Electric Fence & Energizer systems Experts & Specialists.

Electric fence energizer is normally the first item/ object that will tell/ identify that there is a problem on the electric fence system.

The best action to take on a problematic electric fence system is to leave the electric fence energizer on, or to switch the electric fence energizer on.

If the problem experienced is intermittent in time, then it would likely indicate that a problem does exist on the electric fence wire system or that the electric fence energizer has been damaged or it is failing due to old age and thus the electric fence energizer is starting to malfunction due to old age “giving false alarms”

If the problem is persistent “alarm condition immediately after switching on of the electric fence energizer”, then it would indicate that, a persistent problem is present on the electric fence system, electric fence wire broken/ electric fence wire being cut or that the electric fence wires were entangled with each other, it could also be that a loop wire some how managed to flip over creating a dead short on the electric fence system which would cause problems on the electric fence system.

This will most likely sound the siren connected to the electric fence energizer.

Even if the electric fence siren does sound, do not worry about it at this point in time rather let the electric fence energizer run while conducting an inspection into the electric fence wire system.

If the electric fence energizer terminals are not covered, then one should inspect the high voltage cables connecting to the electric fence energizer.

Do not prod with an iron or any metal object on the high voltage cables when the energizer is switched on. The checking of properly connected high voltage cables on the electric fence energizer should be done in the switched off position.

If the electric fence energizer is switched on, then a screw driver could be used to check if all high voltage cables are still properly connected to the electric fence energizer.

If all are well, then one can proceed to check further.

One should try and identify what occurred why the electric fence system did activate but seeing that we as south Africans do work long hours, we normally find a activation on upon retuning home after a long day of work.

It is advised to proceed to the area where the high voltage cables connect to the electric fence wire system. It is common for poor quality high voltage cables to corrode off at the connection area over time.

If all high voltage cables are still connected properly, then one can proceed to inspect the electric fence wires systems.

Move along the electric fence wire system and check for electric fence wires which might have popped out of their respective plastic insulator bobbins. Listen for ticking sounds and sparking between electric fence wires.

Take note of tree branches, shrubs and vegetation which might be present on the electric fence wire system.

If the above are found, it is paramount to switch off the electric fence energizer in order, to allow one to clean the electric fence wires.

Watch out for wrapped around electric fence wires on warning signs, this is common where electric fence wires are not properly tight and strong gusts of wind.

If all wires do look fine, then proceed to where the electric fence wires systems ends. There are normally loop wires and it is common for loop wires to swing over which could lead to the malfunction of the electric fence system.

It is common for end users to not recognize electric fence faults, troubles and this is why Exquisite Security can be contacted in order to rectify and sort out the clients electric fence problem. We work with electric fence systems on a daily basis, we also have the correct equipment, to erect, service and repairs damaged electric fence systems.

Flash overs, ticking sparking electric fence problems:

Flash overs, a sparking or ticking electric fence wire systems faults problems occur when a too big energizer is placed on a to small electric fence system, the insulator bobbins are also only that big. when it does rain all plastic insulator bobbins will become wet and as such, flash overs can occur. Spiders or lizards or any other insects might get entangled on electric fence wires, or in the plastic insulator bobbins this too can lead to flash overs, sparks and a ticking problems on electric fence systems.

Another flash over, spark ticking problem is where the plastic insulator bobbins do crack over time due to the harsh south African sun.

The easiest way of rectifying a ticking, flashing over, sparking electric fence wire system is to first hose the sparking area down with a water hose.  Most of the times, the water will flush out the entangled insect.

Where a electric fence bobbin is cracked, one would need to replace the plastic electric fence insulator bobbin.

• Electric fence systems need to be properly earthed.
• The better the earthing on the electric fence system the bigger the shock the intruder/ animal will experience.
• The bigger the electric fence shock, the bigger the deterrent to would be intruders intruding or trying to intrude into properties.
• Electric fence systems needs to be kept clean from all vegetation, shrubs and tree branches as a leaking electric fence system shock will not be harsh on the human body and it will not assist in being a deterrent to would be intruders.
• A leaking electric fence system, could cause false alarms and thus it will create frustration with ends users. Clients will then lose faith in their electric fence systems and thus the first line of defense will be ineffective and broken.
• Electric fence systems needs to be operated 24 hours a day and electric fence systems needs to be tested regularly by clients to make sure that electric fence systems are in a proper working condition.
• Electric fence energizers should be fitted in a dry well ventilated areas and out of reach of children.
• Electric fence energizers should also be located at such areas, where clients do not need to leave the safety of their homes in order to arm and disarm electric fence energizers, especially when an alarms condition occurs on the electric fence systems.
• When an alarm condition does occur on a electric fence system one should not switch off the electric fence energizer until such time as the fault/ problem is identified which is causing the electric fence system to malfunction.
• When a problem is identified on the electric fence system, it is much easier to resolve.
• Only when it is safe to do so, should one switch of an electric fence system in order to rectify the problem fault on the electric fence system.
• Electric fence energizer systems are battery backed up systems.
• In other words, the system can operate without a battery being present in the system.
• It is advised that the batteries in energizers be replaced on a yearly basis in order to make sure that the electric fence system is in a proper working condition.

• Nemtek electric fence energizers, Staffix/ JVA electric fence energizers are very good, well known and reliable in the south African market.
• Nemtek has various electric fence energizer models available to suit the needs of every electric fence client. The Nemtek range of electric fence energizers are the Wizord, Merlin, Merlin Stealth, Stealth Master and Druid electric fence energizer range.
• It is common that due to the high electric shock, associated with electric fence energizers, that clients are scared to come too close to the electric fence energizers.
• Due to this aspect, it is possible to connect keypads to certain Nemtek electric fence energizers.
• Thus operating the electric fence energizer remotely from a bedroom, kitchen area is possible via the electric fence keypad system.
• The only electric fence electric fence energizers models which cannot be operated remotely is the Wizord 2i and 4i electric fence energizer range.
• It is possible to operate a electric fence energizer system via a normal remote control system, but in this instance, it is advised that one can only reset the system.
• This will prevent the accidental switching off, of the system by the remote control/ transmitter  user.
• JVA electric fence energizers also has the capability to run keypads on their electric fence energizers.
• All electric fence energizers can be connected to armed response radios and other ancillary equipment like GSM modules where sms can be send to cell phones where armed response radios are not connected.
• One can also connect your electric fence energizer to your alarm system if needed.

Various types of wires are also used to erect electric fence systems.

• These include braided galvanized wire, stainless steel wire rope, stainless steel solid wires, braided and solid aluminum wires and galvanized 2,24mm free standing electric fence wires.
• Exquisite Security has experience with all of the above wires and Exquisite Security has found that the best electric fence wires to use on a wall top electric fence system is the 1,2mm braided stainless steel wires. But let’s look at all of the electric fence wires present on the market.
• It must be noted, that all wires do not like a very high electric pulse being pushed through them by an electric fence energizer.
• Regulations also prefer that electric fence wire systems do not consist of a mixed bag of wire systems. It has always been advised that if one started off with a specific wire, one needed to end off with the same type of wire.

Braided galvanized steel electric fence wires:

• Galvanized electric fence wires comes in a 1,2mm, 2,0mm and 2,24mm wire range.
• Due to the poor quality of galvanized products present in South Africa it is advised that a client refrain from using the braided galvanized electric fence wire for their electric fence systems on wall top electric fence systems.
• The resistance of a galvanized braided electric fence wire is less when compared to stain less steel braided wire. This means the electric fence energizer does not need to work very hard in order to get the high electric pulse through the wire system.
• The life span or braided galvanized wire for wall top electric fence systems, use to be around 5 years before rust started forming on the wire joints on a electric fence wire system. But due to poor quality products being present in South Africa, the life span of a braided galvanized electric fence wire system came down exponentially to around two years before the wires started showing signs of rust on joints of the electric fence wire system.
• What was great about braided galvanized electric fence wire was that it did not show kinks in the wires when wires were properly tight.
• The kinks present did not weaken the electric fence wires.
• The shock received from braided galvanized electric fence wires were good enough to deter would be intruders.
• On free standing systems “farms/ small holdings and plots” it is advised to use 2,24 mm solid galvanized steel wire.
• The 2,24 mm galvanized is a very hard wire to use and it is very strong, and seeing that no boundary wall is present, no other wire should be used.
• The 2,24 galvanized wire is strong enough to manage live stock should they come to close to the electric fence wires system.

Stainless steel braided and solid electric fence wires:

• Stainless steel wires comes in the 1,0mm, 1,2mm 1,6mm and 2,0mm range.
• The best to use is, braided stainless steel wires be used on wall top electric fence systems.
• The reason for this is that it has a very long life span here in Gauteng.
• If a braided stainless-steel wire is kinked, then the kink can be removed 99% of the time, and no strength is lost in it, when one compares solid stainless steel wires, Exquisite Security has found that kinks are not removed easily and if a bad kink was present, the kink would weaken the electric fence wire. The kink would always be visible to the naked eye and as such the image portrayed of the electric fence wire system is not of professional quality.
• The best aspect of stainless steel electric fence wires are that they do not rust easily. This means the electric fence wires keep their shininess very long and the electric fence wire system is portrayed being in a very good condition for a very long time.
• The only bad aspect of using stainless steel wire is that the electric fence wire resistance is much higher compared to any other electric fence wire present on the market.
• This means that the electric fence energizer needs to work much harder in order to get the high voltage pulse through the whole wire system.

Aluminum braided and solid electric fence wires:

• The newest electric fence wire to be added to the electric fence system is the solid aluminum wires and braided aluminum wires.
• The aluminum wire comes in 1,6mm and 2mm thickness.
• What makes aluminum wires so good for electric fences is that, the resistance of the electric fence wire is the least out of all of the electric fence wires, currently on the market.
• This means that the electric fence energizer does not need to work very hard in order to get the high voltage pulse through the whole system.
• The best aspect of aluminum electric fence wire is that the electric shock from such an electric fence system is much harsher on a person/ intruders and or animal should they get electrocuted.

What are the down sides to aluminum electric fence wires:

• Aluminum is a very soft wire.
• Aluminum braided or solid wires tend to flex much more on very warm days and thus the impression that the electric fence wires are not properly tight could arise when being viewed.
• Aluminum electric fence wires are also quite weak in that when tree branches fall on aluminum electric fence wires, they normally break quite easy. Stress breaks are common on aluminum electric fence wires.
• The other down side to aluminum electric fence wires is that the aluminum wire tends to corrode quite quickly and thus becoming dull.

 High voltage cables:

• Due to regulations being present in the erecting and installation of electric fence systems in South Africa, it is advised that the system uses the same cables from start to finish.
• High voltage cables are double insulated and they can be used with various electric fence wires.
• The s-series which is a single core high voltage wire “tinned copper wires” , A undergate cable “u series” wire which is a solid aluminum wire, the aluminum cable “A series” which is a braided single core aluminum wire, the multi core “s series” which are a 3 core or 5 core cable and the Binox stainless steel “ss series”  high voltage cables.
• Again high voltage electric fence cables present South African market resulted, that only a stainless steel type high voltage cable be used.
• It is common for the tinned wire and aluminum braided wire to absorb water into the core and by this, the wire is corroded rotten. The reason is that stainless steel cables are not prone to rust over a extended period of time.
• This means, that the connection points between the electric fence energizer and electric fence wire side is also good.
• A good connection assists in the better transferring of the high electric pulse through the whole wire system.

Connection methods:

• Ferrules and line clamps are used on electric fence systems in order to join and end off electric fence wires.
• Ferrules do come in different sizes and types.
• The well known ferrules are the tinned copper, aluminum and stainless steel ferrules.
• Again, it is advised that the same ferrules be used as the wire on the system. Thus stainless steel wire will use stainless steel ferrules and stainless steel high voltage cables.
• A braided galvanized steel wire system will use a tinned copper ferrule and a tinned copper high voltage cable.
• The reason for this is that metals act differently to electricity and when different metals are present, then the reaction will be more visible on the joint between different metals on a security system.
• It is not the end of the world if different types of ferrules are used
• Line clamps are also used to connect electric fence wires with each other. A line clamp is an bolt on clamp and they come in a 6mm and 8mm range “essentially a galvanized steel bolt”.
• Line clamps are not often found on domestic wall top electric fence systems. They are more frequently found on free standing electric fence systems.
• It has been found that the market provided line clamps do allow for wires coming loose at times.
• For this reason, Exquisite Security has been making their own line clamp using stainless steel bolts. Again the stainless steel bolts allows for the proper connection between wires and due to the bolts not rusting easily, a long life connection is present.

• The various electric fence poles all have their pros and cons in the electric fencing industry.
• Some electric fence poles will add much more value and perceived security to a property when all are compared with each other.

Round bar poles:

• The erecting of a round bar electric fence system is the most cost effective electric fence system to install at a property.
• Round bar poles are very good to use on a pre cast wall type as the pole is hammered into the precast wall post. The opposite is true to installing round bar poles on brick walls, where it was found that the round bar poles would not be very tight into the brick wall holes.
• Exquisite Security were the only electric fence installers to use a weaving wire action around the round bar poles. This assisted in the prevention of electric fence wires being pulled away from electric fence poles in order to gain access to a property.
• This also assisted in the prevention of the electric fence wires unhooking themselves from an electric fence pole by accident or by strong winds or tree branches pressing against the electric fence wire system.
• The down side to the round bar poles, were that the electric fence system did not add the same value to a property, when a bigger, higher electric fence pole system was used like the square tubing electric fence pole systems.
• Due to the electric fence pole only being a pole type “steel round bar” the height of an electric fence system was always going to be lower and as such on double brick walls, the round bar poles could not “cover” the wall properly.  This added that one could still gain access to the property much easier and thus the first line of defense was much easier broken/ bypassed.
• The other down side to round bar poles is that should a bobbin crack/ break over time, then one could not easily refit a new electric fence bobbin to the pole. This is due to the steel pole top being damaged “widened” when it is being hammered into a brick wall, pre cast wall post.

Flat bar electric fence poles:

• Some clients preferred the flat bar electric fence pole system as it does add a more value for money to the property of the client.
• Each electric bobbin could be individually replaced should it become damage for what ever the reason.
• The down side to the flat bar system was that electric fence wires could not be weaved around flat bar poles.
• It is a common knowledge, that the electric fence wires were at times, unhooked from the electric fence bobbins and pulled away from the wall. This allowed intruders to gain access to a property much easier.
• It is very common on flat bar angle electric fence posts to use sticks to lift the wires up and away from the wall top and as such, a space is created where a intruder could climb into the property between the wall top and the electric fence wire system.
• The flat bar steel type pole is also not such a very strong pole and it is very easily bend down and away in order to gain access into a property.
• The limiting factor on an electric fence flat bar pole is height, due to the flimsiness of the electric fence pole itself.

Square tubing electric fence poles:

• The square tubing poles are the best looking electric fence system poles on the market.
• They are manufactured from 20mm square steel tubing.
• Square tubing electric fence posts add the most value to a property, and the perception that one cannot easily enter the property is brought casted to would be intruders.
• Due to the nature of the square tubing electric fence pole, it is not easy to bend such a electric fence pole over.
• Much higher poles can be fitted to a property which will add to the security of a property.  The height on a electric fence pole can assist in covering the wall effectively.
• The square tubing electric fence pole can also assist to cover the wall just below the top area.
• The cost to erect a square tubing electric fence system is much higher, compared to other electric fence systems,  as screws are used to secure the electric fence poles into the walls.
• With this the electric fence poles are secured properly and one cannot just pull a square tubing electric fence pole over.

Pop in bobbin square tubing electric fence poles:

• The better square tubing electric fence pole is the pop in bobbin electric fence pole.
• It is not a common electric fence pole and it needs to be specially made on request.
• What makes this electric fence pole so great is that, the electric fence wire runs through the steel pole itself as it is insulated by a pop in bobbin.
• The reason for these poles were that it was common that on all electric fence systems, one could un hook electric fence wires from the bobbins and pull electric fence wires away from the poles and brick walls.
• This caused a gap being created between the electric fence wires and the wall whereby intruders could gain access into the property.
• So with the pop in bobbin electric fence system, the above trick is now prevented and as such a better electric fence security system is installed at a clients property.
• Trees and shrubs and strong winds also cannot cause the electric fence wires to unhook from the bobbins as the wire runs through the bobbin system.
• All of the above prevents false alarms on the electric fence system and this adds peace of mind to the client.
• Due to the nature of this steel post, it is advised that the steel posts be galvanized to assist with a long life span of the electric fence poles.
• The square tubing used to manufacture these posts are anything from 20mm square tubing or 25 mm steel square tubing and even 32mm steel square tubing.
• These electric fence poles are the strongest on the market as the biggest diameter steel tubing can be used in the manufacture process.
• These electric fence poles can also be bend at the top in order to cap off the system in creating a better look system.
• These electric fence poles needs to be secured with a galvanized 10x 100mm or 10x 120mm coach screw.
• It is common to find that “home made” electric fence poles do give off a water rust trail over time, and thus it is advised to have these poles galvanized to prevent such a rust trail down a wall.
• The galvanizing does add extra costs to erecting the electric fence system, but again the galvanizing adds to the long levity of the electric fence system.
• A 20 year life span of this system is not uncommon.

 Angle iron poles:

• Another electric fence pole system is the angled iron electric fence posts.
• These posts are normally a 40x40x5mm angle iron and up to a 50x50x5mm angle iron.
• Here the same pop in bobbin us used on the electric fence pole system.
• These electric fence poles are also specially made by the electric fence installer and again the electric fence posts needs to be galvanized to prevent a rust water trail on the wall.
• Shorter coach screw bolts are used on this system and due to the poles nature it seems like the pole can move about to the left and right side when pulled.
• The top of the electric fence pole can also be cut and welded closed in order to create a bend over top section.
• Due to the nature of the pop in bobbin system being used, it does minimize false alarms, preventing of accidental unhooking of electric fence wires from bobbins by tree branches, shrubs, strong winds etc.
• Again, a intruder can not unhook the wires from a electric fence bobbin intentionally as it does run through the electric fence pole itself.

Free standing electric fence systems.

• On farms and plots/ small holdings it is common to erect and fit free standing electric fence systems. These electric fence systems are normally from the ground up to around 1,8meters in height. This is done where there is no boundary wall present on the farm/ small holding.
• Round steel corner posts of at least 2mmx 95mm are used on free standing systems as corner posts which are also assisted with 2mmx 40mm stay posts, all of the posts and stay posts are fitted into the ground using concrete mixed with sand and stone.
• The poles in between the corner posts would be the normal y standard picket poles which are normally covered with bitumen in order to prevent the onset of rust.
• These y standard poles are normally hammered into the ground/ soil by using a14lb hammer.
• The distance between the y standard posts should not exceed 3x meters. If it does, then wire sagging will be present on the electric fence system.
• This will also allow of the moving wires away from each other in order to create a hole/ gap in the electric fence system which will allow for intruders to gain access to a property.
• Clip on plastic bobbins /insulators are used on the y standard posts.
• If it is needed, then a shorter dropper pole can be used between y standard poles in order to prevent electric fence wires from being stretched open to allow for intruders to gain access to a property.

• Exquisite Security has 17 seven teen years experience “combined around 37 years”  in the erecting and maintenance of electric fence systems as well as the identifying of problems and faults on electric fence systems.
• Exquisite Security is your trusted reliable service provider/ installer when it comes to the erecting, fault and problem finding as well as maintenance services on your electric fence system.
• Exquisite Security is also qualified to erect electric fence systems in south Africa and as such, COC certificate of compliance can be issued to clients in need of such COC.
• Exquisite Security has the expertise to assist new clients in erecting security electric fence systems to their property which will prevent intruders from trying to access the property.
• The electric fence system will also add value to the client’s property.
• Electric fence systems do need maintenance at certain periods in the life span of an electric fence system and Exquisite Security can assist with the maintenance related aspects on electric fence systems.
• Exquisite Security is the trusted people, to contact, when a client is in need, and to  to assist clients in their service needs of their electric fence systems.
• Exquisite Security can also be contacted to identify problems/ faults present on electric fences and the rectifying of such faults. Exquisite Security can also assist in identifying reasons why electric fence systems would give off false alarms, problems on electric fence systems.
• Services can also be conducted on client’s electric fence systems.
• It is also due to the service excellence and honesty that Exquisite Security is the preferred service provider to some short term insurance companies.

Current security in South Africa:

• The current security situation in south Africa is that our national police, cannot guarantee our safety. The current security industry is four times the size of the national police service and still crime is very high in South Africa.
• It is up to ourselves to make sure we are safe be it day or night. We as south Africans needs to take our security aspects in our own hands. Thus, one should always consider, what threats will be ever present at my property and where will the threat will come from?
• When this is done, “security assessment” one will identify the risks involved in the property and what security systems are needed to properly protect the property and its people living in and on the property.
• A proper security assessment will identify defense lines of the security and what is needed when considering security systems at the property.
• One such a first line of defense is an electric fence system. It is also known as the first line of defense.
• It is clear, that one needs to keep intruders out of ones property at all times as this will create a safe environment for everyone residing on the property.
• It will allow ones children to explore the outside world of our beautiful country South Africa.
• Running and playing in a safely protected property is of utmost importance. It is the outside yard playing which allows our children to develop naturally.  So getting to the points of electric fence systems.
• Two types of electric fences do exit being security “property” related also called wall top electric fences and animal/ game fences which controls the movement of animals, cows, sheep, cattle etc.
• Exquisite Security specializes in the installation and maintenance of security related electric fence systems.
• Exquisite Security only uses, the well-known market leaders of Nemtek and JVA electric fence energizers.
• The Nemtek and JVA electric fence energizers have proven themselves to be top quality and trust worthy security equipment.
• The Nemtek and JVA electric fence energizers are safe, easy to understand and easy to operate.