Learning Through Application

(Written November 17th, 2014)

We continued our process of finding the best ways to accurately measure and detect breaks in a wired fence system. We used two different fence energizers this time: one, a lower voltage, continuous stream system and the second, a high voltage 3 second pulse energizer. On the low voltage system, we experimented with reading the voltage directly, while with the high voltage system, we used some new equipment (a voltage divider and the accompanying adapters) to read it with an oscilloscope.

The oscilloscope allowed us to read more accurately the output of the energizer, giving us the opportunity to graph the peak to peak as well as compare individual readings to each other, which became valuable when trying to measure the discrepancy between pulses.

With the ability to accurately measure now at hand, we created data sheets and documentation systems to allow us to efficiently conduct and document experiments testing different scenarios in which a wired fence system may be interfered with and broken. With this information, we plan to try and better understand how to tell the difference between a break and mere interference, and start setting standards for which the actual detection system can go by.

Written by Dayyán Sisson, Technician for High Tech High’s 2015 InvenTeam