High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
(OP)
The discussion is on Slashdot. The linked article is here on Network World. As much as I would like to see copper thieves getting zapped, this sounds scary.
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JHG





RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
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RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
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JHG
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
When I first saw this thread, that was the first thing that popped into my mind, and wondered if the installers made any attempt to mitigate such potential problems. Certainly, it would be relatively easy to only electrify the tops of the fences, which would eliminate small kids and animals from potential injuries. That's, unfortunately, overbalanced by the fact that the curious, or stupid, teenager will be farther off the ground when he gets zapped, and will be more likely to fall and hurt themselves that way.
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RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
As I posted on here several years ago, copper thieves swiped the ground wire out of the main feeder from our transformer to the building at the shop where I used to work while the wires were "Hot" .
Unless the "Electric Fence" has lethal voltages and amperages of the type used in prison compounds, all this will do is keep the honest people out.
B.E.
The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
See video.
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
My nephew buys derelict houses in bad areas and refurbs them for a living. To avoid squatters and other break-ins while he is working late at nights, he has made a sackful of devices with alligator clip leads and aluminum pads to stick on all the windows and doors. The heart of each one is a "shocking cigarette lighter" that can be found at novelty shops and fun shops.
He's heard a surprising number of yelps and cursing during the night. The people generally try the front or back doorknob first.
I wouldn't feel too bad about employing that myself. A serious intruder could kick the door or bash a window, but the casual intruder will simply pick another house that doesn't shock him.
Best to you,
Goober Dave
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RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
I thought Myhbusters debunked that one?
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RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
Based on my law classes at university I thought the idea of duty of care to anyone on your property was well established in Anglo-American law, though the definition of 'care' may vary somewhat with geography.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
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RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
I thought Myhbusters debunked that one? '
They rigged up some apparatus rather than taking the simple step of peeing on an electrified fence a few times. How well did it replicate a 'man-made' stream?
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
- Steve
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
This reminds me of a failed experiment in 1979 at trying to keep a dog in a pen.
This dog continually dug under the fence of his compound, so I set up an electric fence 6" above the ground to zap him when he tried to dig out.
The first day I tried it out, the dog went over to where he had been digging before, touched the fence, let out a howl and ran to the other side of the pen, where he promptly touched the electric fence again. He wheeled around and ran full bore across the pen leaping the fence with 6" to spare, and promptly vanished into the brush surrounding the property. It took me 2 days to get him back.
I ended up removing the electric fence and laying chicken wire 3" to 4" underground to stop him digging.
B.E.
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-George Washington, President of the United States----
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
Now, you are tempting me.
One of my cats can open my back screen door. I have to attach a bungee cord to it to keep him inside. I am looking for a screen door latch with a round handle.
A couple of wires...
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JHG
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
I just had a mental picture of a shocked cat, doing three horizontal circuits of the room, on the wall about 4'-0" up from the floor.
B.E.
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-George Washington, President of the United States----
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
Best to you,
Goober Dave
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RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
50kV-100kV is pretty high? Lots of places electric powered trains runs on quite low V DC (e.g. 1.5-3 KV DC) - but in my country its 25kV AC for the long distance trains but only 1.5 kV DC for local metro service around Copenhagen. An electric fence of the shelf in my local store would be up to 10kV. Just did one more google:
http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Subway_FAQ:_Facts_an...
NY subway uses 625V DC
Bestregards
Morten
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
B.E.
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-George Washington, President of the United States----
RE: High-Voltage Fences For Zapping Would-Be Copper Thieves
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