When choosing a controller that best fits your needs the most important factor is what power source is available to you? If all the fields you plan to fence are not near a 120-volt power source, you need to use a 12-volt battery-operated controller. They can be used at any location without connection to a 120-volt power source. The batteries can be disconnected from the controller and recharged every few days to six weeks depending on the type of charger and the amount used. For a solar energy collector kit, the battery will be recharged daily for the life of the battery. If your fields are located near a 120-volt controller, it is most likely your best choice. There is no need to recharge the battery and they cost
less than the battery operated controller equipped with solar kits. Check out the Patriot, Speedrite, or Stafix dual voltage units 12-volt or 110-volt for a second choice.
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Choosing a Fence Controller
The Difference Between Knots
Bekaert currently makes fences with three types of knots for all applications.
Fixed Knot
This design is top of the line. Fixed knot utilizes solid vertical stay wires, which increase the vertical strength of the fence and allow for increased post spacing. The knot is a separate piece of wire tightly wrapped around the line wire and stay wire. Fixed knot is very resistant to animal damage.
“S” Knot
Found on the Horseman products, of wire to attach the line wire to the solid stay wire. The S knot is smooth to the touch and strong enough to resist animal impact.
Hinge Joint
Found on our Gaucho High Tensile Field Fence and the Standard Low Carbon Field Fence products, this knot is common in agricultural fencing. The knot is formed by wrapping the vertical stay wire pieces around the line wire at each intersection. This design can absorb animal impact without damage. Hinge joint is the economical knot choice.
Lodge Pole vs. Peeler Core
LODGE POLE
Characteristics
Lodge pole pine is popular in vineyards and fences due to its ability to flex with heavy loads without breaking.
How it’s made
The posts are run through a machine that peels off the bark and cambium layer of the post. This leaves the sapwood
layer, which retains the chemicals during the treatment process that preserves the wood.
Treatment Process
All posts are assayed after treatment for minimum retention and penetration levels. Retention must be .40pcf (per cubic foot) of chemical or posts must be retreated.
How long will it last?
Doweled lodgepoles will protect against decay for many years. Many variables affect the lifespan of treated wood, including moisture, soil acidity, fertilizer burn, etc.
PEELER CORE
Characteristics
Depending on the species of peeler core (most peelers, being all heartwood) are dense and inflexible.
How it’s made
The posts are produced at veneer mills. The mill peels off the bark, cambium layer, sapwood, and even some of the heartwood to make veneer panels. This leaves no sapwood on the post.
Treatment Process
The heartwood is very difficult to penetrate and does not retain preservatives well, if at all. The posts are not tested for retention or penetration. Since the peeler cores have no sapwood, penetration and retention is minimal, if any.
Low long will it last?
Since treatment is minimal, if any, peeler cores can decay as soon as the first year, but may last longer.
There is no guarantee on peeler cores
Solar Guidlines
A FEW THOUGHTS ON SOLAR
Live Wire Products, Inc is proud to bring you the industry leading solar products. We work hard to design systems which will work hard for you in the field…where it really counts. Please give us a call and we will be glad to make a recommendation based on your system requirements.
Solar installations are now a practical and cost effective method of securing areas where 110 volt power is either unavailable or impractical. Although solar systems are not a new innovation, the technology used to transfer this resource to an efficient, low maintenance electric fence is.
Keep in Mind:
• In order to be effective, solar panels must have an unobstructed view facing due South. Trees, barns, power poles, etc will have a detrimental effect on your ability to collect and convert the sunlight if they cast a shadow over the panels at any time during your peak sun hours.
• Solar panels are very susceptible to theft and/or vandalism. Many solar panels have been ruined if used as target practice. If the system is to be installed in an area away where vandalism is a concern, extra precautions should be taken.
• It is important to remember that during extended periods of overcast weather, your batteries may need to be recharged by methods other than the solar panels. Be prepared and diligent so that your fence stays hot!
Installing a Ground System
Over 80% of all electric fence problems are attributed to poor grounding, so it is very important to understand how to install an effective ground system. There are two recommended grounding systems, earth ground return and fence ground return.
EARTH GROUND RETURN
In this system, all the fence wires are “live”. The circuit is completed when the animal touches the wire, the electrons flow through the animal and then through the earth to the grounding system and back to the controller.
Earth Ground Return
Installation:
Select a sight which is damp (i.e. conductive) year round. Drive a minimum of (3) 3/4″ galvanized ground rods into the ground at least 10 feet apart. The larger the controller, the more rods you will need. Connect the ground rods to the ground terminal on the controller.
Live Wire Products offers the components needed to properly install this type of ground system. This grounding system works best on irrigated pasture or areas with high soil moisture.
FENCE GROUND RETURN
This system has alternate live and ground wires. When the animal touches both wires, it completes
the circuit between the two wires,and the electrons flow back to the controller.
Fence Ground Return
Installation:
Drive a ground rod into the earth at least every 1/4 mile along the fence line. Connect the rods to the “ground” wires of the fence. Connect the ground wires of the fence to the earth terminal on the controller. It is important that ground rods also be attached directly to the ground terminal on the controller. This ground system should be used in dry areas.