Electric fencing thoughts

[Greenbeast]

I intend to set up permanent electric paddocks for the horses and cows this year. Got fed up of the tedious job of moving temporary electric last year.

We have one mains energiser currently used on a small calf paddock. All the mains power is on one side of our farm track and the paddocks and rest of our stock are on the other side of the track.

I'm going to run some conduit under the track for later extending our electricity and water over but in the short term i'm assuming i can use 2 core insulated wiring to take the live and earth from the main energiser under the track to the new paddocks?
And in theory, also to the rest of our pig fencing, with cut-off switches to allow us to engage and disengage any pen/set of pens at will once at the location.

Am i right?
For good measure i was thinking of also taking a single core insulated wire to the bottom of the paddocks and having a second earth stake down there?

 

[multi power]

You only need a single core, don't need earth put single core in some water pipe to protect it

 

[Greenbeast]

You only need a single core, don't need earth put single core in some water pipe to protect it

the assumption being that there's an earth spike already next to the energiser?
But what about extra earth spikes further down the field, that would need an extra core to carry back yes?

 

[TripleSix]

You don't need to take the earth connection with you?

Use proper high voltage cable under tracks, we tried using domestic twin and earth cable which didn't work.

I put up a load of "white lightening" wire up for an equestrian centre a couple of years back, it's plastic coated cable, but gives a shock, it's good, and has been little issue, it all runs off a single mains fencer, which also powers HT strands on top of post and rails and a lot of temporary fencing in another field, gives a good shock even 1000m away from the unit.

 

[multi power]

the assumption being that there's an earth spike already next to the energiser?
But what about extra earth spikes further down the field, that would need an extra core to carry back yes?

Just make sure you have a good earth at the energiser

 

[Greenbeast]

Just make sure you have a good earth at the energiser

i.e. bury something

the distance to bottom of field will be about 200m (yes, we're small)

 

[multi power]

i.e. bury something

the distance to bottom of field will be about 200m (yes, we're small)

A couple of copper rods should be plenty
Don't forget all connections need to be very good
When I was in NZ all joints were bolted, twisting wires together was not deemed good enough

 

[milkloss]

I'd get some proper insulated electric fence wire for under the track and you'll most likely get away with one copper earth driven in near the fencer. If you're like us though it's more likely to be an offcut off scaff tube hammered in till you've had enough! Is it a big fencer unit?

 

[Greenbeast]

I'd get some proper insulated electric fence wire for under the track and you'll most likely get away with one copper earth driven in near the fencer. If you're like us though it's more likely to be an offcut off scaff tube hammered in till you've had enough! Is it a big fencer unit?

good shout.
Once the tractor is back in action i can put the post knocker to task on that.....

Not particularly no, not sure it'll be used for my whole farm idea, but it's what we have currently

 

[milkloss]

Once the tractor is back in action i can put the post knocker to task on that.....

Sledge it in! Little work on a chilly morning never hurt

 

[Greenbeast]

Sledge it in! Little work on a chilly morning never hurt

only thinking that the tractor could knock in a lot longer post than i could reach to sledge....

 

[JWL]

What I've used to good effects over the years is old armoured cable buried under the tracks and gateways, peel back the insulation on all the wires going through and send the energiser current down them all. There's some around that are over 20 years old and still working fine

 

[Greenbeast]

What I've used to good effects over the years is old armoured cable buried under the tracks and gateways, peel back the insulation on all the wires going through and send the energiser current down them all. There's some around that are over 20 years old and still working fine

I think i do actually have some 6mm 4core armoured that might be long enough....

 

[JWL]

A lot have places have lengths of armoured cable that isn't long enough to do a usefull job but you're all loathe to chuck it in the scrap bin because it might come in "usefull" one day............ well that day has come!

 

[tepapa]

The weak point in most electric fence systems is the earth. A Crash barrier or two make good earth rods, driven in a wet spot. Also try not to use copper and galv wire together they corrode and create a poor connection

 

[Greenbeast]

Having a farm does enable a different scale of hoarding, that's for sure

 

[Yeti]

If I was you I would ring Tim Nixon @ KiwiKit he covers your area and will give you all the advice you need on electric fencing. Everyone here has valid views but he will tell you what you need and what works to keep the power consistent all the way around. He's done a lot in the South

 

[JohnBoy]

Power Fence Manual. https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&sour...bHm3zATHE4-3mx0yg&sig2=cfdTYFLrsvW4Zo12nq3ytA


Some light reading

 

[Fixxer]

Try and do a good job on the sections that that will be buried .Power in an electric fence is high voltage 3 to 10,000 volts ,you need a big thickness of good insulation to keep the voltage from arcing. Its a bit like spark plug leads.
I have used domestic pvc insulated cable, old telephone cable, offcuts of S.W.A.
All have have short lives and have had to be replaced.
Buy single core heavy insulated cable and run it in plastic pipe.