Electric fencing question

[JohnGalway]

I'm considering running a single strand of electric wire around the boundaries of the farm. Both to try to deter unwanted visitors and to carry current for temporary fences.

The farm is right on the coast with shoreline boundary.

Just doing a little reading, aluminium wire is best for conductivity, but I saw on one site that it shouldn't be used within 5km of the coast. My other two options (unless there are more) are galvanised wire or stainless steel.

Which would be best for longevity and efficiently carrying a good current?

 

[Dry Rot]

Difficult to say as you don't tell us what length of run your fence has but normal fence wire (2.5mm high tensile galvanised) should be sufficient for most purposes. I have 30 acres here, most of it permanent electric fencing. The top wire is insulated from the lower wires (also insulated), so I can switch the electricity depending whether I have large stock (horses or cattle -- top wire only electrified) or sheep, all four or five wires electrified. I can also lead out a temporary fence from the top wire.

I think aluminium or stainless is unnecessary over kill for electric fencing, but I am sure someone will prove me wrong. Nor do I trim back growth on the wire except when it becoms excessive. But I do buy the best mains unit I can afford. A lot of the time, the fence is actually turned off but horses, anyway, won't go near it. Proper training is the answer.

Yes, I think you could get some power loss due to sea mist/fog but your stock would surely be trained by that time. Some forestry guys demonstrated just how much salt spray gets on pine needles when I was out in the islands. I am at sea level and probably under 2 miles from the sea, but I've never thought about it and I've been using mains electric fencing here for the last 30+ years. Just buy a bigger energiser if you're worried.

 

[deleted user 832e5323]

I'm slowly getting a hot wire around all the field boundaries. For all same the reasons you mention, we're right on the coast also.
I use 2.65mm Gallagher electromax wire. Its a good strong high tensile steel wire with zinc and aluminium alloy coating making it very conducive. I've used mainly Strainrite pinlock outriggers.
All in all it does a fantastic job reinforcing old stock fencing with a few new posts knocked in along the way. Stops the cattle pushing over the fence and temporarily subdivision reels are easily powered up.

 

[Dry Rot]

I'm slowly getting a hot wire around all the field boundaries. For all same the reasons you mention, we're right on the coast also.
I use 2.65mm Gallagher electromax wire. Its a good strong high tensile steel wire with zinc and aluminium alloy coating making it very conducive. I've used mainly Strainrite pinlock outriggers.
All in all it does a fantastic job reinforcing old stock fencing with a few new posts knocked in along the way. Stops the cattle pushing over the fence and temporarily subdivision reels are easily powered up.

It would be interesting measuring the resistance of different types of wire and comparing the results. I am not convinced it makes much difference except over very long distances but presumably someone has done the tests.

 

[tepapa]

It would be interesting measuring the resistance of different types of wire and comparing the results. I am not convinced it makes much difference except over very long distances but presumably someone has done the tests.

There are usually test results within the marketing bumff from the sales people with the resistance for the different wires.

 

[Dry Rot]

There are usually test results within the marketing bumff from the sales people with the resistance for the different wires.

If the marketing people can persuade the customer to buy a different product for more money, they will tell the buyer what he/she wants to hear! But for all practical purposes, 2.5 HT galvaised steel wire is what is preferred for permanent electric fences. I doubt whether being near the sea will make much difference. Given that, the next weak spot will be joins and insulators, i.e. leakage from the circuit.

Lots of information on electric fencing here: Wire is discussed on page 12.

http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/resources/000/029/946/Electric-fencing-manual.pdf

 

[tepapa]

If the marketing people can persuade the customer to buy a different product for more money, they will tell the buyer what he/she wants to hear! But for all practical purposes, 2.5 HT galvaised steel wire is what is preferred for permanent electric fences. I doubt whether being near the sea will make much difference. Given that, the next weak spot will be joins and insulators, i.e. leakage from the circuit.

Lots of information on electric fencing here: Wire is discussed on page 12.

http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/resources/000/029/946/Electric-fencing-manual.pdf

Think the benefit of the alloy wires is if your sending power a long way on a long fence where resistance and voltage drop will be more of an issue. For small systems close to the energiser Itnt such of an issue.