Electric Fencing is usually made from a steel wire and comes in different thickness levels as well as a range of designs. When installing electric fencing around your property it needs to be earthed from all elements and materials that can typically cause the fence to short out, set fire or conduct electricity. Any materials such as vegetation should be kept away from the electric fencing and the fencing should never be attached to any metal or wood posts. All electric fencing should be attached to insulators made from plastic or porcelain.

Fundamentals of Electric fencing

With the fencing connected to a powered energiser a short high voltage electrical pulse can be generated when contact is made with the wire electric fencing. As one of the terminal are connected to the powered energiser producing an electrical pulse at the rate of 1 per second the other terminal is connected to a rod made from metal which is embedded in the earth's crust. This is typically known as an earth rod or ground rod. How the electric fencing works is once the animal or person touches the wire fencing and the earth's crust which the ground rod is embedded, an electrical pulse will be generated and an electric shock received.

Can the Electric Shock Cause Harm?

Many aspects can influence the amount of electricity and ultimately the type of shock the recipient receives. The voltage levels, the amount of contact made between the person or animal and the fence, the amount of energy carried in the pulse and the route the current takes as it passes through the body are just a few of the factors that can make the difference in an electric shock. Some people hardly notice a shock from an electric fence, others feel the uncomfortable pain and for few the shock results in death.

Different Types of Electric Fencing

There are two different types of electric fencing, non-lethal fencing and lethal fencing. Non-lethal electric fencing is widely used in the UK to prevent trespassers and is common with private land owners and government bodies. Examples of this include anything from housing communities and commercial factories to prisons and military bases. In addition to causing an electric shock electric fencing also act as monitored burglar alarm system.

Lethal electric fencing is designed to send very strong electrical impulses down the fence wire to have a detrimental effect on what comes into contact with it. Usually lethal electric fencing is used for anti-personnel purposes such as closing off access to bordering countries, concentration camps in the early wars and some high security prisons.