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Electric Fence Components
High-Voltage Burial Wire It is important to select the correct wire to connect to your electric fence . Choose wire rated to carry up to 10,000 volts . DO NOT use insulated wire that is designed for residential use , as this is not rated to carry the voltage emitted by your fence charger . This burial wire is used to connect the charger to the fence and to the ground system , between individual ground rods . It “ jumps ” the electricity from the primary “ hot ” strand / rail of the fence to a lower strand / rail . It is important to keep the type of wire and components consistent with the fence system used . For example , ElectroBraid™ utilizes copper wires in the fence braids , therefore , burial wire and connectors must be copper to ensure that the fence performs properly . Most other types of electric fences can utilize galvanized and stainless steel hardware .
Low Impedance Charger Also called an energizer , this provides an electric pulse that streams through the fence about once per second . The effectiveness of a charger is based on many different things : soil moisture , size of the ground field , type , and amount of fence . The most important measure of output is the Joule rating . More joules do not equate to higher shock if the horse touches the fence , but rather a more steady flow should there be resistance along the fence , such as weeds . A good rule of thumb is 1 joule for a 5-acre pasture . The output of the charger should be selected to provide between 4000-5000 volts through the fence at the point furthest from the charger . This “ bite ” felt by the horse is short-lived and not enough to cause physical harm .
Lightning Arrestor Acts as a buffer between the fence and the charger and helps to prevent damage to the charger should there be a lightning strike . The lightning arrestor is installed between the charger and the fence .
Cut-Off Switch Acts to interrupt the flow of electricity from the charger to the fence . It can be installed between the charger and the fence to provide an easy way of disconnecting the power without having to return to the barn ( generally where the charger is located ).
Insulators The insulators prevent the electric current from touching objects , such as the fence post , which would ground out the circuit . Various types of insulators are available . Be sure to select those that are designed to work with whatever style of electric fence you have , as not all insulators will work with each type ( tape , coated wire , braid , etc .).
RAMM
Always keep an electric fence turned on to keep the fence in good shape and your horses safely contained .
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