Lightning protection with 230 V mains energisers

VDE regulations: Energisers that provide power to electric fence systems in pastures may not be installed in rooms where there is a risk of fire, such as barns and stables. Lightning protection equipment must be installed before introducing the fence supply (spark gap with grounding).

TIP: Some insurers require that lightning protection is installed in order to pay out in the event of damage.

Fence switches

If your fence system consists of several paddocks, then it is a good idea to be able to turn these on and off individually. Install a fence switch for each paddock. This has the benefit of also being able to quickly isolate the area in the event of a fault. When making repairs or undertaking maintenance work on the fence, there is no need to make the long journey to the energiser to turn it off.

Connectors

Never put knots into fence wires, as this can impede the flow of electricity. Appropriate connectors are available for each type of conducting material. These improve the safety of your fence system. There are also special connection cables for connecting the energiser to the fence wires and cable for connecting several fence wires together.

Rope and stranded wire tensioner

Rust-free, round wire and rope tensioners have been proven to work in practice. These are installed after the fence wires have been attached. Simply rotate to tension the wire.

TIP: Use two tensioners per wire. On the first tensioner, wind up as much wire as possible so that there will be plenty available if repairs are ever needed. Use the second tensioner to tighten the wire.

When the weather is warm the wire will expand, and when it's cold the wire will contract. To ensure it doesn't sag, it is recommended to install a temperature balance spring. This spring absorbs the variations due to temperature and the wire remains tight. You can then also increase the distance between the electric fence posts (saves money).

Fence posts

Wooden posts or recycled posts are usually used in permanent fences. For mobile fences that are easy to put up and take down, posts made from metal, fibreglass or plastic have shown to be excellent choices. The current trend seems to be for plastic posts. These are light, fully insulated, weather-resistant with several loops to hold the conducting material. These are available in various lengths and designs for a diverse range of applications.

Electric fence gate

Particular care must be taken when installing an electric fence gate. Gate are always a weak point, so you should only have as few as is necessary and make use of particularly high-quality electric fence materials. If possible, find a spot in the fence where solid posts are already available to which you can attach the gate components. Never guide the electricity between the posts above ground. You should lay a special high-voltage cable (item no. 32600) in the soil from one post to the other. Never use gate handles with tensioning springs on horse fences (danger of injury). For these fences there are special handles available such as handles with elastic ropes (item no. 44255).

Connection of a 230 V energiser with insulated high voltage cable