- Wear thick gloves when handling electric wire. Cow-hide gloves work better than pig-hide gloves do, as you get less of a shock through them when handling electric wire.
- There's no preference as to whether tape or wire works best. Tape tends to be more noticeable by the animals and tends to send more of a charge than wire, though wire carries just as much of a shock as tape does.
- The step-in posts are great because they can be pulled up and relocated in response to your herd's grazing pressures, or just simply to re-size a paddock.
- Ground rods are necessary, but sometimes conditions can be so dry that the ground rod doesn't reach far enough to moister ground. Try slowly pouring a pail of water over the ground rod to help temporarily increase the charge during drought periods
- You may have to invest in a longer ground-rod, especially if you live in an area where drought is not all that uncommon. They can come in longer lengths than 6 or 8 feet, though you may have to ask around to find any.
- Every time you have to splice a broken wire, it is wise to turn off the charger
- Also wear good work boots, not sandals or sneakers or even rubber boots, in order to get less of a charge running through you. Good boots will act as an insulator, reducing the electricity that runs from your hand down to the ground.
- If you are having problems with your animals not noticing the fence, or if you are having issues with wildlife ruining your fence, then hang pie-plates or strips of white cloth or plastic bags from the wire in between each post. These are much more noticeable than a simple wire is, and will work in deterring wildlife from wrecking your electric fence.
- Use of knots is very helpful in proper installment of this kind of fence.
July 12, 2014
