Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of steel wire, the charger will power 10 miles of fence. Polymer wires and tapes add res-
istance to the flow of electricity and decrease the distance capacity to about 10 percent, so
a charger rated for 25 miles would power 2.5 miles of one polymer rope. Low-impedance
chargers are specially designed to maintain high power where polymer rope or tape is used
or where weeds are a problem; they are also less likely to cause a fire.
The fact that the transformer is making a clicking sound does not necessarily mean the
fence is working. Although horses seem to be able to sense when a fence is working and
when it is not without actually touching it, few humans have that ability. You should pur-
chase a fence tester so that you can check to be sure that ample current is flowing through
the fence without having to touch it! A handheld voltmeter provides a specific reading and
is easier to read in bright sunlight than a tester that lights a bulb.
You should formally train your horses to respect an electric fence by putting feed across
the fence from them. Once they realize what this new fence means, they will be less likely
to run through it. You may wish to or be required to post warning signs for people so they
