READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLYFailure to follow these Instructions could result in injury to persons and/or livestock." |
Installation ManualPublished 2014 |
Congratulations on your decision to purchase an ElectroBraid® Fence for your horses. We know you will be extremely pleased with the ease of installation, minimal maintenance, safety and performance. Hundreds of hours have gone into testing our system to ensure high quality.
This installation manual can help you properly install your ElectroBraid® Fence. It is IMPORTANT you follow these instructions to minimize maintenance and maximize safety.
We have tried to include as much detail as possible; however, it is impossible to cover every application. If you have a question, please call and we will do our best to assist you.
Call us toll free at 855-EBFENCE .
The ElectroBraid® System is designed to minimize injuries to horses. Equally important, you must provide correct installation and proper maintenance.
A collision with a rigid fence is the most frequent cause of serious horse injury. ElectroBraid® is not rigid – it is resilient, like a boxing ring. When a horse at full gallop impacts ElectroBraid® , it usually bounces right back, with no damage to horse or fence.
ElectroBraid® is a psychological barrier. Always maintain at least 5,000 volts and a good grounding system to ensure your horse will receive a significant electric shock – not just a “bee-sting”. The shock from a UL or CSA approved energizer won’t harm your horse, because the shock is very low amperage for a tiny fraction of a second, but your horse will always respect ElectroBraid® in the future.
Injuries with ElectroBraid® are very rare. If an incident occurs, please call 1-855-EBFENCE so we can discuss the circumstances with you. Hopefully, we can together take corrective action to prevent any future injury.
There are a variety of energizers on the market but we only recommend low impedance energizers Certified Safe by UL or CSA. They put out a very short, low amperage pulse of electricity, which will not harm an animal or child. NEVER use "Weed Burners", "Weed Choppers" or continuous current fencers - these energizers have been banned in many areas as a fire and safety hazard and will damage ElectroBraid® .
Poor or improper grounding causes 95% of all electric fencing problems. You can have the most powerful energizer in the world, but if the ground return is poor, your fence will not perform. Use a minimum of three copper clad ground rods spaced at least 10 feet apart. Use a "hot-cold" system, grounding the next-to-top strand. Electrify all other strands. With dry or sandy soil, you may need more ground rods.
Do not use make-shift insulators, ordinary electrical wire, or materials we do not recommend. Copper clad ground rods, brass-coated poly rope splicer connectors and copper lead-out wire prevent corrosion due to electrolysis, provide optimum electrical conductivity, reduce maintenance and increase the life of your fence.
Don’t wait for something to go wrong. Check the voltage on your fence regularly using a reliable fence voltmeter. Track down and correct any electrical shorts. Check the tension on the Braid™ on a regular basis to ensure each strand is tight - posts can move due to frost heave or impact - re-set the post and re-tighten each strand.
Take the time to plan: The installation of any fencing system begins before the first post is driven. The secret to getting the best value for your dollar is to take the time to thoroughly plan before you start construction.
Check Local Laws and Ordinances: laws governing fences and electric fencing vary from county to county. Get the answer to questions such as: “How far must a fence be from a roadway?”, “Can an electric fence be used in a suburban area?”, and “Are warning signs required?”. Check with your County Extension Office or your City Clerk’s office.
Begin by drawing a map of your property, including all major features: buildings, roads, fields, swamps, woods, gullies, streams and other features. Be sure to include: power, telephone, gas and oil lines as well as underground cables.
Multiply the length of your fence by the number of strands you wish to use and divide by the length of reel you will be purchasing = _____. This is the number of reels you will need.
Consider allowing for some extra wire for possible additional ground rods, miscalculations and/or changes in your fence design.
See “Choosing your energizer” (Page 18)
You will require a minimum of 3 ground rods and probably more if your fields are large or your soil conditions are poor. Use a minimum of three 8' ground rods, or three 6' ground rods.
You will need at least one ElectroBraid® tensioning kit to tighten the Braid™ . A second tensioning kit is required for paddocks 1 acre and larger in order to properly tighten the fence.
NOTE-Tensioning kits are re-usable tools and are not left on the fence.
To install your ElectroBraid® Fence you need the following tools:
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*NOTE: For Ground Rods and T-Posts you will have to purchase a post pounder from your local agriculture supply store.
The corner and end posts must be strong enough to withstand the forces that would be transmitted if a horse were to strike the fence at speed. We suggest setting your top strand at withers height (or at least shoulder height) of your tallest horse and the bottom strand somewhere between hock and fetlock based on your specific needs or preference. You should then install the balance of the strands by spacing them equally.
ElectroBraid® is a tension system which requires proper bracing.
For proper performance, ensure each of the following are properly braced:
Any change in direction greater than 20 degrees should be considered a corner and properly braced.
You normally have an end post where you terminate or start a fence:
Whenever you fence a long, straight run you need to terminate and install a brace system every 2000 feet to maintain tension on the Braid™ .
Proper Bracing will increase the effectiveness of your fence and reduce maintenance caused by post shifting. Incorrect or insufficient bracing may lead to fence failure and may be dangerous to you and your horses.
After properly clearing the area you intend to fence, install all corner, end and gate posts. We recommend your posts be at least 5” to 6” in diameter (pressure treated for longevity). How deep to set the posts will depend on the type of soil and the exposure to frost in winter. Ensure all bracing has been completed BEFORE proceeding with installing ElectroBraid® .
Posts should be set a minimum of 3 feet into the soil. In areas where the ground does freeze, posts must be set to extend below the frost line. Failure to do so may cause your posts to shift, allowing the tension on the Braid™ to relax. In loose soil conditions such as sand or mud, consider cementing your posts or driving them deeper. Please check with your county office or contractor to determine the local frost line or possible special bracing needs based on your specific soil or geographic area.
For most installations, we recommend a style known as the Horizontal or H-Brace. After setting your corner post, end post or gate posts in the ground at the proper depth for your soil conditions, measure 8’ down the fence line to locate where to place your brace post. Once it is securely placed, set your horizontal rail halfway between the planned location of your top two strands of Braid™ (see diagram). Drive a brace pin through the back of the posts and into the horizontal rail. Leave the spike to protrude ½” at the back of the brace post to hold the brace wire. The brace pin should go through the brace post and penetrate at least 3” -4” into the horizontal rail.
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If your corner, end or gate post is large in diameter, you may want to pre-drill a hole for the brace pin through the post and into the end of the rail.
After your posts and horizontal rail have been set you can now set your brace wire. Use a piece of ElectroBraid® and loop it around both posts, going from the bottom of the end post to the top of the brace post. Pull the ends together and fasten them by tying a knot or with a poly rope connector, (See Splicing ElectroBraid® ). Set a nail at an appropriate location on the end post so the brace wire will not slide up and, similarly on the brace post, so the brace wire will not slide down. For brace wire you can use any material meant to have longevity for an outdoor, high tension use such as ElectroBraid® or hi-tensile wire.
NOTE: To prevent an electrical short, make sure the brace wire and tensioning stick cannot contact any ElectroBraid® strands.
Ensure all braces have been completed BEFORE installing ElectroBraid® .
After setting all corner, end and gate posts and correctly bracing them, you are ready to fasten insulators. Since wood conducts electricity, you must use insulators on all posts, including brace posts, to eliminate electrical shorts.
Use ElectroBraid® Roller Insulators. They are specially engineered:
Measure and mark the location of each of your planned strands of Braid™ on one of your end posts then make a jig to help you mark your other posts. (A jig is simply a stick on which you indicate the position of each insulator so you don’t have to measure at every post).
Attach ElectroBraid® Roller insulators by using 2 ½” # 8 rust resistant screws to hold the insulator in place. CAUTION - BE SURE NOT TO OVER TIGHTEN the screws as this will bend the bracket of the insulator preventing the pin from setting properly possibly causing the roller to release. Complete the installation of insulators on your corner and end posts using the jig for spacing
The preferred method is to terminate the Braid™ around the back of the post, as shown in the diagram
Top view of paddock with Inside Corner |
To reduce the potential for leg injuries, post should remain outside the fence | Use two ElectroBraid® Roller Insulators around the back of the post to prevent the Braid™ from touching the wood |
If you are running ElectroBraid® through a mature wooded area, you may want to use standing trees for posts. A mature tree (8” min) can provide an excellent brace however be certain to attach a 2x4 to the tree and then apply the insulators to the 2x4 to prevent the tree from growing over the insulators.
Note: Remove any brush that may come in contact with the fence.
WARNING: Avoid Small trees that can move in the breeze and wear the Braid™ .
Simply attach ElectroBraid® Roller Insulators to tees as you would a wooden post. |
Tree as End Post |
Tree as Corner Post |
When you have completed the corner and end posts, you are ready to install your line posts and the line post insulators and start running your lines.
Starting at the end post, feed the leading end of the ElectroBrai® d through the insulator and secure it to itself using a poly Braid™ splicer. The splcier should be about 2" from the end insulator. Leave at least 2" of ElectroBraid® oustide the splicer. Tape, cut and singe the end to prevent fraying.
First you need a sight line. Starting at a gate or end post, feed the ElectroBraid® through the second insulator from the bottom and secure it using a poly rope splicer. Pick up the reel and begin to walk the fence line. Insert the ElectroBraid® behind each corner post insulator. When you get to the end post, insert the ElectroBraid® behind the end post insulator and secure it with a poly rope splicer. Attach the tensioning device and tighten (see Tensioning ElectroBraid® ). Then loosen the Poly rope splicer, pull out the slack and re-tighten. The sight line you have created will help you position your line posts in a straight line.
On hilly terrain, install line posts at the peaks and in the valleys first, and then space the remaining line posts to suit the terrain. An ElectroBraid® Roller Insulator is recommended where there is a horizontal or vertical change in direction. The use of other insulators could allow the Braid™ to pull out under tension.
Note: Always work with the “lay” of the land. Place a post at the top of each rise and the bottom of each depression. Recommended distance between line posts is 30 to 50 feet. Reduce post spacing in hilly terrain and in areas of high snowfall.
Using the installed strand of ElectroBraid® as a sight line, install your line posts. Mark the position for each insulator with your jig, and attach each line post insulator and each ElectroBraid® Roller Insulator to all posts.
Note: The ElectroBraid® Roller Insulator will withstand a greater force from a vertical change of direction than a conventional line post insulator. To install the Braid™ on a line post at a peak or a valley, first tension the Braid™ . Then, after the Braid™ has been tensioned, remove the roller pin, place the Braid™ behind the roller and re-insert the pin ensuring the pin is set all the way by tapping it with a screw driver. The Braid™ may jam in the insulator if you insert the Braid™ behind the roller and then try to tension.
Layout all your posts and mark each one for the depth to drive the post and the location of each insulator. Using the first strand of Braid® as a sight line, use a post pounder to set your T-Posts, (IMPORTANT: be sure your T-Posts are correctly oriented. The flat side of the T-Post should be on the inside of the paddock so the Braid™ will be on the inside of the paddock when attached to the insulators.) Then attach your T-Posts insulators.
Note: A T-Post Cap provides an insulator for the top strand and also reduces the hazard of a horse being speared by a T-Post.
Pick up the reel and walk your fence line. At each line post, fasten the strand of ElectroBraid® to each insulator.
DO NOT take Braid™ off one end of the spool. The Braid™ will kink and could be damaged. The correct method is to unroll the Braid™ and it will not kink. (See diagram)
Continue unrolling the Braid® until you come to an end post where the strand will terminate. End the strand by attaching it to the end post insulator just as you did when you started the strand. Pull hard on the Braid™ to remove as much slack as you can before you apply the tensioning device. Clamp the ElectroBraid® to itself using a copper poly rope splicer approximately 2” from the insulator.
Note: When installing fence on rolling terrain, tension all lines first before attaching the Braid™ to the dip and ridge posts.
Dip Post
Tie the "S" Hook on one end of the ratchet rope. |
Insert the ratchet rope opposite the release switch, around the ratchet wheel and back the opposite direction. Make sure that the ratchet rope travels all the way around the wheel and underneath the housing pin. |
After a strand of Braid™ is installed, you can apply the ElectroBraid® tensioning device.
Wrap the end of the ratchet rope with the "S" Hook around the post and fasten it to the ratchet rope |
Position the clamp on the strand you are tensioning and attach the clamp to the "S" hook on the ratchet as shown |
Pull as hard as you can. Do not tension the Braid™ with a tractor, come-along or other mechanical device. The ratchet can handle 250 lbs. before it will slip, so do not worry about over-tensioning when tightening by hand as you must release the rope to apply the poly Braid™ splicer which will allow it to slip within tolerance level. When you can’t pull anymore, loosen the poly Braid™ splicer, pull out the slack you have created and re-tighten the poly Braid™ splicer. To release the ratchet, apply pressure to the rope while pressing on the release switch, and allow the rope to slide out carefully.
CAUTION: ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION WHEN TENSIONING.
It is possible for a poly rope splicer to slip and/or insulator to break.
It can become a dangerous projectile.
Wrap black electrical tape around the Braid™ before you cut it. Using a utility knife cut the ElectroBraid® and then melt both ends with a lighter.
NOTE: Always tape ElectroBraid® before you cut it. Always singe the end until it melts so the rope won’t fray when the tape wears off.
Loosen and remove the tensioning device and return to the post at the beginning of the strand. Just as you tensioned the Braid™ where you terminated the strand, tension once again at the post where you began. Tensioning from both ends helps to ensure you get full and even tension on the line.
NOTE: Let the ElectroBraid® sit for 24 hours after initially tensioning and then check the tension on each strand again. Re-tension, after 24 hours to complete the tensioning process.
ElectroBraid® maintains its tension very well so you will not have to constantly re-tension. However, if one of your posts moves due to frost or the impact of an animal or vehicle, the ElectroBraid® will need re-tensioning. Re-set the post and apply the tensioning device to re-tighten the Braid™ . Consider strengthening your bracing to ensure the post won’t shift again.
If you are fencing a paddock or pasture an acre or larger, we recommend you tension from corner to corner. To do this you will require a second tensioning kit. Starting at an end post, walk the perimeter until you come to the first corner. Tension this corner.
Go to the next corner and repeat the process. After tensioning, return to the first corner and remove the ratchet. Repeat this process until you have tensioned the entire perimeter of your fence.
Remember you must terminate the ElectroBraid® after every 2000 feet if in a straight line. Do this by installing an In-Line H-Brace. (See page 9)
The ElectroBraid® Tensioning Device does not stay on the fence and is to be stored until needed.
When you end one reel of ElectroBraid® and start another, you will have to splice the two reels together. Simply overlap the two ends of ElectroBraid® about 4” and then use a poly rope splicer to secure them together. Ensure there is direct contact between the copper strands in each strand of Braid® . Make sure you tape and singe both ends of the Braid™
It is vital that the energizer you choose has sufficient power to meet your needs. The marketing of electric fence energizers is extremely competitive and manufacturers wildly overstate the length of fence each energizer can adequately electrify. 10% of the manufacturers' mileage rating should be used as a guide in choosing your energizer. ElectroBraid® energizers are rated based on the distance rating of one strand of Braid™ over a known distance, while under a known load from vegetation touching the Braid™.
WARNING: Only use an ElectroBraid® LOW IMPEDANCE energizer that is UL or CSA approved. NEVER use an energizer labeled “WEED BURNER”, “WEED CHOPPER”, or continuous current fencer; they are unsafe and WILL damage ElectroBraid® .
WARNING: Never use regular house wire or ElectroBraid® for your electrical connections. Only use high voltage, heavily insulated, copper lead-out wire, copper clad ground rods and brass ground rod clamps.
NOTE: To protect your energizer investment, we recommend a surge protector between the power source and your energizer.
First decide where to locate your energizer (also known as a “fencer” or “charger”). You can use a solar powered energizer or an AC powered energizer, but an AC energizer is always more reliable. Your AC energizer should be mounted on a wall indoors, away from flammable material and out of reach of children.
We recommend a minimum of three 8' or 6' copper clad ground rods spaced at least ten (10) feet apart in a triangular configuration.Look for soil that is wet or moist year round to place your ground rods. Dry, rocky, sandy or frozen soils may present special problems and more ground rods may be required.
Ground rods should be placed close to your energizer and near the fence line, but at least fifty feet away from any building, any underground piping, cable or other grounding system. A ground rod closer than 50 feet from a waterline (even if the waterline is plastic) may cause signal interference in your home computer, phone, radio or TV. Ground rods closer than 25’ from the energizer may damage the energizer during electrical storms.
Remember to attach clamps BEFORE driving ground rods, as the end of a ground rod may mushroom from pounding, making it impossible to slide a clamp over the end.
When you have installed your ground rods, connect them with our heavily insulated copper lead-out wire, rated for at least 15,000 volts. Strip a ¾” length of the insulating jacket and secure with cable ties for a trouble-free, permanent installation. Secure connecting wires to the ground rods with brass ground rod clamps and cable ties. After all ground rods are connected, connect one ground rod to the negative terminal on your energizer. Finally, leave a loop of slck wire near each ground rod to allow for possible soil movement. Besure the tops of the ground rods are buried below the surface of the soil to avoid ground wires getting broken or disconnected. Use small indicator flags to show where the ground rods are buried.
Do not confuse or combine ground rods for your house with ground rods required for an electric fence energizer. The ground rods used with a fence energizer act as receivers for electron flow. Grounding is one of the most critical elements in any electric fence system. Over 95% of all electric fence problems result from poor grounding.
For an electric fence to provide an effective shock, an electric circuit must be completed. That means the electrons passing along the fence must pass through the animal and then return back to the energizer. The electrons can return to the energizer either by traveling through the ground to the ground rods or through the negative (grounded) strand on your fence, which is connected to the negative terminal on the energizer.
Use a negative (grounded) strand on your fence so that you can add an extra ground rod, if needed, in a set area near your fence. No matter how dry the soil condition, a negative strand on your fence will deliver a shock to any horse that touches both the negative (grounded) strand and a positive strand of Braid™ at the same time.
IMPORTANT: Check with local utility companies to locate existing underground cables, power lines or pipes before you install your fence posts and ground rods.
A Very Safe Fence at a Very Low Cost
When you install a solar powered energizer, be certain to position it away from shadow or possible animal contact. Face the solar panel towards the equator or at an angle to allow maximum exposure to the sun.
TIP: Place your Solar Powered energizer out in the field for three days before connecting it to the fence. This will allow the battery to charge to its maximum capacity. Ensure the unit is turned “Off” while charging (failing to fully charge a battery before use will prevent the battery from ever reaching a full charge).
You can now connect your energizer to the ElectroBraid® . Run a length of copper lead wire from the positive terminal on your energizer to the top strand of Braid™ . Feed the copper wire into a poly rope splicer, which is fastened to the strand.
NOTE: For easier troubleshooting, it is best to use an extra Poly rope splicer to connect your electrical components. If you want to disconnect the electrical from a strand you will not have to use the tensioning device to hold the tension.
NOTE: Use of cable ties will prevent lead-out wire from breaking due to vibration. After the tension has been taken off the line you are electrifying, feed the copper wire from the energizer into the poly rope connector. While you have the poly rope splicer loose, cut and insert another piece of copper lead-out wire that will be used to jump the electricity to the third strand. Repeat for the fourth strand (this technique will allow you to easily disconnect the lower line(s) in case of heavy accumulation of snow fall which may cause the fence to short). Before inserting, pre-measure the proper length of the jumper wire and strip away 1” of insulation so the copper in the lead wire is exposed to ensure a good connection. After all leads have been connected, re-tighten the poly rope splicer, release the ratchet, and attach cable ties. Bury all wiring 8”-10” deep.
NOTE: We recommend you thread all positive wiring through a piece of ¾” conduit (flexible Poly water pipe) to avoid abrasion and to prevent shorting between negative and positive wires. Bury the pipe 8” to 10” deep. Strap the ends of the pipe to the gate posts with the ends turned down to prevent rain and dirt from filling the pipe.
Negative (“Cold”) Positive (‘Hot”) Wiring Diagram
Negative (“Cold”) Positive (“Hot”) wiring Diagram
Heavy, wet snow can short electric fencing. To prevent this, fences in areas prone to snow accumulation can be wired as illustrated above.
Cut-Off switches can be installed to allow you to progressively turn on and off the bottom strands with the changing depth of snow. Wire your energizer as shown in the diagram.
Dig a trench under your gate. If it is a narrow, walk through gate, 4”-6” deep will suffice. However, if heavy equipment, such as trucks or tractors will be going through the gate, the trench should be 8” to 10” deep.
This fence doesn't require wiring underneath the gate because no section of fence is isolated. . |
In each of these cases on gate will require underground wiring to carry the separate positive and negative circuits from the section that is electrified to the section that is isolated. |
NOTE: We recommend you thread all positive wiring through conduit (a piece of ¾” flexible, Poly water pipe) to avoid abrasion and to prevent shorting between negative and positive wires. Bury the pipe 8” to 10” deep. Strap the ends of the pipe to the gate posts with the ends turned down to prevent rain and dirt from filling the pipe.
NOTE: The insulation on the underground wire should not breakdown at less than 15,000 volts. If the guard voltage is less than 15,000 volts, the wire may leak electricity, which will affect the integrity of your fence. Your animals may not want to cross over the buried wire if they sense electricity beneath them.
Connect a piece of copper insulated lead-out wire to one of the strands by connecting the wire to the Braid™ with a poly rope splicer. Run the wire underground and re-attach it to the strand on the opposite side of the gate, using another poly rope splicer. To electrify additional strands, jump the electricity, vertically, from that strand to other strands to be electrified, as described above.
TIP – When running underground wires be sure to apply tape to the wire that will serve as the negative wire. The use of tape is to allow you to identify the negative wire to avoid shorting out the entire system by accidentally cross wiring the negative and positive wires.
NOTE: In all applications where underground wire is NOT in a conduit (negative wires only) be sure to leave a small loop of extra wire underground to allow for ground heave due to frost and ground settling.
NOTE: When not using winter wiring configuration, be sure to apply a jumper wire to connect all hot strands together at all end posts.
Unlike gates, there is no need to dig a trench. Simply connect the power from the perimeter fence to the section of cross fencing using lengths of copper lead-out wire.
Gate Handles make the perfect, cost effective, 15 to 20 foot wide gate for infrequent use only. They give easy access for bringing heavy equipment in or out of paddocks for seeding or fertilizing.
Note: When using trees, mount gate activator plate on a 2”x4” and attach it to the tree to prevent damage from tree growth.
REMEMBER: ALL READINGS SHOULD BE OVER 5,000 (5.0) VOLTS
If any reading is less than 5,000 (5.0) volts, you need to troubleshoot and fix the problem. These simple tests will assure you that your ElectroBraid® fence is properly installed. Please monitor your fence on a regular schedule.
TIP: Test after rain when conditions are wet to best determine if there are any electrical shorts. Shorts are more easily detected in wet conditions.
TIP: Test when conditions are very dry to confirm that you have adequate grounding. In particular, test where the fence runs over high terrain or through areas that might be especially dry or have sandy, clay or rocky soil.
No Respect: If you find your horses are showing less respect for their fence than normal, it is very likely something is reducing the voltage on your fence, or the grounding of the fence is not what it should be.
Here are some things you should do:
Loss of Tension: If you detect a loss in tension, check the following:
ElectroBraid® is a do-it-yourself fence system. Nine out of ten ElectroBraid® customers install their fence themselves. If you want to hire a fence installer (perhaps only to install your fence posts and gates), may we suggest the following:
Hiring an Installer does not assure proper installation and the only assurance is the owner educating themselves so they can determine the final job personally. Please inspect your completed ElectroBraid® fence to be sure it has been installed as recommended in our Installation Manual, that it is solid, the Braid™ is taut, the electrical system is properly grounded, and producing at least 5000 volts.
Any Questions? Call us Toll-Free at 1-855-EBFENCE. We are always pleased to help.