Electric Fence & Fencing Installation

Battery Powered Units
1. Ensure that the fencing energiser is switched OFF before connecting to the battery.
2. Position the fencing energiser near to the fence line. Push the earth stake or fencer stand firmly into moist ground.
3. For 12volt energisers the RED is positive and BLACK negative wires are connected to the 12 volt Wet leisure battery (a car battery is not recommended as it is not designed to be fully discharged).
4. The live RED crocodile clip is connected to the fence line.
5. The earth GREEN (or BLACK) crocodile clip is connected to the earth stake (a one metre long steel stake is recommended). For short fencing distances the earth clip may be connected to the stand.
6. Switch the Electric Fence Energiser on.

The LED Indicator will flash at approximately one pulse per second, indicating that the fencing energiser is working correctly. If the unit is fitted with a 'low battery' indicator, the LED will go red to indicate that the battery needs recharging.

Mains Powered Units
1. These units are designed to be fitted INDOORS ONLY.
2. Mount the electric fencing unit on an inside wall near a mains supply. It is important that the unit is fixed in a vertical position.
3. Connect the green earth terminal to a one metre earth stake, away from the building.
Do NOT connect to the Mains Supply Earth.
4. Connect the live fence line output, using high voltage cable to the electric fence line.
5. Connect the mains lead to the power supply and switch the electric fencing energiser on.

Radio Interference
All Hotline & Gallagher fencers comply with the relevant Electro Magnetic Compatibility regulations (EN50082-1, EN55014, EN581-1).
However, in poor areas of radio reception problems may still arise. If this situation is encountered the aspects should be carefully checked;

• A really good earth system is paramount - the fencer must NOT be connected to water or gas pipes, or the mains electricity earth. Use double insulated lead-out cable to your earth system.
• Do not run your electric fence line parallel to telephone lines or power cables.
• Make sure all connections and joins are sound.
• Make sure all your electric fence insulators are in perfect order.
• Make sure there is no vegetation touching the fence line. (Even a blade of grass will cause sparking which is the cause of radio interference.)

To find faulty joints, leaks or shorts:
Walk along the electric fence line with a transistor radio tuned slightly 'off station' and listen for an increase in the loudness of the clicks. The closer you get to the fault the louder the clicks will get.

Installation of an Earth/Ground stake
The earthing system is an integral part of your fencers performance.

• All fencers must have a return path through the ground via the earth stake back to the fencer in order to complete the circuit loop. Remember that all electrical circuits must form a complete loop from the positive (live) to the negative (earth) terminals of the supply circuit. In terms of electric fencing this means that the ground (earth) is just as much part of the circuit as the fence line and the animal is the missing link that completes the loop.
• Any vegetation touching the fence will also complete the loop causing the output voltage of the fencer to drop. It is very important therefore to keep any growth on the fence line to minimum to ensure the animal receives the maximum shock available.
• Earth stakes must be totally independent of the household/domestic earthing arrangements and at least 10 metres away from an electricity supply earth rod where an earth leakage trip is employed.
• An effective earth system would comprise two one metre long steel stakes driven fully into the soil approximately two metres apart and joined together if possible in the ground with 2.5mm steel cable connected to the earth terminal of the electric fencing unit.
• Always try to install the earth system in a permanently moist area. If this is not possible, water the ground around the earth stakes in dry weather conditions.
• In areas with particularly poor earth conditions, eg sand, peat or very dry soil, it is possible to increase the earth efficiency by: Increasing the number of earth stakes or running an earth wire in parallel to the fence line and connecting it to earth stakes at regular intervals.

Earthing Guidelines
In the majority of cases the ground return system to the earth stake is most effective, but under very dry conditions and with very long permanent fences, it might be necessary to use a live/earth system. In other words the wires of the fence system are either positive or negative. So when the animal touches the fence it will touch both a positive and a negative wire, thus completing the circuit and therefore it will receive a shock.
Join all the positive/live wires together which are fed by the live terminal of the fence unit. Also join the negative/earth wires together which are connected to the earth terminal of the unit. Earth stakes can be situated at various lengths along the fence and connected to the negative line. So if an animal touches only the positive wire, the current has only a relatively short distance to travel to an earth stake and then on back to a fence unit to complete the circuit.
On shorter systems, especially where battery units are used, it is important to put the earth stake as close to the center of the electric fencing as possible. The shorter the distance the current has to travel through the ground to the earth stake, the more effective the shock.

Fence Heights
Below is a selection of fence heights for permanent systems for certain animals. Heights can of course vary depending on personal preference, and if in doubt it is always better to add an extra higher line.

Horses

Cattle

Sheep

Pigs

Rabbits

Warning

• Avoid contacting electric fence wires, especially with the head, neck or torso.
• Do not climb over, through or under a multi-wire electric fence.
• Use a gate or a specially designed crossing point.
• Use alternative live earth systems with caution.
• Do not pass electric fencing wires across or adjacent to any form of water trough.
• Never electrify barbed wire.
• Do not allow children to play near an electric fence.
• Always use warning signs 50m apart and compliant with safety standards.
• Never connect more than one energiser to the same fence.