What is an Electric Fence?

Electric FenceFast uses electricity to deter people and animals from crossing the fence boundary. If the person or animal completes an electrical circuit by touching either the insulated wires on the fence or a galvanized metal stake driven into the ground, the current will flow through them, shocking them and causing varying degrees of pain or discomfort from mild to lethal.

The voltage of an electric fence is high (+5000 volts) in comparison to standard mains electricity (220 volts) so most will immediately assume they are dangerous and pose a risk to life and limb but this is not the case, it has been proven that the number of people injured each year by an electric fence is significantly lower than by a car accident or having a lightning strike. When used properly, electric fencing is a safe and regulated method of control.

Keeping Intruders Out: Why Electric Fences Are the Ultimate Deterrent

Most people will also be surprised to find out that the current from an electric fence is not a continuous supply; it is a pulsed one similar to that of most household appliances like hair dryers, radios and toasters. This pulsating current is safer than a continuous current because it allows the target to remove themselves from the source of the shock, which could otherwise cause permanent damage or even death.

A common misconception is that dry vegetation touching an electric fence can create a short and therefore fire the system, this is not true as most energizers use a grounding system consisting of galvanized metal wire or mesh which is bonded to the soil or concrete of the grounding terminals. In fact poor grounding is the leading cause of electric fence problems, so be sure to check that yours is up to scratch before you buy.