strange question

[bobjebb]

Can a car battery be used to 'electrify' a fence or gate? Not to hot on current/voltage, if you touched both terminals would you get a shock?

Ta

[toasty]

Nope,

You'd need to step it up quite a bit. You wouldn't feel 12v at all.

[toasty]

Needless to say it can easily be done, but there are all the usual legal implications.

[peterb]

Can a car battery be used to 'electrify' a fence or gate?

Oh dear! What are you planning?

Not to hot on current/voltage, if you touched both terminals would you get a shock?

If you touch both terminals with your tongue, then yes, you would get a shock. But you wouldn't normally feel anything touching with your hands. Electrified fences (the sort farmers use to contain the livestock) are powered by a normal 12V car battery, but the use a capacitive discharge system to provide short pulses of high voltages (in the same way that your car's 12V electrics provide a spark at the spark plugs).

[bobjebb]

twied the tongue thwing, yepth you're righth...

Actually being a farmers son I always the remember the fences being run 12v, that's why I wondered if it was possible. Anyone know if it's feasable, or rather what's needed? Some little oiks (unless it's more sinister) have decided to vanalise my intercom/electric gate at the end of the drive, and generally hang around eating KFC or whatever they do at 1am. Have a feeling they will be back to use it at some sort of hang-out and as sitting up all night with my paintball gun isn't possible, I wanted to at least give the little f*ckers a shock.

[shineydave]

get a webcam for 15 quid and place it outside, u also need a baseball bat, hosepipe, or "add weapon of choice", not sure if it's legal but it worked when said "oiks" wrecked my fence

[bobjebb]

got a cheap IR camera, now I just need 1/2 mile of cable...

[peterb]

Well, I guess the cheapest way to improvise an electric fence type of device would be a car battery, and old car ignition coil, and some sort of motorised switch.

[toasty]

Bob,

I think the electric fence idea is a bad one, someone will probably end up suing you.

Why not get a wireless ethernet cctv camera, 1/2 mile isn't beyond the realms of possibility range wise especailly outside, you'd need power of course, but if you don't have mains then could use the car battery that you seem hellbent on using to electrocute someone with!!

Find nice ethernet wireless cctv cameras here.

http://www.digidave.co.uk/product_info. ... 01e71b9686

Hope this helps.

[simple1]

Or even, get a gert big Alsation and keep its meals lean............. seems to have put all but the most determined round here, and does not need to be re-charged

[bobjebb]

thanks for that advice all. Perhaps an electrified alsation would be the way to go...

[mikeyquattro]

I know a man who likes collecting knee caps.......................!!

[peterb]

I think the electric fence idea is a bad one, someone will probably end up suing you.

I've never heard of farmers getting sued for their fences.

Mind you, my in-law's Beagle would have loved to claim some damages from HRH after he cocked a leg against an electrified fence in Windsor Great Park! I can't even begin to describe the yelp of pain. On susequent visits he was very careful to keep clear of the fence!

[toasty]

Fair point Peter, you are probably right, however I'd personally rather not chance it. The pics from my CCTV are clear enough that I could tell who was doing what ever they were doing, and then it's up to me how I choose to electrocute them or not!!

Bob seriously consider the CCTV route. Pic attached from my system which is the wired server version of the link I provided. I think you'll agree for a reasonably priced system the quality is good, especially considering the low light level (8pm at night)

modules/pnCPG/Coppermine/albums/userpics/10011/19_25_45GMT.jpg

[bobjebb]

Thanks Dan That looks more than adequate - the trouble is the distance for me, the 'scene of the crime' is a loong way from the house, and as we're currently renting I'm not going to fork out for lots of installation costs... But thats definately an option for when we move. Electrocuting a local probably would cause problems though. Perhaps I should just set up a basic man trap laced with rat poison and piano wire...