Premier 1 2015 Fences That Work

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Common Fencing Mistakes
Too weak to take up/down strain
Years ago almost all insulators were
weak and badly designed. Now only 50%
are not up to the task (it varies by brand).
Buy the best (not necessarily the most
expensive) that have plenty of plastic in
them. Stick to white or black ones (more
likely to have UV resistance—but even
the right color is not a guarantee).
Pay attention
to the
little things
This insulator
was installed
upside down—
which allowed
the tape to
drop out of it.
Insulator was
too weak to
withstand the up
and down strain
from the wire.
Also, energized
barbed wire—a
serious risk.
Broken strands
Deer and livestock
can break insulators
and conductors. It is
essential to repair
them immediately.
This rope was
easily repaired with
a p. 137).
Broken
Insulator
Don’t energize
barbed wire!
Insulator/Conductor Mistakes
Buying an energizer or battery that’s
too weak or too small
When most folks first experiment with
electric fencing, they have limited ideas
about its possibilities. So they limit their
investment in the energizer.
But if it works (and it does if done
properly), most folks then extend the
fence and then extend it further, etc.
In a short time the longer fence is too
long and grass-covered for the small
energizer to keep fully energized.
The same is true
of batteries. The
(right) discharges
quickly when
paired with this
energizer without
a solar panel. Use a
larger battery (80 or
100 amp-hr) if not
using a solar panel.
Believing the “miles of fence” claims
Even politicians aren’t as misleading as
many energizer claims.
So why do many manufacturers
still emphasize miles? Because other
manufacturers do it. They fear that if
they don’t include a “miles” claim, a
customer will not buy their product.
For 30 years, Premier has refused to make
such inaccurate claims.
Not enough eart
It’s hard for the less experienced to
believe that 6 ft of ground rod(s) is
needed for a 2 joule unit—and 18 ft for a
6 joule unit.
Extra ground rods increase the size of
the energy “collection field” of the earth
terminal. This, in turn, increases the
potential size of the pulse.
Use galvanized ground rods (rust is an
insulator). Connect them properly with
(see p. 102).
Allowing bare copper wires to touch
steel wires or ground rods
If you do, corrosion by electrolysis will
occur. Result? Poor contact and a weaker
pulse. It’s best not to use bare copper
materials at all in electric fences. (Tinned
copper is not a problem. The tin coating
prevents any electrolysis.)
Most common error
Not keeping the battery charge level
high enough. When a deep-cycle lead
acid battery is drawn below a 40% charge,
it is less able to ever be fully recharged.
Batteries with reduced charge levels
may freeze in extremely cold weather.
It pays to check the energizer batteries
often—particularly during the cold of
winter—to make sure your energizer and
fence are working.
Energizer and Battery Errors
• 1-800-282-6631 COMMON FENCING MISTAKES 15