Umair Gaines
Electric fences are used to deter animals and poultry by sending high-voltage pulses of electrons down the conductor every 1-2 seconds. The effectiveness of an electric fence depends on several factors, including the quality of the fence, the power source, and the type of energizer used. To increase the voltage of an electric fence, it is recommended to improve the earthing by adding additional earth stakes and rods, especially in dry and sandy conditions that increase resistance and weaken the pulse. It is also important to ensure that the fence is free from vegetation and that the correct type of energizer is used, such as a low-impedance energizer for poly fencing materials. While modifying an electric fence's output by adding resistors can decrease the voltage, it is advised to be cautious when attempting to do so due to safety concerns.
How to increase voltage for an electric fence
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electric fence type | AC-powered, solar-powered, battery-powered |
| Fence material | Wire, poly fencing |
| Soil type | Moist, dry, sandy, rocky |
| Vegetation | Weeds, tall grass |
| Energizer type | Low impedance, high impedance, solid-state, pulse-type |
| Energizer output | 2,000–6,000 volts, 8,000 volts |
| Energizer output frequency | Every 1–2 seconds |
| Number of earth rods | One every 500 meters |
| Maintenance | Regular inspection, maintenance as required |
| Safety considerations | Do not modify the fence, do not allow human or animal contact |
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What You'll Learn
Improving earthing with more earth rods
Electric fences are designed to deliver a shock to animals that touch the wire. The shock is delivered when the animal completes an electrical circuit by touching the wire, which is connected to a power source, and a metal stake, or earth rod, in the ground. The effectiveness of the shock depends on the conductivity of the soil. Dry, sandy, rocky, or frozen soil will require more earth stakes than wet soils.
If your electric fence is not working properly, it may be because the voltage is too high. If you measure more than 300 volts, you should install more earth rods until the voltage is below 300 volts. You can also add Bentonite earthing mix to the soil where your earth rods are positioned, as this will improve conductivity. As a rule of thumb, you should use at least three earth stakes or the Energizer Stored Joules rating divided by five.
The number of earth stakes you need will also depend on the power of the energizer and the type of soil. High-powered energizers need more earth stakes than low-powered energizers. If your fence extends over 500 meters away from the main earth, you will need to add an additional earth line to the bottom of the fence and bury a stake at those intervals. Wire is a better conductor than the ground, so a ground rod every 500 meters will increase the effectiveness of the fence.
It is important to regularly inspect and maintain your electric fence to ensure it is working properly. Weeds or tall grass touching the wire can reduce the voltage, so keep your fence line clear.
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Using a pulse-type energizer
Electric fence energizers are devices that convert mains or battery power into high-voltage pulses. These pulses are sent through the fence line about once every second, and the voltage pushes amperage down the fence wire. The higher the voltage, the more amperage it can push.
To increase the voltage of an electric fence using a pulse-type energizer, you can follow these steps:
- Ensure you are using an insulated wire rated at 20,000 volts or more to make the electric fence connections. This will help prevent voltage loss.
- If you are powering the fence from a battery, consider adding a low battery alarm or low voltage disconnect to prevent the battery from draining too low and becoming damaged.
- Utilize a pulse module or electric fence energizer pulse generator. These devices can be attached to a coil/transformer and a suitable capacitor to generate high-voltage pulses.
- Adjust the pulse frequency by using different-sized coils/transformers. Larger coils/transformers will decrease the pulse frequency, while smaller ones will increase it.
- Use a buck/booster converter to control the coil's exit output voltage. This is especially useful if your ignition coil outputs a very high voltage, such as 20kV or more.
- Test the voltage with a load, ideally a fence line load of 500 Ohms. The line voltage will drop as the length of the fence line increases, so it is important to test accordingly.
- Increase the capacitor uF to compensate for any loss of energy output due to voltage adjustments.
By following these steps, you can effectively increase the voltage of your electric fence using a pulse-type energizer. However, it is important to prioritize safety and ensure that you are a qualified and competent user before attempting to work with high-voltage equipment.
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Increasing the output joules
To increase the output joules, you can start by improving the earthing of your electric fence. The ground constitutes 50% of the electrical circuit, and poor earthing is the origin of 90% of all problems. You can improve earthing by driving additional earth stakes into the ground about 2 meters away from the existing stake and joining them together. In dry climates or sandy soil, which increases resistance and results in weaker pulses, you may need to consider an Earth Return fence. This involves constructing the fence with equal numbers of live and earth wires, removing the ground from the electrical circuit. Additionally, ensuring that the soil around the stakes is moist can improve conductivity.
Another way to increase the output joules is to use a pulse-type energizer, which sends brief, high-voltage pulses of electrons down the conductor. A low impedance energizer is recommended as it allows more power to pass through vegetation due to its short duration pulses.
You can also try connecting all the electrified wires every 30 meters to improve the travel of the electrical charge. This ensures that if one of the lines breaks, it will be reconnected, and the entire fence will be re-energized, including back to the break.
It is important to note that modifying electric fence output can be dangerous. It is recommended to consult a professional or seek advice from a reputable supplier of electric fencing products.
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Improving soil moisture
Firstly, it is essential to understand that the more moisture there is in the soil, the faster it can absorb water. Leaving tall grass stubble during pasture management helps create a shade and humidity envelope that slows down runoff and keeps the soil as moist as possible. This technique is especially beneficial in preparing the soil to absorb more water when rainfall arrives.
Secondly, the type of soil you have plays a significant role in moisture retention. Clay or loam soils have excellent water absorption and retention capabilities, while sandy soils allow water to percolate quickly, making it challenging for plant roots to access groundwater. By understanding your soil type, you can implement strategies to improve moisture retention. For example, if you have sandy soil, consider adding organic matter, such as compost or mulch, to increase its water-holding capacity.
Additionally, implementing daily pasture rotation can help increase soil moisture retention. By rotating your livestock's grazing areas, you can control their grazing behaviour and allow specific areas to recover. This recovery period enables the soil to retain more water, reducing the impact of evaporation and runoff.
Another strategy is to focus on drought management. Implement strategies to reduce the severity of droughts and prepare your pastures for faster recovery. This can include techniques such as mulching, creating windbreaks, or utilizing drought-resistant plant species. By improving your pasture's resilience to droughts, you can enhance soil moisture retention even during challenging weather conditions.
Furthermore, ensure that your electric fence is properly earthed. In dry climates or sandy soils, consider installing additional earth stakes or rods to improve earthing. These rods should be placed in permanently moist soil to enhance conductivity. You can also use Bentonite earthing mix, which improves conductivity and earthing. By improving earthing, you can optimize the voltage of your electric fence and ensure its effectiveness.
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Adding bait to the fence
Electric fences are a great way to keep animals in or out of an area, but they need to be maintained and adapted to suit the animals in question. One way to increase the voltage of an electric fence is to add bait to the fence, encouraging animals to investigate it. This method is particularly useful for animals that are not naturally curious and will simply jump over the fence without investigating it, such as Springbok, Impala, and some species of Deer.
To do this, attach suitable bait to the fence, which will encourage the animals to investigate the wires with their noses and tongues. This method should only be used in the initial stages and discontinued once the animals have learned to avoid the fence. It is important to note that this method may be considered cruel, as it stimulates animals to test the fence when they would otherwise respect it.
When adding bait to an electric fence, it is important to consider the voltage requirements for different animals. For example, wild hogs, wolves, coyotes, and bears typically require a higher voltage of around 5,000-6,000 V, due to their aggressive nature and thick, insulating fur. On the other hand, smaller nuisance animals, such as pets, typically require a lower voltage of 700-2,000 V.
It is also important to regularly check and maintain your electric fence to ensure it is working properly. This includes checking for broken insulators, loose connections, and vegetation growth, which can reduce voltage and make the fence less effective. Additionally, consider investing in tools such as a fence alert or indicator lights that will notify you when there is a problem with the fence, allowing you to take prompt action to fix any issues.
By following these instructions and adapting the voltage and baiting techniques to suit the specific animals in your area, you can effectively increase the voltage of your electric fence and improve its performance and effectiveness in containing or deterring animals.
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Frequently asked questions
Increasing the voltage of your electric fence can be dangerous and is not recommended. Instead, you can improve the effectiveness of your fence by improving the earthing. You can do this by adding more earth rods to the ground and ensuring that they are in permanently moist soil.
If you are in a dry climate, you may need to consider an Earth Return fence. This is where the fence is constructed from equal numbers of live and earth wires. You can also connect all the electrified wires every 30 meters to improve the travel of the electrical charge.
You can attach suitable bait to the fence to encourage animals to touch the fence with their noses and tongues, which will reinforce the psychological imprint of the fence. You can also use a pulse-type energizer to electrify your fence.
