October 26, 2008: Electric Fence

glatt · 10-26-2008, 03:32 PM

I understand that in a fence like this, a strong current can be induced during an electrical storm, even if the fence itself isn't struck. When lightning strikes even a few hundred feet away from the fence, it radiates an electromagnetic field, and as that field passes by the fence, a current is induced in the fence wire. The stronger and closer the lightning strike is to the fence, the stronger the current.

This is exactly the same principle an electric generator uses, only a generator uses magnets for a field source instead of a lightning bolt.

10-26-2008, 03:32 PM	#12
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I understand that in a fence like this, a strong current can be induced during an electrical storm, even if the fence itself isn't struck. When lightning strikes even a few hundred feet away from the fence, it radiates an electromagnetic field, and as that field passes by the fence, a current is induced in the fence wire. The stronger and closer the lightning strike is to the fence, the stronger the current. This is exactly the same principle an electric generator uses, only a generator uses magnets for a field source instead of a lightning bolt.

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