How Do Electric Fences Work?

An electric fence system has three parts: the energiser (or charger), the conducting wire, and a grounding rod. The energiser converts mains or battery power into short pulses of high voltage — typically 5,000–10,000 volts — at very low current (well under lethal levels). When an animal or person touches the wire, their body completes the circuit from the wire through the ground and back to the grounding rod. The resulting shock is painful but safe, training animals to avoid the fence. Pulses last about 1/300th of a second and repeat roughly once per second, giving the animal time to pull away.