SIX STEPS TO PLANNING YOUR ELECTRIC FENCE
An electric fence is only as strong as its weakest link, so careful planning saves a lot of time and energy.
Use our six step checklist to help you work it through.
Step 1:
Will your electric fence be temporary or permanent? Or do you want to protect an existing timber or wire mesh fence? This decision will effect what you need to buy.
Step 2:
What livestock do you want to contain? Or do you want to deter rabbits or foxes? Our Wire Heights & Post Spacings section will give you an idea of how many electric fence lines you'll need, how to space them, and the best types of stakes, posts, and wire to use.
Step 3:
How big is the area you want to fence? You need a rough measurement of the perimeter to assess how much fence wire you will require, and how many posts to hold it. The length of your electric fence will also determine which energiser to buy.
Step 4:
How many corners or changes of direction are there? You will need strong anchor posts at every corner or significant bend in the fence.
Step 5:
What kind of fence energiser should you use? Are you close enough to a mains supply to use a mains energiser? If not, you will have to use a battery-powered model, or a dual power energiser that can run on either. Your choice will also depend on the length of your electric fence - the longer the run, the more power you need. The type of animal you want to fence is also a factor - sheep need more power to control them, for instance, than horses or cows.
Step 6:
Do you need a gateway or access area across an existing path? Give some thought to where you need to make a break in your electric fence so you can get in or move animals around easily.
Bear in mind that electric fencing can cause interference on telephone lines and it is your legal responsibility to avoid this by not siting fences under phone wires or parallel to underground telecoms cables. Similarly you must site your electric fence away from radio aerials.
Use our six step checklist to help you work it through.
Step 1:
Will your electric fence be temporary or permanent? Or do you want to protect an existing timber or wire mesh fence? This decision will effect what you need to buy.
Step 2:
What livestock do you want to contain? Or do you want to deter rabbits or foxes? Our Wire Heights & Post Spacings section will give you an idea of how many electric fence lines you'll need, how to space them, and the best types of stakes, posts, and wire to use.
Step 3:
How big is the area you want to fence? You need a rough measurement of the perimeter to assess how much fence wire you will require, and how many posts to hold it. The length of your electric fence will also determine which energiser to buy.
Step 4:
How many corners or changes of direction are there? You will need strong anchor posts at every corner or significant bend in the fence.
Step 5:
What kind of fence energiser should you use? Are you close enough to a mains supply to use a mains energiser? If not, you will have to use a battery-powered model, or a dual power energiser that can run on either. Your choice will also depend on the length of your electric fence - the longer the run, the more power you need. The type of animal you want to fence is also a factor - sheep need more power to control them, for instance, than horses or cows.
Step 6:
Do you need a gateway or access area across an existing path? Give some thought to where you need to make a break in your electric fence so you can get in or move animals around easily.
Bear in mind that electric fencing can cause interference on telephone lines and it is your legal responsibility to avoid this by not siting fences under phone wires or parallel to underground telecoms cables. Similarly you must site your electric fence away from radio aerials.