Electric Fence Tips: Why Insulated Wire is Important
Insulated wire is important in electrical circuits for two reasons: safety and the prevention of leakage. The importance of insulated wire in fencing is indispensable. Fencing technology has improved drastically over the years. The concept of electrical fencing signifies the use of electrical shocks to deter animals and people from entering restricted premises. The voltage of the shock may vary and can range from shocking to lethal. While the number of human casualties associated with livestock electric fences is low, it is not uncommon for electrical outages from fences to result in nasty burns and injuries related to electrocution.
Electric Fence Tips
To reduce the chances of electric shock, do not remove the caution cover.
Barber wire should never be used in electric fencing. Someone may get tangled and get really hurt in the process.
A DC fence should never be connected to AC supply.
The electric fence should never be connected to other conducting devices.
Mistakes to be Avoided
Inadequately insulated lead-out and jumper wires.
Insufficient grounding system.
Inadequate insulation of the ground wire.
Cracked and poor quality insulators, use of wooden post without insulators.
Appropriate Insulated Cable
The lead-out and jumper wires, which carry the electric pulse from the energizer to the fence need to be thoroughly insulated up to 20,000 volts, the same degree of insulation as on automobile spark plugs. Most of the fence charge emits from 5,000 to 10,000 volts. If the ordinary household wire which has an insulation potential of up to 600 volts is used for electrical fencing, a leakage of electricity will take place, which can be dangerous.
Even while connecting the wire to the fencing, a connector clamp should be used rather than wrapping the wire around the fence. Cables connected by wrapping come undone and result in power loss due to oxidation or corrosion build up. Apart from electricity leakage, there can be dangerous implications.
Connector clamps are usually made available with the fencing system and cable to carry the current from one side of the fence to the other. All the strands of the fence should be connected to the cable on the side of the fence nearest to the charger.
Proper Ground System
Galvanized-steel rods should be connected to the ground terminal on the fence energizer by a highly insulated wire to cut out any leakage. A ground system is the key to the fence's effectiveness. Therefore its is mandatory to take the best possible care of the ground wiring.
Suitable Insulators
Insulators are required to hold the fence material on the post that supports it, while preventing the fence from contacting any surface that may lead to leakage in current. Most manufacturers market insulators specially suited for their own fence products, hence it is not advisable to improvise with insulators. Insulation in any form should be up to the mark and sustainable. Cheap “generic” insulators, made of brittle plastic which only last a few years, are unreliable and inefficient.
