Electric fence chargers

[MSHappyCampers]

I have never owned or needed a fence charger so don't know how they work. I have some muscadine vines at home loaded with fruit that will be getting ripe later this month. Coons are getting up in the vines and creating havoc, knocking off as many as they are eating. I only have five vines so they will soon wipe out my crop!

I'm trying to trap them but not having much luck. I had the idea of using a fence charger to create a barrier around the vines. My big question is, does one foot have to be in direct contact with the ground when touching the wire, or does just touching the wire give the shock? I'm hoping we have some farmers, or ex-farmers, on here that have used them and can give me accurate info. Thanks for the education!

[RichR]

When you touch the wire you provide the ground source, that's the shock. Be sure your charger is well grounded or bad things can happen.

[MSHappyCampers]

So you're saying that you can be totally insulated from the ground and still get the shock?

[777 Driver]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

My big question is, does one foot have to be in direct contact with the ground when touching the wire, or does just touching the wire give the shock? Thanks for the education!

Touching the wire with some body part while some other body part is in contact with the ground will teach the lesson.

https://www.premier1supplies.com/a/h...BoCqtsQAvD_BwE

The laws where I live allow a property owner to trap a nuisance animal on his property. It just doesn't allow transporting the nuisance live animal off your property.

Take care,
Stu

[Jpiland]

You have to have one foot or something of your body to complete the circuit. Just make a Maze of wire around your vines. The deeper the ground rod the stronger the shock. Good luck

[777 Driver]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

So you're saying that you can be totally insulated from the ground and still get the shock?

Hi Joe,

Nope, the animal's body provides a path to ground for the current to pass.

Here's a short video showing how it's possible to touch a high voltage power line without getting shocked when there's no path to ground through your body:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdqYfmK-S9I

Take care,
Stu

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm just wondering that with the green grass around the vines and the dry ground if there would be enough ground contact to complete the circuit?

[arcaguy]

Grass has lots of water and a very robust root system so the answer is yes, it will provide a ground. Electric fences are fairly high voltage so it takes a lot of insulation for them not to work. Now, what they say around my house is shoot, shovel and shut-up, but I live out in the country. Good luck, coons can be pesky little critters.

[Arch Hoagland]

I had horses and an electric fence.

Trust me...anybody touching that fence is gonna get it good.

I was in very dry country...no rain for several months.

The problem you will run into is when branches and things fall on the electric fence. You've got to check it on a regular basis.

[J Birder]

Some of these responses contain a lot of misinformation.

I nave never been a farmer, but early in my engineering career, I worked for Underwriters Laboratories. Electronic fence controllers were one of the product categories that I was responsible for, and they haven't changed much since then.

First, if the fence controller is UL listed, it will be safe, regardless of whether or not it is properly grounded. Coming in contact will be mighty uncomfortable, but not dangerous. I don't remember the numbers, but the output of the controller is very high voltage and very low current. I will consist of pulses that are only a few milliseconds in duration.

One of the tests That we performed on them was to measure the pulse width (duration). This required using an oscilloscope with the frame of the scope being ungrounded. I couldn't tell you how many times I got bit by accidentally touching the scope case while adjusting the scope controls, and I was completely ungrounded, with rubber soled shoes. It never failed to scare the hell out of me, even though I knew that it wouldn't hurt me, and even though I was somewhat prepared for it.

That I am still here, is proof that these things are not dangerous. That I was frequently shocked is proof that the "victim" will get shocked. even if not grounded.

Joel

[MSHappyCampers]

I found this charger online at Tractor Supply. In reading the Q&A it says it will need an 8' ground rod. I will be using less than 100' of wire for my application. Will I still need that much grounding?

[J Birder]

Ground rods are cheap, and they don't come shorter than 8', but don't worry if you can't get it all into the ground. The length of wire that you are using, has no relationship to the length of the ground rod.


Joel

[RichR]

No ground rod could result in a serious shock, I would not do that. My last charger was from tractor supply and works very well. Wire run is about 300 ft but is well grounded. Instructions will tell to ground the charger.

[nvs4602]

They will just run through the fence. It may work a few times. But we had the same problem with an acre of sweet corn. Put up the fence and I could hear them running under it and getting zapped. If you can play music outside that works good too