Electric Fence – Making Both Strands Live

We often get asked how to make both lines of an electric fence live.   Whether you have electric fencing tape, electric fencing rope or electric fencing wire, it is very easy to make both lines of your electric fence live.  The top line is usually the strand linked to your energiser and this will be live, assuming your energiser is set up correctly.  The second strand down will not be live unless you connect it to the top ‘live strand’ on your electric fence.  To do this you can use either a Tape To Tape Connector, for tape, or a Hart To Hart Connector for rope.   You only need one connector for most fences, although on very long fences you may wish to add another Connector further down the line.

Tape To Tape Connector

£6.25

 

https://www.farmcareuk.com/products/70/tape-to-tape-connector

Hart To Hart Connector

£5.25

https://www.farmcareuk.com/products/134/hart-to-hart-connector

We also get asked why some people choose not to make the bottom strands of their electric fence live.  There are a few reasons for this:

• If the bottom of the fence is likely to get a lot of grass, it is best not to make it live.  Anything that touches a live line will get grounded and will weaken the fence.  Some poeple put an on/off switch on their bottom line, so when the grass is particularly long, they can switch off the bottom line very easily.
• If the bottom line is very close to the ground, small animals may accidentally gound it.  Slugs and snails have been known to do this!  Again, in this instance it is best to leave the bottom line as negative.
• Some animals only need a shock at the sensitive part of their bodies.  For example, if you have horses, they usually get a good shock on their neck.   There is usually no need to have the bottom line of the fence ‘live’ and it will save battery power if you only use the top line of fencing.

Of course, electric fencing is a bit of an art and a bit of a judgement call.  If you have horses and ponies in the same filed, you may wish to make both lines live to ensure the pony doesn’t duck under the top line of fencing. Or if you have very young children around, you may wish to only make the top line of your electric fence live.

If you have any questions about your electric fence, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.  We help people set up their electric fences everyday and are usually told it is far easier than expected!

FarmCare UK

Clipper and Electric fencing Specialist

01323 406212

Unbeatable Prices and Fast Shipping!

Solar Panels To Run Your 12 Volt Leisure Battery For Your Electric Fence

Have you considered using solar power to run your 12 volt leisure battery?  Simply attach it to the top of your battery, face it due south in a sunny post and you are set!  No more charging of your heavy battery, except during the darkest winter months when you may need to give it a few boosts.  A 10 watt solar panel suitable for the vast majority of electric fence energisers costs only £32.99 – worth every penny to avoid trudging the heavy battery in and out every couple of weeks!