Installation Directions for High Tensile Wire Electric Fences

Determine the amount of materials you will need. Measure the perimeter of the area you wish to enclose. Multiply that amount by the number of strands of wire you intend to use, and add the distance from your initial fence post to the fence charger location to determine the amount of high-tensile wire needed. Divide the perimeter measurement by 50 to determine the number of fence posts needed. A general rule of thumb is to use one fence post every 25 to 75 feet, depending upon terrain. The project requires using one insulator per wire per post.

Set the fence posts. Begin with the end posts and corner posts, and then space the remaining posts from 25 to 75 feet apart. Either drive the posts into the ground or set them in the ground with concrete, depending on your needs.

Install insulators on the fence posts. The height of the insulators depends on the fence's purpose. If the fence will contain livestock, the lowest insulator should be 6 to 12 inches from the ground. The top insulator should be 36 to 48 inches from the ground. Keep the insulators at least 6 inches apart.

Stretch the high-tensile wire to about 200 pounds, and connect it to the insulators on each post. The high tensile wire is not intended to keep livestock inside or outside a location; instead, the livestock is deterred by the electric shock received when upon contact with the wire. Make the wire loose enough to have an elastic, rubber band quality but tight enough so it doesn't sag.

Drive a 6- to 8-foot long, galvanized or copper-clad grounding rod into the ground no more than 20 feet from the fence charger. You may obtain better results by installing up to three grounding rods at 10-foot intervals. Leave only a few inches of the grounding rod exposed above ground. Attach a grounding clamp to the exposed end of the grounding rod.

Connect the fencer charger to the fence wires. Connect the ground wire from the fence charger to the grounding rod's clamp. Connect the fence charger to its power supply. Test the high-tensile wire at different locations of the fence with a voltmeter to ensure the fence is electrified properly.