Electric fencing can be used for a wide variety of applications including animal exclusion, containment, strip grazing and security. All use a common principle of animals contacting the fence completing an electrical circuit which allows current to flow between live wires and earth. This causes an unpleasant shock which discourages the animal from touching the fence again.
Most electric fences are powered by a device called a power energizer. This converts mains or battery power into a short high voltage pulse which is transmitted along one of the insulated wires of the fence about once every second. The energizer’s other terminal is connected to a metal rod driven into the ground called a ground terminal. When an animal touches both the bare wire and the ground terminal they complete an electric circuit and experience a pulse of electricity which can vary from a very uncomfortable tingling sensation to a painful or even lethal jolt.
The pulsing nature of the current in electric fences is what differentiates them from mains electricity which delivers a continuous supply of energy. This is important because it ensures that the muscle cramping experienced is transitory and that the animal or person can retreat from the source of the power. In contrast a continuous current from mains electricity creates a grabbing effect which can be dangerous as it is impossible to release the source of the power.
All electric fences need to be properly grounded to prevent a buildup of potential energy that could cause fire. This is achieved by connecting a negative ground terminal on the energizer to a series of metal rods driven into the soil at the lowest point of the fence. Alternatively some fences use the positive fence terminal and the negative ground terminal of the energizer to deliver pulses of electricity. This requires that a person or animal touch both the positive and negative fence terminals in order to be shocked, but it significantly reduces the risk of a fire as it prevents excess electrons from being conducted to the combustible soil.
In order to operate safely, all electric fence malaysia need to be regularly checked and maintained. This includes clearing vegetation that may be contacting the wires and replacing damaged insulators. If a problem is discovered on an electrified fence, such as a broken wire or a leakage in the insulator, then the wire should be isolated from all other electrical conductors by cutting it off at the nearest junction box. This will avoid the possibility of the problem being spread to other sections of the fence or even into adjacent fields.
Sparking on the fence line is an indicator that there is a fault somewhere. This can be caused by a range of issues, such as a broken wire, faulty joins or insulator damage. The most common causes of sparking are corrosion in the copper or aluminium conductors, loose connections and a lack of tension on the wires. This can be easily fixed by using an insulator repair kit or soldering a new connection.