ELECTRIC FENCES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4817, 31 July 1939, Page 5

ELECTRIC FENCES

MAINS-OPERATED SETS. QUESTION OF SAFETY. "This department has for some considerable time past taken up the attitude that mains-operated electric fence controllers should not be countenanced, but representations are likely to be made to permit the use of one particular type which incorporated thermionic valves in its construction," stated a communication received from the Public Works Department by the Cambridge Power Board at its last meeting. "While it is well known that fence controllers operated from dry cells are reasonably safe, the Department has not the same grounds for confidence in mains-operated sets which, if tampered with, involve a bigger potential risk than in the former case; and the opinion is held here that if the Department agrees to mains-operated sets in principle, it may be opening the door to all and sundry to hook any type of controller (amateur pr otherwise) to fences throughout the country and thereby lead to an increase in the electrical hazards from this class of apparatus. "Overseas authorities are not yet agreed on the principle of allowing mains-operated fence controllers to be connected to 230v01t supply, having in mind either the possibility of a breakdown between the primary and secondary sides of the apparatus or a failure in the impulse mechanism, in either case there being a contingent risk of 230-volt supply being directly impressed on fence wires." The Department sought the opinion of the board on the matter.

The engineer, Mr. H. C. Oaten, stated that there were no mainsoperated fences in the board's area, although there were many batteryoperated sets. He did not think that mains-operated fences would be in demand in the district, owing to the cost of running power lines to the fences.

The chairman, Mr. M. Wells, considered that if there was a possibility of selling power in this direction, the position should be investigated. On his motion it was decided to reply that the board favoured the use of mains-operated fences if a guarantee of safety could be obtained.