Electrified Woven Wire
Is it feasible?
Yes it is, and we are not the first people to think of electrifying woven wire. A few people have tried it using regular Class I "field fence" types of soft wire with 6" or 12" vertical stays and standard hinge knots with varying degrees of success. Primarily it was used trying to control predators/feral animals and/or to keep breeding stock separated.
Powerflex Hi-Tensile Woven Wire has the unique 12.5 gauge, minimum 180,000 PSI, hi-tensile wire with a Class III plus aluminum coating giving it twice the life of standard Class III galvanized wire. This wire will maintain its tension under all forms of pressure. It does not stretch out of shape or sag. The overall integrity of it is far superior. It has the premium PowerLock or fixed knot.
Powerflex woven fire fence configuration is: 7-35-18, The first number is the number of horizontal strands, the middle number is the height and the last number is the spacing in inches between the vertical strands. If not electrified, we like to install an offset wire at about 15? off the ground to keep sheep or goats from pushing or climbing on it.
Developing the Powerflex hi-tensile woven wire was based on years of experience raising multi-species livestock, including sheep and goats. Living in a rather remote area with a predator population and being away a lot, we installed our 7-35-18 electrified woven wire to give us peace of mind. We've had 100% success at keeping livestock in and predators out.
After our corner posts were installed, we ran a 12.5 gauge, single strand, hi-tensile guide wire near the ground from corner post to corner post to make sure our line posts were installed in a straight line. We leave that wire in place becoming a ground wire. The woven wire is raised about 7" up from the ground wire making the height of your fence about 44" or so. If you feel you want a higher fence, you can add another strand of hi-tensile on top. We don't really find that necessary. From our experience, both livestock and predators tend to try to go under the fence as their first option. Once they hit the combination of the ground wire and hot fence, they rarely try again.
You will want an energizer sized to handle the job including a heavy, wet grass-load at times. Another option is to chemically spray or "weed eat" around your fence. We don't use chemicals and prefer to let the energizer do the work.
You will want to use a stretcher bar and chain grab tightener. Other components for traditional electric fencing will work with electrified woven wire. You can use the items that you are familiar with and get along well with. Tensioning can be accomplished with traditional tensioners or gripples.
For ultimate security we recommend electrified woven wire.