How Electric Fencing Works

By now, you’re more than likely all too familiar with what it feels like to get shocked by an electric fence. But what is really happening to deliver the shock?

In this video from Zareba®, North America’s largest producer of electric fencing supplies, we'll show you the flow of electric current on the fence to see how the process works.
DELIVERY OF ELECTRICITY

Starting at the fence charger, electric current is fed into your system by either an AC power outlet or battery on your DC or solar charger. This current is then built up through a series of transformers inside your fence charger which takes that electricity and converts it into a higher voltage charge.

This higher voltage charge is what is released to your fence lines from your charger’s fence terminal post and wire connection.

-Electric Fence Charger Options from Zareba®: http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/electric-fence-chargers
TWO TERMINALS ON THE CHARGER

Fence chargers are designed with two external terminals to intentionally create separation in the electric circuit. Electricity enters the fence circuit on the “hot” fence terminal, and completes the circuit when it’s collected by the ground rods and sent up to the ground terminal from your connecting ground wire.

This ground terminal on your charger is just as important in delivering an effective shock to your animal as having a strong output voltage on your fence charger. A fence’s shocking power is only as strong as its grounding system is able to receive. A smaller grounding setup will receive less electric current, and emit less shock on the line.

 Grounding System Options from Zareba®: http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/electric-fence-accessories/grounding
COMPLETING THE CIRCUIT

The main objective a charge has coming out of a fence charger on the fence line terminal is to find the shortest connecting path to that ground terminal to complete the circuit. The objective, then, of an electric fence system is to only allow one successful point of circuit completion for that current, and that successful point of completion happens when an object touches the “hot” wire and the earth at the same time.

This could be your animal, a branch shorting out the wire, or you may have been the lucky one to complete this circuit once or twice. This is also why birds don’t get shocked on fence lines … they don’t have a contact point with both earth and the wire.

-Electric Fence Tester Options from Zareba®: http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/electric-fence-accessories/testing
WHY INSULATORS ARE USED

To keep this electric current cleanly running, fence systems utilize insulators to attach wires to posts - insulated wire to make underground connections - And weeds and grass kept off the line, all to keep the electric current from running to the ground.

So, that instantaneous shock felt by the animal touching a fence line is the result of the electric current being passed through its body to the earth. And depending on your soil conditions, (higher moisture levels being more conductive and number of ground rods), the earth can carry this circuit over hundreds of feet to be received by your grounding rods and sent up to your ground terminal.

-Electric Fence Insulator Options from Zareba®: http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/electric-fence-insulators
SUCCESSFUL ANIMAL CONTAINMENT WITH ELECTRIC FENCING

The basic principle of electric currents is what electric fencing utilizes to provide the psychological barrier for animal containment. The charge has successfully completed its trip out of the fence terminal, down the wire, through your body, down to the earth, received by the grounding rods, and back up into the ground terminal.

Electric fencing is one of the safest forms of fencing for both you and your animals. Look for a 3rd party approved safety label from UL or CSA on your charger to ensure all safety evaluations have been completed. The shock from an electric fence charger is extremely low amperage for 3/10,000 of a second, once a second, so it’s an immediate, unpleasant psychological deterrent.

-Electric Fence Advice by Animal from Zareba®: http://www.zarebasystems.com/learning-center/animal-selector
MORE ABOUT ZAREBA® AND ITS ELECTRIC FENCING PRODUCTS

-Have any questions about installing an electric fence charger from Zareba®? Call 855-592-7322. Contact Zareba® online at: http://www.zarebasystems.com/contact-us

-Electric Fence Installation Guide: http://www.zarebasystems.com/learning-center

Видео How Electric Fencing Works канала Zareba Systems®