All site visits are subject to site visit and fence type and design
Wall top electric ferncing from 5 to 10 strand with round bar or suare tubes Powered by a JVA energizer with 8000 volts shock and a built in alarm and key pad . Prices are subject to site visit
In an ideal world, no one will need to build a boundary or even gate their premises but that is not so. This is why we go a long way to ensure the people we love and care for are safe.
There are some cost-effective ways to ensure the safety of your office and home especially when you are not around. I am talking about no other method than electric fencing which had proven over the years to be one of the best physical intrusion prevention mechanism.
In this blog post, I look at what electric fencing is all about and ways you can utilize it to your advantage.
An Electric Fence consists of an open electrical circuit comprising of two arms.
The first arm is the fence connected to the power terminal of the Fence energiser. You should make sure that this is totally insulated from any other conductive material or with plastic insulators or an air gap of at least 3cm. It does not have to loop back on itself and maybe a single line away from the energiser.
The second arm is the ground itself that is connected to the Earth terminal of the energiser by way of the earth stake or post. This then leaves an open electrical circuit.
Piggyback
A Piggyback electric fence is mounted off the back of an existing wire or mesh fence, adding another level of security to the existing perimeter barrier. The piggyback profile is fastened to existing fence posts (e.g. pillars of a palisade fence) using rivets or screws. These are the most commonly used security electric fences.
Wall top
Wall-top electric fences attach to the top of an existing perimeter barrier such as a masonry wall. These are the second most common type of security electric fences. The existing fence must be at least 1 1⁄2 metres (4 ft 11 in) high.
Stand-alone
Stand-alone electric fences act as the sole perimeter barrier. They are also quite aesthetically pleasing if set up neatly. This type is normally only found at one of many levels of perimeter security around high-security establishments, meaning that to touch it someone has had to break through at least one physical barrier before this. The stand-alone fence must be at least 1 m (3 ft 3 in) away from the nearest barrier.
Is an Electric Fence Dangerous?
No, an electric fence is not dangerous. The voltage being sent through the wires is high, but the current or amplification (amps) is very low. A 220-volt shock will hurt just as much as a 10,000-volt shock, as long as the current or amps are the same. Amps are what kills. Electric fence energisers put out high voltage (around 8,000 volts), but very low amperage or current (around 120 milliamps). This is 120-thousands of an amp.
This output is made safe in two ways, firstly by releasing the flow of electrons from the capacitor in regular pulses of high voltage but very low amperage. The amperage component of the electrical charge is greatly reduced to figures in the range of 15 – 500 milliAmps. (The majority of units operate in the 100-150 milliAmp range).
Secondly, the electrical energy pulses through the wires. This means once every second for 1/300th of a second it sends a pulse of electricity down the line. The reason for the pulsating current is that if the wires are touched and deliver a shock, whatever touches it has a chance to remove itself. If the current did not pulse (like most electrical appliances like hairdryer, radio, toaster, etc.), then whatever touched it would continue to be shocked and the muscles react to the “grabbing effect” of an electrical impulse until the power is disconnected or something pried them off.
How Much Energy Does an Energiser use?
Very little. The energisers typically plug into a 220-volt power outlet, and they use very little energy. The energiser converts a low voltage and turns it into high voltage onto the wires. Because it pulses for a very short period every second and the fence itself is not a complete circuit, the unit uses very little energy. Typically a 1-joule unit will draw 4 Watts – compare that to a 40 watt light bulb.
What is the effect of Electric Current on an Animal?
When an animal touches the electrical wire, it causes a muscle contraction in the animal that is similar to what humans feel like a muscle cramp. With a continuous supply of current as you get with mains electricity, this results in the grabbing effect that is so dangerous as the victim is unable to release the source of the current. With the pulsing of an electric fence, this cramping is transitory and the victim is able to retreat from the source of energy.
The animal will associate this unpleasant feeling with touching the fence and will be discouraged from touching it again in the future. Thus it is not that the fence causes physical injury to the animal, but rather that it acts as a learning tool to prevent it from happening again.
What Happens if a Child Touches it?
If a child touches both the hot and ground wires, they will be shocked. It will hurt for approximately 10 minutes, but it will not be debilitating, leave a burn mark or kill them. Because electric fencing has low current and pulsates, it can’t kill or permanently hurt anyone. However, it is strongly advised to keep children away from an electric fence.
Benefits Of Electric Fencing
There are several benefits of installing an electric fence at home and at the workplace. Some of the benefits include;
Deterrence, Detection, and Delay
Electric fences are a great deterrent to would be intruders standing in their way as a physical, intimidating barrier. While the shock these fences deliver is non-lethal, it’s enough to stop…