Electric Fencing Quantities Guide

General Advice on Quantities required for an Electric Fence
Quantity Assesment.
Each situation is different and quantities vary on each field. The table below gives approximate quantities for runs and fields of reasonable size. Straight line fencing can be estimated depending on whether it is single, double or triple line.

Generally,polyposts can be at any spacing, the further apart, the more sag there is in the conductive material. This is very evident in tapes on a windy day. 5-7 metres apart is reasonable. A post must be sited in the hollows and peaks of the fenceline to ensure the line follows the topography of the land.
Permanent posts may be installed at wider intervals (upto 15m apart) as the conductor is usually under tighter strain and it is better to allow the conductors to have a "rubber-band" effect when they do come under pressure from animals. Do not fix the conductor to every post and allow it to slide in the insulators.

Straight line Fencing: 

Approximate figures to ring-fence a field.

Fences Using Plastic Posts

This diagram gives an idea of what may be required for a minimum temporary fence.

Fences using Wood Posts.

This diagram gives an idea of what may be required for a minimum permanent fence.

Insulators are only required if wooden or metal posts are utilised. These are simply multiplied out as lines x posts=required insulators.
A solid corner-post will allow you to tension the line more effectively, bear in mind that an electric fence does not need to be tightly tensioned as a normal wire fence does. These can be anything as long as it is effectively insulated from the conductive line. Corner insulators are only required at corners and at gates in the fence, one per line per corner.
On long fences (anything over 300m in a straight line) a straining post will be required. These should be inserted every 300m, or in the middle, and included in your calculation as a corner post.
Choose an energizer and conductive line that is going to deliver that vital electronic "Barb" that will enable you to control any mammal. Most animals will learn not to touch a wire with 6000 volts running through it. The better the conductivity (Ohms/metre) the better the control.



Rhino behind plain wire using a HotShock energizer. Second wire is a "Return Earth" wire.