Is an electric fence dangerous?

One of the main concerns our customers who are completely new to electric fencing have is the question of whether electric fencing is actually safe to use, often in a domestic setting to deter unwanted visitors, but also to keep livestock within a specified area. Many of them have pets or perhaps young children in their gardens, or they’re new to keeping ponies and other animals. While they’re keen to use electric fencing, there’s a worry about the risk of electrocution. Here are some frequently asked questions that we hope can help you...

How does an electric fence work?

In order to understand what makes an electric fence safe to use, it’s helpful to know a little bit about how it works. Essentially, the energiser takes the power from the mains supply or a leisure battery and pushes that current in roughly one second intervals through the fence. This is the same whether you are using a poultry net, polywire or tape. There are considerations to be aware of but, when set up correctly, your electric fence is a safe and effective means to deter or contain animals, depending on what you hope to achieve.

Why is this pulsing action important?

The energiser sends pulses of high voltage along the fence, which causes the zap, while also reducing the amps - it’s the constant voltage and high amperage that makes a domestic supply dangerous. Stick your finger in a domestic socket, and you’ll be electrocuted without a doubt - the constant voltage causes the muscles to contract and there’s no opportunity to break free. With the pulsing created by an energiser, it feels more like a heavy static shock for a second and, with a few exceptions,  the natural reaction is to recoil from it when the voltage drops between pulses, often with a few expletives thrown in for good measure!  

Are all energisers the same?

Broadly speaking, yes. You have mains energisers, which plug in directly to a mains socket, battery powered ones which are used with a leisure battery, which can in turn be assisted by a solar panel, as well as dual input ones which can be powered by either means. They come in different sizes and have different power outputs, and the one you choose will depend on whether you’re keeping herons out your pond or fencing multiple paddocks in an equestrian setting, but they all do the same thing - pulsing voltage through the fence while also reducing the amperage. 

What are examples of a ‘bad’ setup?

We spend a lot of time talking to customers, helping them to choose the appropriate equipment for their needs. It’s senseless to buy the most powerful energiser you can find for a short length of fence, but there are also some important safety considerations. Netting, for example, shouldn’t be used for horses and ponies, or goats with horns, as the risk of entanglement means they could become trapped and unable to escape the repeated shocks. For the same reason, you should never electrify barbed wire. It's also important to avoid running an electric fence parallel to overhead power lines as it may cause dangerously high voltage on the fence itself. Mains energisers should be kept under cover.

What else should I consider?

We are often asked about pets and children, especially when electric fencing is to be used in a garden. If it’s at all practical, it makes sense to switch your fence off when the grandchildren come to visit, especially if they're too little to understand why they shouldn’t touch the fence, but it won’t harm them if they do. If they’re old enough to understand, we supply warning signs which should act as a good reminder. If they touch it once, they might need a bit of TLC but I can almost guarantee they won’t go near it again! The same applies to pets such as cats and dogs. For wildlife such as small garden birds, if they land on the wires they won’t be earthed so they won’t get a shock. The complete circuit is the conductor (wire or netting), the earth and the animal - the circuit is complete when the animal touches the wire while standing on the earth. Hedgehogs are slightly different, in that they will naturally curl up around the wires and so we do recommend putting a low barrier around your fence - netting especially, since it comes down to ground level - if you suspect that you have hedgehogs locally. I was asked recently about the risk to those with health conditions, specifically people with pacemakers fitted, and we would suggest it would be wise to speak to your GP for any health-related questions.

We answer a lot of electric fencing questions and are always happy to help, so if you do have any questions about your electric fencing set up or you are just starting out, please feel free to get in touch.

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