Ask The Expert - How Much Power Is Needed To Protect And Deter Animals?
We are asked this question a lot by people checking their fences; how much power do I need on my fence to keep x animal in or x animal out? We are also asked the same question by people who are just starting out and looking at electric fencing as an option for them. So how much power is needed to protect and deter animals? It’s a great question!
Whether you are either protecting your animals/gardens from predators or keeping your animals in for their safety you will need to know these things about power …
- What level of power do I need to create an effective barrier with my electric fence?
- How much power is actually going through my electric fence?
The Level of Power Required for Each Animal
The recommended* minimum kV to keep animals in/out is as follows:
Keeping Animals In
- Bulls 5,000 kV
- Dairy cattle 3,000 kV
- Beef cattle 4,000 kV
- Horses 3,000 kV
- Deer 3,000 to 5,000 kV
- Sheep 4,000 to 5,000 kV
- Goats 3,000 to 5,000 kV
- Pigs 3,000 kV
- Pets 3,000 kV
Keeping Animals Out
- Foxes 4,000 to 5,000 kV
- Deer 3,000 to 4,000 kV
- Nuisance pests 3,000 kV
- Wild Hog 5,000 kV
* These are guide lines used by Electric Fencing Direct for our Hotline Horizont Ltd electric fencing products.
Each set up requires between 3000kV-5000kV as a minimum as an effective deterrent, but for many animals a bigger zap is more effective. The electric fence system is working both as a psychological barrier and as a physical barrier. So how are you going to know how much power is actually going through your fence?
How much power is actually going through my fence?
The answer to the question above is don’t use your finger or a piece of grass but use a fence tester to find out! A tester is much more accurate and it doesn’t hurt!
If your tester is showing 2,000 volts or below we recommend you check your fence and energiser with your tester… and of course you can always get in touch with us for some advice on trouble shooting your electric fence. In general you should see approx 6,000 to 9000 kV coming from your energiser when fitted correctly. Regular maintenance of your fence will allow the smooth running of your fencing on a day to day basis. And keep checking it with your fence tester!
We have lots of testers available on line - click electric fence testers to see them all.
Website: www.electricfencing.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Call: 01620 860058
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