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| Author |
Message |
    
regina b fulton (Reggie)
| | Posted on Thursday, Feb 14, 2002 - 6:16 pm: |   |
We have post and rail fencing with a hot wire. Yesterday, while driving up our driveway we saw we had a fire at the end of one pasture. Called 911 and had the fire out before they arrived, however, they were not sure if the electric fence or a freak lightning strike caused it. If it was the wire this is the second time. Thankfully we were home or just coming home and there was little damage to the pasture and no problem with the horses, either time. Now, my question, is there anything we can use to prevent this from happening again? Is there a hot wire that isn’t a fire hazard? I live in Florida and things can be pretty dry at times. Any input will be appreciated |
Melissa Webster (Mwebster)
| | Posted on Thursday, Feb 14, 2002 - 7:24 pm: | |
Do you have a low or high impedence charger? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2002 - 6:13 am: | |
Not only are voltage and amperage of importance but the length of time the fencer discharges. The most dangerous are the continuous current types. Be sure to use only UL listed units that are of the solid state transistor-type, with inter-mittent current.
DrO |
Melissa Webster (Mwebster)
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2002 - 11:23 am: | |
That's where I was headed. The low impedence fence chargers dispense very high voltage for an extremely short burst: 1/10000th of a second, once every second. These are harmless to humans, horses, and your pasture.
The high impedence chargers (with brand names like "Weed Burner"!) provide continuous current at a lower voltage. This is the kind you don't want. |
Erin L Chien
Member
Username: Erinport
Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004 - 3:39 pm: | |
You may consider switching to an electric tape type of fencing. We put one in ourselves (our first fencing adventure), and it went up quickly and easily. It's on a 6-volt solar charger, with intermittent shock, and it works like a dream. Our studdy gelding has stopped running the fence line separating boys from girls, and it only took him two shocks to learn to respect that fence. I have touched it myself, and while it shocks, it doesn't completely light your eyes up! He's a big boy, and has not challenged it since the second zap. The tape itself was very reasonably priced. It's the insulators that will hit you in the wallet! But after seeing it's effectiveness and ease of installation, I consider it worth every penny.
By the way, we added two strands of tape (one strand 1.5" at top and one strand .5" at center) to a four-strand barbed wire fence to increase visibility and to decrease the chances of them tangling with barbed wire. They keep a very respectful distance now, even at a full run. It seemed our most economical way to make that awful barbed wire a bit more safe for them. It turned out very well for us.
Good luck with your fence! |
Sharlene Roberts-Caudle
Member
Username: Roberts
Post Number: 10
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004 - 4:46 pm: | |
If you use tape etc., take a look at the different kinds. We first used a wide tape, but it didn't last very well and the regular insulators were less than satisfactory. The poly wire is not sturdy, but useful in adding visibility. We finally bought Electrobraid (web site is electrobraid.com, I believe)from Canada. Insulators were high quality, good service, guarenteed for 25 years. A very good thick poly rope with strands of copper imbedded. We used two strands of electrobraid and two strands of cheap poly tape as grounds. Best of all--you only need a post every 100 feet if your land is flat, if not flat then you need extra for the dips and rises. Good telephone customer service. We live where it is dry grass all summer. We use a low impedence charger with a auto battery with a solar panel to help it out. It stays charged for a remarkably long time. (We went through several chargers before the one we have.)
Good luck! |
