How Dangerous is an Electric Fence?

The function of electric fencing is either to keep a target OUT of a prescribed area or to keep a target WITHIN a prescribed area. In order to do this electric fencing must use the power it is supplied with to do the function it is asked to do in the safest manner available. They are strongly regulated.

Existing law prohibits an electrified fence to be offered for sale, sold, installed, used or otherwise connected to a source of electrical current, (ie; mains electricity) unless the electrical current is limited and regulated by an ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER that meets specified standards or specification. All energisers must pass a range of safety directives (2001/95/EG/EC/CE) and electromagnetic compatibility directives (EN60335-1:2012, AC2014, EN60335-2-76:2006, EN 55014-1:2006) before they may be offered for sale.

Using electricity immediately conjures up the idea that it is dangerous, touching an electric fence leaves a vivid and painful memory and the voltages are also high (+5000 volts) in comparison with standard mains electricity (220 volts), because of this most will assume that the risk to life and limb must also be high. In fact, the opposite is true. Consider that hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world are “exposed” to the millions of electric fences every day—yet electric fences account for (but are not always the cause of) less than one serious injury per year worldwide. Compare that to the number of annual injuries and deaths that occur from human exposure to tractors, skid loaders, ladders, PTO shafts, balers, mowers, combines, bulls, stallions, shotguns, knives, etc. This is not to suggest that there is no risk. There is, indeed, a small level of risk. And with risk, there is also liability to the fence’s owner.

How is this level of Safety Achieved?

The voltage being sent through the tapes or wires is high, but the current or amplification (amps) is very low. A 220 volt (European) or a 110 volt (United States) shock will hurt just as long as the current or amps are the same. These currents are constant and have high amperage's (13 and 20 Amps respectively) to power machinery and utensils. A cooker may draw up to 30 Amps.

The second problem with standard mains electricity is the fact that muscles - human and animal - will tense up when coming in contact with any type of current. There is no way to release from the contact in that case. You are just physically clamped on to the source, and try as you might, you can't let go - the steady voltage keeps your muscle locked and with the high current - You will fry.

Amps are what kills. Voltage gets your attention - it hurts.

Electric fence energisers put out high voltage (around 8,000 volts) this makes a very clear mental imprint that really gets the attention of the target. However they also reduce the deadly amps to a very low amperage of around 120 milliamps (It varies with manufacturers). This is 120 Thousands of an Amp ( normal mains electricity is 13-20 Amps). It should not even kill a squirrel.

This output is made safe in two ways, firstly by releasing the flow of electrons from the capacitor in regular pulses of about 1/300th of a second approximately a second apart. The amperage component of the electrical charge is greatly reduced to figures in the range of 15 - 500milliamps. (The majority of units operate in the 100-150 milliamp range)*. Compare this with two other scenarios.

• Static Electricity when you touch a door, about 30000 volts at .5 milliamps for 1/1000th. of a second, unpleasant but not lasting.
• Mains Electricity. 220volts at 13 Amps and constant, unpleasant and regularly causes death,  there are many incidences of people running out wires directly plugged into 220v or 110v circuits killing both animals and people.
• A welder uses a current of 200 amps to burn through steel.

Modern fence energisers use low impedance circuitry, in which a capacitor is charged by a solid-state circuit. If an animal (or a person) comes into contact with the fence either using electric tape or wire, the charge is released by a thyristor. This is an electronic component which can be thought of as an automatic switch so the voltage delivered is more controlled, and the shock pulse is much shorter – typically just a few milliseconds. The energy pulses through the tapes, wires or other conductors. 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 when the wires are touched and deliver a shock - whatever touches it has a chance to remove itself because when an animal touches an electrical wire, it causes a muscle contraction in the animal that is similar to what humans feel as a muscle cramp but this is transitory and the affected animal is able to get away from the source of electricity - the tape, rope or fence wires. With a continuous supply of current as you get with mains electricity this results in the grabbing effect that is so dangerous and 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.

How Does an Electric Fence Energiser Work. (Link to illustrate how they work.)

If the current did not pulse (like most electrical appliances -  hair dryer, radio, toaster, etc.), then whatever touched it would continue to be shocked until the power went out or something pried them off.

With low amps and a pulsating current, electrical fencing is a safe product. It is the amperage within the electrical charge and the constant connection that makes electricity dangerous.

The one issue may occur if an animal gets trapped in the fence for a period of time and is unable to extricate itself. This could be as a result of animals with horns, hedgehogs that roll up into a ball or any other reason they have become trapped. This varies for different animals and unfortunately can result in the death of the animal. Fortunately this is very rare and in my 30 years of working with electric fencing I know of 3 incidences where an animal has been killed.  For this reason, the HoriSmart energisers has been developed that are able to recognise what is touching the fence, treat it accordingly so increasing the safety accordingly.

What NOT to do!

• Never Place your head near an electrified wire. Accidental head or neck contact can occur when pushing a voltage probe into the soil or when checking voltage. Be very careful when you do so to avoid head-to-wire contact!
• Never allow anyone else to touch a modern electric  fence. It is not a game!

What to do!

• Instruct all visitors and children to never touch electric fencing.
• The legislation that applies in Europe to fences accessible to the general public stipulates that an internationally recognised warning sign be displayed at the beginning and end of a fence and at every 50 meters interval.

Warning: In 1991 an accidental fatality occurred when a young child’s head contacted an electrified fence while the child was crawling on wet grass. The fence was correctly installed and functioning properly. The energiser was an approved unit. As a result, we strongly advise against allowing toddlers access to any electrified fences. Also, due to this incident and others, experts now suggest that human contact by an energised wire to the head and neck maybe the most dangerous point of contact. We urge all to especially avoid this kind of contact with electric fencing.

* These figures vary between all the manufacturers.

The Fun of Touching an Electric Fence.

Footrot Flats by Murray Ball.