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December 28, 2013

How Do Electric Fence Chargers Work?

  • Electric fence basics

    • An electric current will only flow when a circuit is completed. If someone or something is only connected to one side of the circuit, electricity will not flow through him or it. An electric fence uses this principle to work. Pulses of electricity flow into the fence, electrifying it. Meanwhile, pulses of electricity with the opposite polarity flow into the ground via a ground rod--a large metal spike attached into the earth. If a person, animal or plant touches both the ground and the fence at the same time, the circuit is completed and electricity flows from the fence through the victim to the ground and back to the other terminal of the fence charger.

    Pulsed fence chargers

    • Pulsed fence chargers send a voltage spike through the fence about once every second or two. A device called a step-up transformer takes electricity from a power source such as a 120-volt line and increases the voltage dramatically. When alternating current flows through a coil, it creates a moving magnetic field. If there is another coil of wire nearby, that magnetic field creates an electric current in the second coil. If the second coil has more turns of wire than the first, the second coil will have a higher voltage. A timer switch turns on briefly every second or so, sending a pulse through the fence and another pulse through the ground. If nothing completes the circuit, very little electricity is used. If something connects the ground with the fence during that pulse, however, it completes the circuit and receives an electric shock.

    Capacitor chargers

    • Capacitor chargers work differently. The capacitor temporarily stores a small amount of electricity. Meanwhile, a small voltage runs into the fence. If someone touches the fence, that voltage triggers an electronic switch, which discharges the capacitor into the fence. Pulsed charges can vary considerably, but the capacitor always holds the same amount of electricity. That makes capacitor chargers more reliable and safer than pulsed chargers, which can give different shocks depending on conditions.



    • Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5038662_electric-fence-chargers-work.html#ixzz2opFBaYTz

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 28, 2013

    FAULT FINDING

       

     

    There are a number of reasons for reduced voltage on the fence line.

    • Vegetation growth
    • Broken wires
    • Corrosion
    • Poor grounding
    • Bad connections
    • Poor insulation
    • Increasing the length of fence
    • TOOLS REQUIRED

    The most important piece of equipment required to check for faults is the GALLAGHER Digital Voltmeter. With the GALLAGHER SMARTFIX voltmeter you can pinpoint faults accurately.

    Also:

    • Wire strainers
    • Pliers
    • Adjustable wrench
    • Joint clamps

    FAULTS TO LOOK OUT FOR

    • Is the energizer switched on?
      Is the leadout wire connected to the energizer and the fenceline? · Is there a break in the leadout?
    • Is the earth wire connected to the energizer and earth rods?
    • Is there a break in the earthwire?
    • Are all the cutout switches turned on?
    • Is there a dead short on the fenceline?
    • Are there any faulty or broken insulators?
    • Use the fault finding chart below to help you locate faults.

    Always check the voltage at the energizer First.

    To check if the energizer is faulty, disconnect both the leadout and the ground wires and test the energizer without any load. If the energizer is reading below the manufacturer's specification there could be a fault with the energizer.

    If the energizer is reading normal then:

    • Check the Ground System before checking the fenceline.
    • Refer to the section on grounding in ENERGIZER INSTALLATION.
    • If no fault is discovered with either the energizer or the ground system, then check the fenceline.
    • The use of Gallagher Cut Out Switches makes the job of finding faults easier as different sections of the fence can be isolated.
    • When the area of fence which is at fault is switched off, the voltage on the remainder of the fence will rise.
    • Once you have isolated the section of fence at fault, move along the fenceline and take voltage readings every 330ft.
    • The readings will continue to drop until you reach, or pass the fault. After the Fault, the readings should remain constant. (Remember there may be more than one fault)

    INDUCTION
    A phenomenon known as induction is common with electric fences. This is the transfer of electricity from an electrified wire to a non electrified wire without the wires physically touching each other. This is often mistakenly blamed on insulator leakage. This phenomenon is also more common in areas where the air is damp such as in conditions of fog.

    As this phenomenon is a quirk of nature it cannot be stopped from occurring. However, to avoid receiving shocks caused by induction on non electrified fences and gates etc. you can "ground out" the offending fence by connecting a ground wire to all wires on the non electrified fence. Push the end of this wire into the ground as far as possible and this will send all the offending voltage into the ground.

     

    NOTE: Induction has very little effect on the voltage on the electrified fence.

    RADIO INTERFERENCE

    All GALLAGHER energizers comply with the usual regulations, but problems can occur for various reasons, particularly in areas with poor radio reception. These are usually noticed when an audible "click" is heard on the radio and coincides with the pulsing of the energizer.

    To reduce or eliminate the problem, look for faults in the following areas:

    • The energizer earth must be very good and should be at least 33ft away from any other ground. No part of the energizer ground system should come into contact with any buildings.
    • Avoid having any leadout wires or fencelines running parallel to telephone or power wires.
    • Check for any fence faults such as: broken insulators, poor connections and joints, any shorting caused by broken wires etc. Also check that cut out switches are not arcing.
    • Check that no underground cable has been damaged and is shorting out.
    • Walking the fencelines with a portable radio tuned off the station and on high volume is a quick and easy way to locate any electrical leakage.

    Start

    Check the voltage reading at the energizer

    Is the voltage lower than normal?

    Yes

    Is the voltage normal?

    Yes

    Has the fenceline been extended or added onto?

    Yes

    Check that the ground voltage is not greater than 300 volts (see ENERGIZER INSTALLATION)

    Yes

    A larger energizer may be required but check the fenceline first
    Upgrade your ground system (see ENERGIZER INSTALLATION)

    Check the fenceline for possible shorting at:

    Leadouts

    Joints

    Insulators

    Vegetation growth

    Accidental shorting

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 28, 2013

    HOW AN ELECTRIC FENCE WORKS

     

     

    An electric fence energizer converts mains or battery power into a high voltage pulse. The energizer releases this pulse on to an insulated fence line about once every second. The pulse itself is only around 150 microseconds long.

    This pulse is commonly referred to as the "shock" and is felt by any animal which touches an electrified fence. When the animal makes contact with the fence the circuit is complete. It is at this point the animal receives a shock. The diagram below shows how the current flows from the energizer down the fenceline and through the animal. The current then flows through the earth back to the ground system and completes the circuit. It is the shock which deters the animal from putting pressure on the fence line.

    An electric fence is a psychological barrier rather than a physical one so the animal must be educated to respect the fence. The pain that an animal feels is short lived and does not physically harm the animal, unlike barbed wire which can cause severe cuts and long lasting pain whilst also damaging the hide.

    THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR CHOOSING ELECTRIC FENCING:

    • LOW COST - electric fences require less materials and labor than conventional fences.
    • EASILY CONSTRUCTED - with fewer and lighter materials.
    • LONGER LIFE - due to reduced physical pressure.
    • UNIVERSAL APPLICATION - will contain all types of animals while discouraging predators and trespassers.
    • IMPROVES EXISTING FENCES - by including 1 or 2 electrified wires in your conventional fence or by adding offsets. This will extend the fence life.
    • SIMPLICITY AND FLEXIBILITY - a quick and easy way to effectively subdivide a paddock for intensive grazing, improving pasture management and production.
    • LOW MAINTENANCE - due to reduced stock pressure.
    • LESS DAMAGE TO STOCK - the shock from an electric fence causes no physical damage to stock and if they are forced through electric fences by wild animals or bush fires there is reduced likelihood of injury.

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    December 09, 2013

    Gallagher MBX2500 Energizer, includes free USA shipping and free fence tester

    Special Deals on Gallagher Electric Fence

    Gallagher MBX2500 Energizer, includes free USA shipping and free fence tester

    $1,349.99 USD

    SmartPower MBX2500 Energizer

    Features
    • Powers up to 1,000 acres.
    • Stored Energy: 25 Joules (Approx.).
    • Plugs into 110-volt outlet with battery backup or battery-only operation.
    • Four large, easy-to-read digital displays show stored energy, output voltage, fence voltage and earth voltage.
    • Remote controlled to switch the energizer on/off from anywhere on the fence line.
    • Free Energizer shipping in USA!!! Free Gallagher Baseball Cap with every $500 Order!

    Dimensions:  220 (mm) / 8.7 (inch) /  310 (mm) / 12.2 (inch) /  90 (mm) / 3.5 (inch)
    Weight: 4.22 (kgs) / 9.30 (lbs)
    Warranty: 2 Year
    Colors: Black
    Product Code: G302404
      

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 06, 2013

    Worried About Hormones?

    All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz.
    All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz.

    By Bruce Treffer, UNL Extension Educator

    There are a lot of concerns and mixed messages about hormones in beef. There are a few things to keep in mind the next time you hear that beef contains too many hormones.

    All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. That’s true for animals and vegetables, but some meat production systems use hormone implants which cause the meat to have slightly more hormones than the non-implanted. True in beef, but not in pork or chicken as federal law does not permit the use of hormones in raising hogs or chickens. Implants are used to increase efficiency (i.e. feed conversion to muscle more quickly) or more muscle from less feed more quickly, which keeps prices down and reduces the environmental impact of production.

    In beef, the implanted animals will produce meat that contains slightly more of the hormone estrogen (1.9 versus 1.3 nanograms per 3 ounce serving - which is about the size of a deck of cards). Is that extra estrogen going to cause problems? Consider the facts. When hormones are eaten, they are digested, broken down and largely neutralized, so they don’t act as hormones anymore. Even if they did, the 1.9 nanograms of estrogen in implanted beef seems miniscule when we consider that a child’s body produces around 50,000 nanograms of estrogen per day. An adult female (non-pregnant) will produce 480,000 nanograms of estrogen per day on its own.

    The 1.9 nanograms of estrogen in implanted beef is also miniscule compared to 225 nanograms of estrogen in potatoes, 340 nanograms of estrogen in peas, 520 nanograms of estrogen in ice cream, 2,000 nanograms of estrogen in cabbage, 11,250 nanograms of estrogen in soy milk, and 170,000 nanograms of estrogen in soybean oil… all based on a 3 ounce serving size. One birth control pill contains 35,000 nanograms of estrogen. It may be surprising to learn that there are more hormones in commonly eaten food products than there are in beef (http://go.unl.edu/uhg4 or http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2767.pdf)!

    So why do kids seem to be growing faster and reaching puberty earlier? Genetics play a role, but hormones make far less sense than calories consumed and increased levels of body fat (i.e., childhood obesity). According to Dr. Frank Biro of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, “BMI (body mass index) is, we found, the biggest single factor for the onset of puberty.” It is easy to blame hormones and sometimes just meat for that matter, or food in general for health problems because the general public is removed from actual food production and processing. It is human nature to be fearful of things we aren’t familiar with or that we don’t fully understand. It is always advisable to do some research and make inquiries yourself before believing everything you hear or read. If misinformation and half-truths are repeated often enough, and in sinister enough media campaign voices, they can take on a life of their own devoid of science or truth.

    For more UNL Beef information go to http://beef.unl.edu

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    December 02, 2013

    Why Gallagher?

     

    Gallagher’s range of gate hardware leads the farm gate market, and for good reason. From day one, the goal has been to continuously meet customers’ needs through a focus on quality, innovation and design.

    • Innovation and Design
      An in-depth understanding of farmers' and contractors' requirements has been paramount in the production of high quality, practical product design. The combined commitment of a full in-house design team, research and development group, and Gallagher territory manager force ensures Gallagher products are on the edge of design.
       
    • Quality
      Gallagher has a well-deserved reputation for quality products. The use of robotic welding, semi-automated gate bending, hot dip galvanising and no waste thread rolling ensures all Gallagher gate hardware have greater uniformity, superior strength and durability. Gallagher's products are produced completely on site, which also ensures the highest standard of quality is maintained throughout the entire manufacturing process.

    So when it comes to farm gate systems, insist on Gallagher for:

    • The complete range - designed in association with farmers to meet their special requirements
    • Strength and durability - manufactured to strict design specifications and tolerances
    • Superior practical design - for easy hanging of gates

    Please order online 24/7 or call VALLEY FARM SUPPLY at  717-786-0368

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    December 02, 2013

    Cattle Update: Fence Line Weaning

     

     

    Calving season brings in newborns which can make for a loud, raucous fall when it’s time to wean.  It’s surprisingly quiet, though, with a practice called fence line weaning.  Call it a gentler, kinder way to separate a calf from its mother, it allows the pair to remain close and greatly reduces stress on both. 

     

    Mark Goes, an expert on the process, spends part of his time as an instructor at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska and the rest of his time as a small cattle rancher.  He got into the process, which he calls ‘pasture weaning’ while working with his students in 1998 in a Ranching for Profit class.

     

    “We wean as early as possible,” said Goes.  “"A calf's rumen is inoculated to digest solid feeds by 4 months of age.  This also coincides with the time that dam's milk production begins to decline.  We like to get the younger calves weaned and on a solid feed diet as soon as possible, thereby meeting the performance demands of the calf more effectively and freeing up more pasture to run more cows."

     

    Goes deals with just 30 animals at home and a maximum of 60 at the school.  “The University of Nebraska is doing fence line weaning with herd sizes of 250 or more,” he said.

     

    Goes experience at home as well as the college shows the wean stress is over in 2 to 3 days.  “Calves get over it faster than cows, all they need to learn is where to eat” he said.  “We use a nanny to show them the ropes – where the feed and water is.”  

     

    “A cow’s milk production continues and she wants some relief so what we’re really doing is weaning the mother.”

     

    A power fence is critical to the process.  Goes uses a simple and inexpensive two wire fence and an energizer from Gallagher to control his animals.  Explaining its effectiveness, Gallagher president Erwin Quinn said “An electric fence is a psychological barrier that doesn’t require great strength to be effective. It must be well designed and constructed to absorb some pressure from animals, snow and wind and the energizer must have enough power for the length of the fence and for the animals being controlled.”

     

    A pulsed electric current is sent along the fence wire, about one pulse per second, from a grounded energizer.  When an animal brushes against the fence, a circuit between the fence and the ground is completed and the animal feels a short, sharp but safe shock.

     

    Most people agree that posts and woven wire won’t do.  “Weaning calves are like sheep,” said one proponent.  “They’ll bunch up next to the fence and, sooner or later, they’ll push through.  The power fence prevents them from doing that.”

     

    To prevent fence line crowding, Goes said it’s important to eliminate corners and place food and water sources away from the fence. 

     

    Backing up Goes’ real life experience are many scientific studies.  California researchers, for instance, tested the effectiveness of fence line weaning a few years ago.  They weaned a group of calves with only a power fence between them and their mothers and compared them to calves weaned totally separated from their mothers.

     

    They found that fence line calves and cows spent about half their time within a few feet of the fence during the first two days.  Fence line calves bawled and walked less, and ate and rested more than the separated calves.

     

    All the calves were placed together 7 days after weaning.  Even so, at two weeks, the fence line calves had gained 23 pounds more than separated calves.  At 10 weeks, fence line calves gained an average of 110 pounds compared to 84 pounds for separated calves, indicating the stress from weaning was an ongoing problem. 

     

    Goes agrees with the research.  He noted that at harvest the fence line calves still showed more weight gain and better quality meat than traditionally weaned animals.

     

    Please order online 24/7 or callVALLEY FARM SUPPLYat  717-786-0368

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    December 02, 2013

    Gallagher’s Ingenious Fence Tester Powers Itself

    Easily clipped to an electric fence, Gallagher’s new Live Fence Indicator is a clever device that shows a fence is working properly. Best of all, it doesn’t need batteries!

    Gallagher Product Manager Byron Arnold says the Live Fence Indicator is designed to be permanently fitted to an electric fence and features a super-bright flashing LED light that can be seen from a considerable distance, day or night.

    “It’s very simple. If the light is flashing, the fence is working correctly. If there is no flashing, the fence voltage is too low and you know you have a problem.”

    Byron says the Live Fence Indicator is designed to give farmers peace of mind that the fence is doing its job.

    He says its biggest advantage is that it runs off the power of the fence itself, so no batteries are required.

    “That’s quite a significant technical advancement and it means that the Live Fence Indicator is a very reliable, low-maintenance product.”

    Positioned in a convenient and visible location, the Live Fence Indicator flashes with the fence pulses to show that the fence has sufficient power to be effective.

    Easily installed, it can be clipped onto fence wire or attached to electric fence tape up to 40mm in width.

    Byron says the Live Fence Indicator has been developed to make life easier for the farmer by providing a permanent and convenient solution to fence testing issues.

    “You don’t have to worry about carrying a portable fence tester around all the time. And you don’t have to remember to change batteries.”

    Water and UV resistant, the Live Fence Indicator is built tough to ensure a long working life.
    It was developed using laboratory tests that mimicked the harsh conditions most fences are exposed to, including blistering heat and torrential rain.

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    December 02, 2013

    Gallagher Geared Reels Lock On To a Common Problem

    Most pastoral farmers will know the feeling. One minute you are happily cruising across the paddock with your electric fencing reels and standards stacked tidily on the back of the motorbike or ute. Next minute: you hit a bump and fencing equipment goes everywhere.

    But Gallagher have come up with an ingenious solution to this common and frustrating problem – the Geared Reel Transport Lock.

    An improvement available on new Gallagher medium geared electric fencing reels, the insulated Transport Lock is designed to stop fencing reels ‘jumping off’ during transportation or falling off a permanent fence.

    Gallagher Product Manager Graham Johns says the Transport Lock is a very simple and easy to use device that enables the fencing reel to be securely latched to the transport tray of a farm bike or other vehicle. Made from impact-resistant glass-fibre nylon, it can also be used to lock the reel onto the wire of a permanent fence. This will stop the reel falling over when the temporary fence is being reeled out.

    Graham says portable fences are a vital part of the pastoral farmer’s tool kit and are used virtually every day during the cold winter months when feed is being rationed.

    He says Gallagher’s on-farm research shows that fencing reels falling from farm bikes and other vehicles is a very common problem that often leads to significant damage to the reels.

    “We also know that many farmers put up their portable fences by hanging the reel on a permanent fence, and then walking across the paddock while pulling out the wire or tape and carrying and placing standards in the ground. If the reel falls from the fence during this process it can cause considerable frustration and time loss.”

    Graham says Gallagher solved this problem by adding an insulated swivel latch that closes across the loop of the main reel hook, preventing the reel from dislodging from the wire or bar it is hanging from.

    “The Transport Lock offers major benefits for farmers because it saves time and eliminates a lot of the hassle of putting up electric fencing. It also protects the reel from damage and greatly extends its working life.”

    Designed for real farm conditions, the patented Transport Lock is incredibly tough and has been thoroughly tested. It is also very easy to engage, even when gloves are worn.

    A secondary catch prevents the lock accidentally disengaging. The wire or tape on the reel can still be electrified by wrapping the wire around the product’s existing steel hook.

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 02, 2013

    Gallagher Energizers Provide Effective Solution For Elephant Protection

     


    Gallagher fencing technology is helping to solve a major ecological problem in Sri Lanka by keeping elephants safe from humans and humans safe from elephants.

    Situated off the southern coast of India, Sri Lanka is home to an estimated 4000-5000 elephants- one of the densest elephant populations in Asia. Revered as a national treasure and a symbol of pride, Sri Lankan elephants are a protected species under the nation’s Wildlife Conservation Act. But in the 1980’s the development of new agricultural land surrounding Sri Lanka’s Mahaweli River (335km) brought humans and elephants into conflict. Traditional elephant migratory paths were blocked by this development, and elephants started encroaching upon farmland.

    To solve this problem faced by farmers and elephants alike, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka - the institution responsible for the development of the river basin - needed to ensure that man and elephant could co-exist peacefully. When the authority was looking for a solution in the late 1980’s, Sri Lankan technology company Sunpower Systems (Pvt) Ltd introduced the concept of non-lethal high-voltage electric fencing. The company initially designed, supplied and installed two sections of 30km fence, which were powered by Gallagher Energizers, for the Mahaweli Authority. Once implemented, the responsibility for maintenance and set-up of these fences was handed over to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), which is entrusted with the task of minimising the human elephant conflict. The concept proved a huge success and today there is an estimated 3000km of elephant fencing throughout the region.

    Building a fence to control an animal that typically weighs around 2500kg is no easy task. Especially when the fence has to be built through difficult jungle terrain in hot and humid conditions. Ravi Weerasekera, managing director of Sunpower Systems, says the fences are mostly installed in linear sections, each up to 20km in length. Standing up to 1.82metres high, fences typically consist of three wires, two of which are live. When an elephant touches the fence they get a short, sharp shock and this deters them from pushing against the fence again. Ravi says elephants are highly intelligent animals that learn from observation. They approach the fences with caution.

    At some wildlife parks, for example, people will try to feed the elephants from behind the fencing and “a whole herd of elephants” will be lined up along the fence at a measured distance, waiting for food to come through. “It’s quite a dangerous situation and feeding the elephants is certainly not encouraged, but it does show the respect elephants have for these fences.”

    He says the fences are powered by Gallagher Energizers which are sited in control rooms in the middle of each 20km section. Local villagers are trained to maintain the fences and this includes keeping the fences clear of vegetation. They also learn how to use the solar-powered equipment and perform voltage checks. In the early stages of fence development the fences were powered by B1200 Gallagher Energizers, “which performed very well in tough conditions”, but in recent years these have been replaced by MBX 2500 and MBX 1500 Energizers.

    These Energizers monitor the fence status and correct any fluctuations automatically. They also generate an alarm when manual intervention is necessary. Ravi says the Energizers are very popular with the people who look after the fences. “They make fence maintenance easier due to the amount of fence performance information available on the Energizer itself. They are also very reliable.”

    He says Gallagher Energizers are spread throughout the region. Ravi says Gallagher electric fencing products are used widely throughout Sri Lanka in pastoral farming and security applications. Many pastoral farms in Sri Lanka also require perimeter fencing to keep predatory pests like leopards and wild boar away from livestock. The newly built international airport in the southern region of Sri Lanka also has a Gallagher electric fence to prevent elephants from wandering onto the runway.

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