When purchasing an invisible dog fence, you may wonder which type of underground dog fence wire is the right one. There are two gauges, or wire thicknesses to choose from, 18 or 20. Along with these thicknesses come two different types of wire, stranded wire and solid core wire. Let’s take a look at the differences in these types of invisible dog fence wire.
Made of several thin copper wires woven into one, stranded wire is sold in 500 foot spools and is only manufactured in a thickness of 20 gauge. It is easier to work with than solid core, however it is more delicate and it is also more susceptible to corrosion damage. Although a great choice for those who are living within a budget, stranded wire will need to be replaced once every 5 years.
Solid core wire is the second option. It is manufactured into one copper wire. It is a bit more difficult to work with, however it is more tenacious than stranded and less susceptible to it corroding. Exceptional for above ground systems, solid core wire is the best choice for those looking for improved fortitude and endurance. Solid core wire generally outlasts stranded wire by working for twice as long.
If you need more than 500 feet of wire, you may be contemplating how this should affect your decision. Know that several boundary kits can be spliced together successfully, as long as you are using a quality splice connector. Some systems even allow a containment system to be as large as 25 acres, which use about 4,000 feet of wire. Whatever size of acreage you need, just splice your wire together and you are good to go.
Next, it is time to decide what gauge of wire to is going to be the best wire for invisible fence. Although both 20 and 18 gauge wire will work, you should take a look at some general recommendations when it comes to using the two gauges of wire.
A thinner, 20 gauge wire is acceptable for use in soil that is loose, sandy or a soft clay. It works if you are laying the wire beside a fence, or on a lot that is smaller than 5 acres. You should also have only a small amount of trees and greenery. If the area around your home is rocky in nature and has many trees, or is larger than 5 acres, you need to use a thicker, 18 gauge wire. You also need 18 gauge invisible dog fence wire if you are securing the fence above the ground, as opposed to underneath it. As a side note, if you are installing an above-ground fence, you will need to attach it with lawn staples, every 5 feet.
One thing you need to be aware of when it comes to invisible dog fence wire is that you should never mix two different kinds of wire. Don’t switch the type of wire or the gauge of the wire halfway through your project. Be sure that when you buy your invisible dog fence that it comes with at least 500 feet of wire. Also know that you need to have 50 boundary flags for every 500 feet of wire. It is important to have the right number of flags in order for your dog to know where their boundaries are.