Electric fencing two areas with one charger?

Apr 28, 2011 07:32:19

Hi folks,

I have two different garden plots that are about 200 m apart. One is about 1/4 acre, and the other will eventually be about 1.5 acres. I have a real problem with deer and raccoons. The past two years I used the lightweight polypropylene mesh to successfully keep out the deer, but it is practically impossible to keep it weighted down enough to keep the coons out. It also only has a 2-3 year lifespan before it needs to be replaced, and its hard to pull the weeds out of it when I take it down in the fall.

So, I was wondering if I could set up a fencer adjacent to the small garden which is right beside my house, then run an insulated underground wire to power the fence around the larger garden. Has anyone tried this? I can't see why it wouldn't work, but I'd hate to buy 200 m of wire (it would be a light gauge - cheap) and find out it didn't work.

Apr 28, 2011 08:58:26

I can't comment on the coons but an electric fence will keep the deer out ... I had a problem with them eating my vegetables and got a long range mains fencer unit which is in the garage/workshop I run a standard cable to where the fence is and earth one wire with the peg on the fencer post and connect the other to the fence.

I've seen the deer going around the garden looking for away in, they never jumped in, even though it is only 30'' high ... they must have got a jolt to learn about it, but it worked for me.

Apr 28, 2011 15:13:28

Make sure the charger is rated to run the total amount of wire you will have both above and below ground (including if you have 2 or more strands above ground fencing the garden and you will because coons are shorter than deer). Also you may run into corrosion issues if you are using 2 types of wire and connect them either to the same peg on the charger or together. As far as keeping coons and deer out I have never tried it but both animals are smart enough to realize a jolt from the fence means I am not to go there.

Apr 29, 2011 05:18:28

Thanks folks. I didn't imagine there would be any problems. I paid a visit to my local Co-op Country Store and they were very well-informed about it.

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