10 Steps to Flawless Fencing

Use our 10-step checklist to help you decide the best electric fencing set up for your needs…

Step 1: What animals do you want to contain or keep out?

There are many variations of wire available depending on the job – stranded steel, blue super conductive polywire, standard polywire, polytape, polyrope, polybraid and electrified netting.

Think about the height of your wire and the spacing of your stakes. From rabbits to cattle, sheep to otters, each animal reacts differently to being kept in or out.

Step 2: Will your electric fence be temporary or permanent?

Temporary fencing moves at least once a month, often much more frequently, whereas permanent fencing may be in place for many months. Polystakes and pigtail stakes are great if your fence is temporary as you can hook or unhook them easily. Rappa steel posts with insulators work in the same way and also offer a more rigid solution.

Step 3: How big is the area you want to fence?

You need a rough measurement of the perimeter to assess how much fence wire you’ll require, and how many posts to hold it. Join systems together by wrapping the wires around each other. The length of your electric fence will also determine which energiser to buy.

Step 4: How many corners or changes of direction are there?

You will need strong reel posts and anchor posts at every corner or significant bend in the fence. Our new reel and anchor posts are shorter in length and have a reinforced cap, making them easier to hammer into the ground. Insulators provide voltage protection. The new design features bolt on/off v-slot insulators, so they stay in position and won’t short out.

Step 5: How will you fence the area?

By hand or using a fencing machine? This will depend on how regularly you fence, how big an area you are fencing and how quick you need to work. Our Winders can save you hours of back breaking work for longer runs, while the Barrow Winder is best suited for strip grazing and shorter distances.

Step 6: What is your power source for your energiser?

A dual power energiser can run on either battery or mains. Solar energisers are portable, self-contained and self-charging, giving you convenient, portable power wherever you need it. If you’re close enough to a mains supply, mains energisers are also available.

Step 7: Do you need a gateway or access across an existing path?

Give some thought to where you need to make a break in your electric fence so you can get in or move animals around easily. The type of gate you choose will depend on how wide you need it to be and you’ll need to consider the sensitivity of the animal.

Step 8: How often should you test the fence?

Regular testing is critical to minimise the risk of escapee animals. Testers and fault finders will help you detect any weak points or problems. Discover how to test your fence by watching our ‘how to’ guide on the Rappa app.

Step 9: How do you ensure your voltage stays consistent?

Earthing is essential. Up to 80% of electric fencing malfunctions are due to poor earthing. You can never over-earth, but larger energisers exerting more power and longer fence lines with higher leakage require substantially more earthing. Generally, you need one meter of earth stake per output joule.

Step 10: What is the location of your electric fence?

Electric fencing can cause interference on telephone lines and it’s your legal responsibility to avoid siting fences under phone wires or parallel to underground telecoms cables. Similarly, you must site your electric fence away from radio aerials.