weird dream...
It is easy to test. Stand in a field. Hold electric fence. Notice the jolt you get. Obviously, for a better effect, take your shoes off.

Now, feeling brave yet? Believe in your dreams? There is an easy test to make. Assuming you have a full bladder. (I would not advise it)


Electric Fences are (were?) basically a car battery wired up to the fence. I can't remember how it worked (I guess capacitors of some form). But that charge would build up into a noticeable belt. Standard practice as teenagers to challenge each other to hold onto the wire for the longest time. (IIRC the trick was to hold a tighter grip. The more wimpy you held it, the worse it felt)

You have to have a fairly big charge as you are trying to get through tough horse or cow skin. So having boots on is not much help.
( Batter Pudding Hurler is a figment of your imagination, Mon 28 May 2012, 21:36, 2 replies)

Depends how old they are
Old electric fence units had a mechanical timer like the balance wheel of a clock that closed a contact and connected up a coil. When the wheel swung round and broke the contact it produced a big spark which the coil stepped up to a couple of thousand volts at a tiny current.

Modern ones do the same thing but it's all electronic and works like a flashgun circuit. A little oscillator drives a transformer that charges a big capacitor, and when it's charged it is discharged through a big transformer like a car ignition coil.

Incidentally, most animals are smart enough to learn to stay away from the bright orange electric fence "string" which has stainless steel strands to carry the voltage. They're not smart enough to learn the difference between electric fence string and ordinary orange baler twine, though ;-)
(gordonjcp, Mon 28 May 2012, 22:02, closed)

tl:dr zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Nah, you're alright you are, I believe you, it's cool. This has all reminded me of a Ren and Stimpy episode with a boardgame based around urine and fences.
( Windy Pig I'm naturally quite suspicious about the moon., Tue 29 May 2012, 0:35, closed)

don't wizz on the electric fence
stimpy was playing it with ren's cousin sven
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Tue 29 May 2012, 11:47, closed)

thats the one.
Good times.
( Windy Pig I'm naturally quite suspicious about the moon., Wed 30 May 2012, 9:34, closed)