Electric fence is a safe way to control animals when installed and used properly. Electric fence systems are not only useful for controlling domestic animals but can also be an effective tool for wildlife management. Make sure that you fully understand the basic of electric fence and how it operates before you start to install in your property. If you are ever in doubt, have a professional person do the job for you. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced withit , here are some of our favorite tips.You can find these items at your local farm supply store.

• Fence     energizer
• Galvanized     steel or aluminum electric fence wire
• posts
• Insulators
• Post hole     digger, gas powered or manual
• Earth rods
• Warming     signs

Energizers are rated in joules, which is a unit of energy. Your energizer must put out enough energy to deliver the right voltage along the entire fence. Imagine a drip irrigation line. To be effective at watering plants, you need a high enough flow rate and water pressure to meet the water needs of whatever is at the far end of the line. The more holes you have in that drip tape, the less water will make it to the end. Those holes are comparable to weeds, tall grass, and branches touching your electric fence. They drain energy from the fence, reducing the voltage it delivers. This is called loading. Your energizer must deliver enough joules to overcome the load and provide enough voltage along the length of the fence.

There are several different types of portable electric fence wires, tapes and braids - frequently“conductors”. Knowing which one to choose can be a bit tricky - especially for those new to electric fencing. The most common portable/temporary fence “conductor” is Poly Wire. Poly Wire is made of plastic strands and embedded thin metal wires used to carry electrical current from a Fence Energizer. The individual strands of plastic and wire are typically twisted tightly together to form a single wire. High Tensile Wire is suitable for permanent fences over a large area. However, as wire fences don’t give like a Poly Tape or Poly Braid fence, high tensile wire fencing isn’t suitable for fast-moving animals, such as horses, who could succumb to serious injury if they run into the wire at speed.

Insulators are designed to fasten electrified wire to posts without losing energy through the post. They come in either plastic or porcelain and should be purchased according to the type of post and the type of wire being used.Using a good insulator is important to maintain the performance of your fence. Insulators prevent electrical shorts between the electrified wire and the fence posts. Insulators are made from materials that do not conduct electricity, most commonly plastic or ceramic. They are a critical component of a properly functioning electric fence.

Use this easy to attach warning sign to reduce risk of accidental contact by visitors.Attaches to an electric fence or netting to warn people that the fence is electrified.