Contractor. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://www.beefmagazine.com/grazing-systems/7-common-cattle-fencing-mistakes?page=1
- ↑ https://www.ironoakfarm.net/installing-electric-fencing/
- ↑ https://morningchores.com/how-to-install-an-electric-fence/
- ↑ https://barrycanfixit.com/installing-an-electric-fence-safely/
- ↑ https://austinfencecompany.org/how-to-install-electric-fence/
- ↑ https://www.ironoakfarm.net/installing-electric-fencing/
About This Article
To install an electric fence, start by setting up an electric charger near an AC outlet or a solar charger in a sunny spot. Then, install at least 1 grounding post that's 6 feet or longer near the charger using a post-hole digger. Once you've done that, run a grounding wire from the charger to all of the grounding posts. Next, install your fence posts, making sure they're not too close together but not more than 40 feet apart. After you install the fence posts, brace the corners and gates to reinforce them. Finally, mount the insulators on the posts and run the wire between them. To learn how to design the layout for an electric fence, keep reading!
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