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Electronics => Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff => Topic started by: Simon on March 25, 2022, 10:29:36 pm

Title: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 25, 2022, 10:29:36 pm
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Gyro on March 25, 2022, 10:45:15 pm
Quote
Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?

Yes, check the Deeds. The boundary ownership will be marked on the ground plan.

Much less likely to escalate into something stupid.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Stray Electron on March 25, 2022, 10:50:43 pm
   if you do it, be sure and use an old transformer that makes lots of noise.

   But I think that you're wasting your time here, I think that they'll quickly find out that the whole thing is a fake. OTOH I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone doesn't sue you and claim that your fence injured them!

   One of my neighbors had two dogs that used to come onto my property regularly to do their "business". I finally put up an electric fence, insulated steel posts and all but I never installed a transformer. My neighbor came over while I was putting the fence up and looked and looked at it and then finally asked if it was an "electric fence". I just said yes and kept on working. He got the idea.

   Any more I just take the direct approach when someone's dog takes a dump in my yard. I scoop it up with a shovel then take it over to their house and drop it on their walkway directly in front of their front door.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Stray Electron on March 25, 2022, 11:04:36 pm
  OP, what kind of animal control ordinances do they have in your area?  Around here most cities and counties now have laws that dogs are NOT be allowed to run freely at any time exactly because of situations like this.

  You might try writing a letter to the housing association and tell them that dogs from their association are coming onto your property and are causing damage and/or leaving fecal matter which is a health concern and ask them to replace the fence.  Since the dogs belong to their residents THEY should replace the fence, and on their property, regardless of who installed the original fence.

    If they don't you might be able to take this to small claims court and have the court order them to replace the fence. Or pay for it yourself and then sue the association for the cost. In the mean time, you might put up a game camera or a surveillance camera and get some pictures of the dogs coming onto your property and include those with your letter or take them with you if you go to court.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Gyro on March 25, 2022, 11:09:21 pm
The OP didn't mention dogs!... It's just a fence that blew down in a recent big storm that we had here.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: eugene on March 25, 2022, 11:46:29 pm
Rather than going to the trouble and expense of putting up a fake electric fence, why not just repair the fence that blew down?

Don't forget to smile and wave hello at your neighbors while you're doing it. They might offer to help, or at least invite you over for tea and biscuits.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: m98 on March 25, 2022, 11:53:50 pm
Please don't participate in passive aggressive neighborhood fights. Really the closest thing there is to hell on earth.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: tooki on March 26, 2022, 12:43:22 am
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?
Ignoring the risks of putting up even a fake electric fence, what is the logic here? I don’t see how doing that would encourage the housing association to do anything.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 08:06:17 am
The OP didn't mention dogs!... It's just a fence that blew down in a recent big storm that we had here.

No it was the big storm some years ago. I had a tree fall down this time from their land into mine on another boundary and someone wanted to come and clear it, but not the fence, I guess the tree has more wood in it.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 08:09:46 am
Rather than going to the trouble and expense of putting up a fake electric fence, why not just repair the fence that blew down?

Don't forget to smile and wave hello at your neighbors while you're doing it. They might offer to help, or at least invite you over for tea and biscuits.

The people living there are tenants and clearly could not care less. The problem is the land owners. My deeds that were drawn up befare these houses were built explicitly states that the boundry that side belengs to the neighbour of the time. This neibour was and remains them, it's just that they used land of the then neighbouring house to build more houses and since the original neighbouring houses tennats have bought the house. But this means that for the boundry with the new houses the ownership remains with the same housing association that owned it before.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 08:13:23 am
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?
Ignoring the risks of putting up even a fake electric fence, what is the logic here? I don’t see how doing that would encourage the housing association to do anything.

They have tenants, that won't be pleased when the see danger hight voltage signs facing into their property, So they can do the arguing with their land owner with whom they will have more rights than me apparently.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 08:15:16 am
Please don't participate in passive aggressive neighborhood fights. Really the closest thing there is to hell on earth.

I have no problem with them, just their landlords..... I will have to look into my home insurance cover, see if it covers legal costs to just go after them.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Gyro on March 26, 2022, 10:16:43 am
Going to the small claims court costs very little (they would lose by default), but a solicitor's letter would probably do the trick.

'Danger high voltage' signs will, at best, just make you look like an idiot.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Nusa on March 26, 2022, 11:02:18 am
Or just build your own fence 6 inches inside of where theirs was. Your side of the boundary, right? Make sure you shift any pieces of their fence onto their side first.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 05:56:27 pm
I've written to them and copied out the paragraph from my deeds that state very clearly who owns what.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 05:58:02 pm
Or just build your own fence 6 inches inside of where theirs was. Your side of the boundary, right? Make sure you shift any pieces of their fence onto their side first.

Why the hell should I pay for their fence? In the UK each house has boundaries with others, ownership of those boundaries are worked out so that everyone has about the same about of boundary to deal with spreading the responsibility around. I am not giving up my land and I am not paying for their fence.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: tggzzz on March 26, 2022, 09:16:45 pm
Or just build your own fence 6 inches inside of where theirs was. Your side of the boundary, right? Make sure you shift any pieces of their fence onto their side first.

Why the hell should I pay for their fence? In the UK each house has boundaries with others, ownership of those boundaries are worked out so that everyone has about the same about of boundary to deal with spreading the responsibility around. I am not giving up my land and I am not paying for their fence.

Not always.

I'm flogging my mother's 1840 house, and while the boundaries are marked in the deeds, the responsibilities for shared boundaries are not.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 26, 2022, 09:35:15 pm
Or just build your own fence 6 inches inside of where theirs was. Your side of the boundary, right? Make sure you shift any pieces of their fence onto their side first.

Why the hell should I pay for their fence? In the UK each house has boundaries with others, ownership of those boundaries are worked out so that everyone has about the same about of boundary to deal with spreading the responsibility around. I am not giving up my land and I am not paying for their fence.

Not always.

I'm flogging my mother's 1840 house, and while the boundaries are marked in the deeds, the responsibilities for shared boundaries are not.

Yes in that case you suck it up and do it so that you can sell the house. We nearly had to do this with my sisters house but the landlord for the neighbour showed up and paid me to do it as it was his boundry.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: tggzzz on March 26, 2022, 09:58:49 pm
Or just build your own fence 6 inches inside of where theirs was. Your side of the boundary, right? Make sure you shift any pieces of their fence onto their side first.

Why the hell should I pay for their fence? In the UK each house has boundaries with others, ownership of those boundaries are worked out so that everyone has about the same about of boundary to deal with spreading the responsibility around. I am not giving up my land and I am not paying for their fence.

Not always.

I'm flogging my mother's 1840 house, and while the boundaries are marked in the deeds, the responsibilities for shared boundaries are not.

Yes in that case you suck it up and do it so that you can sell the house. We nearly had to do this with my sisters house but the landlord for the neighbour showed up and paid me to do it as it was his boundry.

Less easy than that. One boundary wall is partly buried by a 1982 driveway change, and is hard against the wall of the adjoining house. Grade II listed to add to the spectacle.

In practice it isn't a problem, especially if the neighbours live in their property
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 27, 2022, 08:04:39 am
Yes well if you need to sell you just do it. In my case I just live here and have no intention of setting a precedent with a corporate land owner that is renowned for not wanting to upkeep their own boundaries.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: SeanB on March 27, 2022, 12:13:48 pm
Slap up the posts, put in the one line of insulators, and then the one wire, with the rest being the dummy wires. Then hang the "Electric Fence - Do not Touch" signs on the wire every 10m, as required by legislation here, and you are done. Posts and wire are pretty much the biggest cost in the fencing installation, the signs are really cheap. the signs will make the tenants nervous, and then they will complain, so make sure the fence is in your land, even if only by an inch or so. Then wait for them to complain to you.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 27, 2022, 06:05:42 pm
Well I will see what hey come back with and find out how much hassle it is to take them to court, probably less than putting a fake electric fence up.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Monkeh on March 27, 2022, 07:21:55 pm
Setting oneself up to be the neighbour everybody hates.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 27, 2022, 07:49:32 pm
Yea I will be the one the land owner of every neighbour hates, my own neighbours are suing them as tenants.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: nctnico on March 27, 2022, 08:05:12 pm
As Gyro put it so well: don't make yourself look bad. It serves you no purpose in the long run.

If the landlord doesn't care at all about the fence, I'd put a new fence up on their land as far as you can and increase your garden. Nowadays fences with concrete poles and wooden panels are quite cheap and durable. I don't know about the UK but in the NL you legally own any land you have laid an undisputed claim on after 20 years so moving a fence is an easy way to gain land.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 27, 2022, 08:33:07 pm
As Gyro put it so well: don't make yourself look bad. It serves you no purpose in the long run.

If the landlord doesn't care at all about the fence, I'd put a new fence up on their land as far as you can and increase your garden. Nowadays fences with concrete poles and wooden panels are quite cheap and durable. I don't know about the UK but in the NL you legally own any land you have laid an undisputed claim on after 20 years so moving a fence is an easy way to gain land.


i will pursue the legal route first. i can't just put a fence further into their land to take land, firstly the deeds include maps that make it fairly clear who owns what, secondly less than 1m from the fence in a concrete area that rises above the ground as it is a bit of a slope and is the driveway coming from a road around the back so I cannot put a fence beyond those. And no these fence materials are not cheap anymore, everything has risen sharply in price and I do not see why I should be paying, I have enough to pay for already in ground works I wish/need to do. If I put the fence in it will take me a lot of valuable time, if I pay someone to do it given that I am no expert in this stuff it will coast me even more....
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: nctnico on March 27, 2022, 08:40:43 pm
Still, the best move forward is to negotiate and offer to pay half of the costs. That is what I have always done with my neighbours when it comes to putting up fences. Even though that didn't always result in exactly what I wanted in terms of how the fence turned out but it did keep a positive relation with the neighbours.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 27, 2022, 08:55:19 pm
Still, the best move forward is to negotiate and offer to pay half of the costs. That is what I have always done with my neighbours when it comes to putting up fences. Even though that didn't always result in exactly what I wanted in terms of how the fence turned out but it did keep a positive relation with the neighbours.


This is not about the neighbours, but the land owners. They will pay for their own boundaries like I pay for mine. They have a reputation for being aggressive about pushing the ownership of the boundaries onto people they sell houses to because it means they save the money on paying for the boundaries on the properties they still own. i am in a row, across the back of the row is a joint plot of bungalows. These assholes have made sure that each of us is responsible for our own back fences, this is fine for us, but for the retirement homes over the back on a common plot of land it means that they have a lovely patchwork to look at of different fences as each house does their own little piece that all put together makes one big patchwork fence across the back of the retirement homes, it's stupid, looks like crap but saved these corporate jerks a bit of money.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: james_s on March 27, 2022, 09:00:37 pm
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?

You're overthinking this. A real electric fence doesn't make any noise unless it sparks to something and in most cases the control box is not even visible from most of the fence area. If you want something that looks like an electric fence, just drive some of the posts into the ground, string wire across the insulators and hang a sign on it.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 27, 2022, 09:20:41 pm
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?

You're overthinking this. A real electric fence doesn't make any noise unless it sparks to something and in most cases the control box is not even visible from most of the fence area. If you want something that looks like an electric fence, just drive some of the posts into the ground, string wire across the insulators and hang a sign on it.

Yea, that is pretty much all I was going to do. and what makes you think people know what one looks like, which is why I would use noise to convey something out of the ordinary, so "a" box is required. Lets see how court goes first.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: james_s on March 27, 2022, 09:33:51 pm
Yea, that is pretty much all I was going to do. and what makes you think people know what one looks like, which is why I would use noise to convey something out of the ordinary, so "a" box is required. Lets see how court goes first.

I guess the fact that I grew up in what was at the time a rather rural area and electric fences were common, my friends and I used to dare each other to touch them when we were kids. I don't know how common they are in other parts of the world. Here you could install a real electric fence and I don't think anyone would think anything of it, except that it might be a bit out of place in a suburb with no livestock.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: aargee on March 27, 2022, 11:52:54 pm
Goto an Ag supply place, get some electric fence tape and a few warning signs? I'm sure a jiffy box with a battery-powered LED would suffice as a prop?
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: nctnico on March 28, 2022, 12:11:06 am
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?

You're overthinking this. A real electric fence doesn't make any noise unless it sparks to something and in most cases the control box is not even visible from most of the fence area. If you want something that looks like an electric fence, just drive some of the posts into the ground, string wire across the insulators and hang a sign on it.

Yea, that is pretty much all I was going to do. and what makes you think people know what one looks like, which is why I would use noise to convey something out of the ordinary, so "a" box is required. Lets see how court goes first.
I'm still a bit puzzled about your goal though... Am I right in thinking that you want to make the owner of a piece of land to erect a fence along the border between their and your land?
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: tggzzz on March 28, 2022, 12:13:00 am
Yea, that is pretty much all I was going to do. and what makes you think people know what one looks like, which is why I would use noise to convey something out of the ordinary, so "a" box is required. Lets see how court goes first.

I guess the fact that I grew up in what was at the time a rather rural area and electric fences were common, my friends and I used to dare each other to touch them when we were kids. I don't know how common they are in other parts of the world. Here you could install a real electric fence and I don't think anyone would think anything of it, except that it might be a bit out of place in a suburb with no livestock.

I taught my daughter about electricity with an electric fence. I told her to touch it with the back of her hand, and definitely not to grasp it.

She understood the lesson, and I moved onto more interesting ones, e.g. backpacking round India in her early teens, and being a solo pilot before she could even start to learn to drive a car (Mind you, she was driving a double decker bus on the runway and a car on the peri track when she was 15yo :) )
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: SeanB on March 28, 2022, 08:45:16 am
I taught my daughter about electricity with an electric fence. I told her to touch it with the back of her hand, and definitely not to grasp it.

She understood the lesson, and I moved onto more interesting ones, e.g. backpacking round India in her early teens, and being a solo pilot before she could even start to learn to drive a car (Mind you, she was driving a double decker bus on the runway and a car on the peri track when she was 15yo :) )

Hopefully she was not the one in the video "I'm driving a double decker!"

Yes electric fences are common by me, pretty much every house has one, often actually in working order some of the time. Insurance companies will refute your claim if you put in there that there is an electric fence, and they come out after the burglary, and see it is not working, and has not for a while (vines growing through, battery dead, insulators broken), so there is incentive to keep it running. Costs me a fair bit in annual repairs and such for that.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Haenk on March 28, 2022, 09:48:50 am
My parents in law are pretty much in the same situation - the owner of the next house neglected his fence for decades, renting the house to a family with half a dozen kids playing football didn't help either.
So it looks like trash (which is it).
Talking to the owner was pointless, so they had a new fence erected on their side. Looks neat and tidy now. Still trash on the other side, but at least out of sight.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: magic on March 28, 2022, 10:12:59 am
1. Wait for molehills to appear along the border.
2. Post a land mine warning sign.
3. ...
4. Profit
 :popcorn:

You're overthinking this. A real electric fence doesn't make any noise unless it sparks to something and in most cases the control box is not even visible from most of the fence area. If you want something that looks like an electric fence, just drive some of the posts into the ground, string wire across the insulators and hang a sign on it.
No, you are overthinking. The point is not to build something that looks like an electric fence, but something that looks like an electric fence from Hollywood movies to (sub)urbanite livestock >:D
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: jpanhalt on March 28, 2022, 11:21:13 am
There's an old story about a melon farmer who was tired of people stealing his melons.  So, he put us a sign , "One of these melons is poisoned."  The next day, the sign said, "OneTwo ..."

1) Tree laws and fence laws have been around forever.  They are often based on common law and are easy to find.  In my experience, they are mostly common sense, but there are exceptions.  It is well worth the time to look them up for your area.
2) Apropos the above story, what if your neighbor decided to change your fake fence into a real electrical fence? ;)
3) No real electrical fence on private property is designed with dangerous high voltage/current. (I have no experience with government property.) Thus, your ruse is likely to be discovered within hours, and with virtual certainly will result in some form of retaliation.

Damage done by a presumably healthy tree is covered by "tree laws."  Apparently, that is no any longer an issue. 

The issue is a damaged fence.  For that, there is often no duty to repair unless it's an eyesore or potential danger.  Neither appears to be the case.  So, it appears you simply want the owner to repair it and are being ignored.  You are rightfully annoyed by that, but have very few rights to do anything about it. 

As pointed out by Haenk, you might be able to build a "privacy" fence on your own property to shield the damaged fence from view.  Be sure to check fence laws before doing that.  The other property owner may end up co-owner and also has rights.  On the other hand, you might have the right to repair the fence at your sole expense, but may need to get permission to trespass on the other property to do that.  In theory, no reasonable landlord would deny you that permission, but you never know.  Without that permission, you are stuck or have a very expensive battle ahead of you.

I would suggest the fix it yourself route, and if that fails, just accept it.  A silly, fake electrical fence will only lead to further problems.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: cdev on March 28, 2022, 01:15:02 pm
1. Dogs pee on things to mark their territory.

2. Urine conducts electricity



That said, I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like a nut.

This is to be avoided at all costs in today's cancel culture because the result will be you will find yourself shut out of whatever conversation occurs over this.

Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: eugene on March 28, 2022, 03:37:44 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Monkeh on March 28, 2022, 05:12:36 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

Fix the fence and bill the owners. Simples.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: james_s on March 28, 2022, 05:32:04 pm
No, you are overthinking. The point is not to build something that looks like an electric fence, but something that looks like an electric fence from Hollywood movies to (sub)urbanite livestock >:D

Seems like all that would accomplish is make people think he's a lunatic.

Frankly I'm not sure how an electric fence will motivate anyone to fix their fence. Sunbathing in the nude is probably a more effective way to get them to build a new fence.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 28, 2022, 06:38:42 pm
I have a fence down between my garden and neighbouring flats owned by a housing association. The housing association is going to be unwilling to deal with it judging by a phone call in which a mere script reader seems to know off the top of her head exactly who owns any fence of any property....

So I'm thinking to shame/scare them into replacing it. Rig up some wires across the boundary that go into a box that contains a transformer...... driving a speaker..... the wires would not connect to anything, then make sure to hang some appropriate sign on them.

Any better ideas for the ideal lethal looking but not actually lethal fence?

You're overthinking this. A real electric fence doesn't make any noise unless it sparks to something and in most cases the control box is not even visible from most of the fence area. If you want something that looks like an electric fence, just drive some of the posts into the ground, string wire across the insulators and hang a sign on it.

Yea, that is pretty much all I was going to do. and what makes you think people know what one looks like, which is why I would use noise to convey something out of the ordinary, so "a" box is required. Lets see how court goes first.
I'm still a bit puzzled about your goal though... Am I right in thinking that you want to make the owner of a piece of land to erect a fence along the border between their and your land?


Correct, there is one there that has collapsed and they are not very interested in putting one up. If their deeds read the same as mine we are to maintain our boundaries to a reasonable level, ground 0 is not a reasonable level.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 28, 2022, 06:41:17 pm
No, you are overthinking. The point is not to build something that looks like an electric fence, but something that looks like an electric fence from Hollywood movies to (sub)urbanite livestock >:D

Seems like all that would accomplish is make people think he's a lunatic.

Frankly I'm not sure how an electric fence will motivate anyone to fix their fence. Sunbathing in the nude is probably a more effective way to get them to build a new fence.

The land owner has a duty to their tenants who could not care less about the fence clearly, but if they thought they were in danger they would kick off, unfortunately sunbathing in the nude while potentially filling 2 things at once will not work as I would get arrested as well and put on the sex offenders list.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 28, 2022, 06:42:35 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

Fix the fence and bill the owners. Simples.

Like I said I am not paying, it would be cheaper to take them to the small claims court, you tried buying building materials recently? the stuff you can get that is. I'm not staking any more money that I don't have to.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 28, 2022, 06:43:59 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

How much do you think wire is versus the building materials? A lot!
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: eugene on March 28, 2022, 07:01:08 pm
Sunbathing in the nude is probably a more effective way to get them to build a new fence.

 :-DD Brilliant!

I have a nosy neighbor that's always peaking out the window to see what I'm doing. I might try this.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: eugene on March 28, 2022, 07:13:12 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

How much do you think wire is versus the building materials? A lot!

"A lot"

From your answer I can guess that you haven't actually priced it out, meaning that you haven't considered it as a serious option, meaning that you are in fact a nut!

Thinking about it, an electric fence, fake or real, might have some value. Parents of neighborhood kids will almost certainly see you as dangerous so will keep their kids off your lawn. That would make you less grumpy, wouldn't it?

Just looking for positives!
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: james_s on March 28, 2022, 07:34:18 pm
The land owner has a duty to their tenants who could not care less about the fence clearly, but if they thought they were in danger they would kick off, unfortunately sunbathing in the nude while potentially filling 2 things at once will not work as I would get arrested as well and put on the sex offenders list.

If they actually thought they were in danger I would expect them to contact the authorities.

I'm not a legal expert and it's going to vary greatly by location but I know that at least here if you are inside your own home it is totally legal to be nude, if someone looks in then that is their problem, there was a court case some years ago involving a guy that was playing with himself visible through a large window. I don't know if the same applies to the property around one's house but I've never heard of someone going to jail for being nude on their own private property.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: jpanhalt on March 28, 2022, 08:32:08 pm
@james_s
Go no further than Antonin Scalia.  He was (in)famous among SCOTUS justices for protecting 4th Amendment rights. Of course, his opinions have no bearing on GB law.  I had the privilege of listening to him once.  He was just so clear yet simple and colorful in what he said.  As you suggest, if an offence in one's home cannot be seen clearly from the sidewalk, then a search warrant would be needed.  Here is just one example of his opinions on the matter: https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/11-564 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/11-564)
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: cdev on March 28, 2022, 08:55:31 pm
Has anybody ever seen the flexible LCD shutter film that is sold (for high prices) for use on windows, etc. Its white, pearly, wihite-translucent (like frosted glass) when left in its default state, but when a modest DC voltage is applied it magically becomes clear in less than a second. This effect is really cool..

I think there is a bar that sits at ground level on Broadway (I think) adjoining Times Square in New York. (at 42nd Street) . Perhaps one of the places in the US, perhaps in the world that sees the most foot traffic. Anyway, it has a bathroom that uses this film. When somebody enters it, the bathroom which is otherwise visible blinks out.

I would love to have this stuff for my windows! They would make it easy to have the windows clear in the daytime.. (they are triple paned and slightly coated so in the daytime its not really easy to look in, but at night when its dark outside and bright indoors you can look in. I'd love to have the ability to have the windows go opaque when privacy was needed or desired..

Does anybody know where to get this LCD shutter film affordably? I investigated it once, decades ago but the cost was prohibitive.. But its been quite some time and I would be surprised if its has not come down.

Here, I think this is one example of what I am describing.. It must not be the only one as this LCD stuff has been around long enough to no longer be patented..

https://www.raynofilm.com/smartfilm (https://www.raynofilm.com/smartfilm)

Simon, I would be careful as these "homeowners associations" are really notorious for being little totalitarians, who often are impossible to reason with when they manage buildings.. Once you are on their enemies list its hard to straignten things out..   Best to never move into one of these HOA-ruled places where they hold sway..

This is the main reason why I hope I never have to live in a condo..  These HOAs can make an otherwise livable place into a real hell.  They are often more trouble than they are worth..

Plus, at least around here, as far as the local zoning board, the tenants of a condo building or development have no voices at community metings of the regulatory kind, as its as if there is only one representative for an entire condo development.. the management association. Ugh!
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Gyro on March 28, 2022, 08:58:04 pm
Quote
...buit when a modest DC voltage is applies it becomes clear in less than a second.

I think it's AC actually, to prevent polarization of the electrodes.


Quote
Does anybody know where to get this LCD shutter film affordably?

No, but I want some too!
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: tooki on March 28, 2022, 09:03:49 pm
The land owner has a duty to their tenants who could not care less about the fence clearly, but if they thought they were in danger they would kick off, unfortunately sunbathing in the nude while potentially filling 2 things at once will not work as I would get arrested as well and put on the sex offenders list.

If they actually thought they were in danger I would expect them to contact the authorities.

I'm not a legal expert and it's going to vary greatly by location but I know that at least here if you are inside your own home it is totally legal to be nude, if someone looks in then that is their problem, there was a court case some years ago involving a guy that was playing with himself visible through a large window. I don't know if the same applies to the property around one's house but I've never heard of someone going to jail for being nude on their own private property.
It has happened in USA. At least, a guy was convicted of indecent exposure for having coffee in the nude. And that was inside the house!

He did win a jury trial on appeal, though.
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36239042 (https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36239042)
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: nctnico on March 28, 2022, 09:05:36 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

Fix the fence and bill the owners. Simples.
Like I said I am not paying, it would be cheaper to take them to the small claims court, you tried buying building materials recently? the stuff you can get that is. I'm not staking any more money that I don't have to.
I did some reading on the small claims procedure in the UK but if I where you I'd seek legal advice first. Small claims seems to be primarily focussed at claiming financial damages. I would translate that to: How is your neighbour not having a fence impacting you financially? A solliciter will likely ask you this question. Also keep in mind that some solliciters will happily take your money even if your case has zero chance of success. If you have an insurance for legal expenses, call them. If not, get an insurance for legal expenses tomorrow. They can be well worth their money.

Going to court in general could have all kinds of outcomes. Maybe the judge even rules to share the cost of a fence. Bigger landlord-firms usually have their own landscaping / repair companies that will charge you an arm & a leg if you allow them the wiggle room to choose a contractor to their liking. They can also opt to put up the uggliest fence ever or make it 4 meters high so most of your garden is shaded.

All in all you are far better off putting a fence up yourself. Your time & effort (even with the help of legal insurance) are better spend on positive things.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: jpanhalt on March 28, 2022, 09:13:15 pm
When somebody was in the bathroom, the walls turned opaque.. when they left, the walls became clear again.

I can think of better uses.  Who wants an unobstructed view of a toilet from the dinner table?

My current home has an ensuite on the first floor.  That part is great.  But there are two doors to the toilet.  One is to the bedroom (of course), the other is right next to the electric range.

I once posted the question, "Who in the world would do that?" The responses had a definite gender bias.  Men agreed it was crazy.  Women thought it was a good idea.  I guess when some people got to go, they don't have a prostate to help them.  :)  When my daughters and their husbands visit, I always make a point to show them which door to use.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 28, 2022, 09:13:32 pm

Just looking for positives!

Cheap weed from their tenants without having to walk round the corner for it? :)
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 28, 2022, 09:18:08 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

Fix the fence and bill the owners. Simples.
Like I said I am not paying, it would be cheaper to take them to the small claims court, you tried buying building materials recently? the stuff you can get that is. I'm not staking any more money that I don't have to.
I did some reading on the small claims procedure in the UK but if I where you I'd seek legal advice first. Small claims seems to be primarily focussed at claiming financial damages. I would translate that to: How is your neighbour not having a fence impacting you financially? A solliciter will likely ask you this question. Also keep in mind that some solliciters will happily take your money even if your case has zero chance of success. If you have an insurance for legal expenses, call them. If not, get an insurance for legal expenses tomorrow. They can be well worth their money.

Going to court in general could have all kinds of outcomes. Maybe the judge even rules to share the cost of a fence. Bigger landlord-firms usually have their own landscaping / repair companies that will charge you an arm & a leg if you allow them the wiggle room to choose a contractor to their liking. They can also opt to put up the uggliest fence ever or make it 4 meters high so most of your garden is shaded.

All in all you are far better off putting a fence up yourself. Your time & effort (even with the help of legal insurance) are better spend on positive things.


Uh, why do you always do this? As I said, the legal document that tells me what I can and cannot do on my land clearly states that I am responsible for maintaining certain boundaries in good repair and tells me who owns the other boundary. I am sure they have a similar document. My first stop is probably the local authority, then moving on, it ends with my version of the fence :)
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: cdev on March 28, 2022, 09:41:45 pm
Quote
...buit when a modest DC voltage is applies it becomes clear in less than a second.

I think it's AC actually, to prevent polarization of the electrodes.


Quote
Does anybody know where to get this LCD shutter film affordably?

No, but I want some too!
  Here is one vendor.. I dont think its the same one I found the last time I went looking, so there are probably others..
https://www.raynofilm.com/ (https://www.raynofilm.com/)

Thanks for telling me that about the AC.. it warns me that I need to learn much more about the technology  before I make a costly mistake..

A long time ago I used to work for a high tech organization that did a lot of cutting edge visualization work. We had Stereographics 3D shutter glasses which were supported by the SGI graphics drivers on the workstations we used with these #d vglasses.. (they alternated each eye, using CRTs, not LCDs..)

. I think.. ..  I wonder if I could adapt my shutter glasses to work with my Nvidia graphics card and its drivers?  Would need a means of telling the glasses which eye to make clear - synchronized to the graphics driver..


This seems to be a question to ask Nvidia developer support..
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: jpanhalt on March 28, 2022, 09:46:23 pm
My first stop is probably the local authority, then moving on, it ends with my version of the fence :)

So, what's your question, assuming you get permission to fix the fence?
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: james_s on March 28, 2022, 09:50:35 pm
. I think.. ..  I wonder if I could adapt my shutter glasses to work with my Nvidia graphics card and its drivers?  Would need a means of telling the glasses which eye to make clear - synchronized to the graphics driver..

If you have a video card that supports shutter glasses then adapting shouldn't be too hard, the electrical interface to the glasses themselves is pretty simple. I think the only LCD shutter glasses I ever played with were on the old Sega Master system.

Doesn't the Boeing 787 use LCD shutters on the passenger cabin windows? Seems like a neat idea.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: nctnico on March 28, 2022, 10:13:41 pm
I think the use of an electric fence or fence decoy might makes you look like reveal that you are a nut.

Fixed that for you.

Simon could just fix the damn fence for the same expense as putting up a fake electric fence. The fact that he doesn't seem to consider that an option says a lot.

Fix the fence and bill the owners. Simples.
Like I said I am not paying, it would be cheaper to take them to the small claims court, you tried buying building materials recently? the stuff you can get that is. I'm not staking any more money that I don't have to.
I did some reading on the small claims procedure in the UK but if I where you I'd seek legal advice first. Small claims seems to be primarily focussed at claiming financial damages. I would translate that to: How is your neighbour not having a fence impacting you financially? A solliciter will likely ask you this question. Also keep in mind that some solliciters will happily take your money even if your case has zero chance of success. If you have an insurance for legal expenses, call them. If not, get an insurance for legal expenses tomorrow. They can be well worth their money.

Going to court in general could have all kinds of outcomes. Maybe the judge even rules to share the cost of a fence. Bigger landlord-firms usually have their own landscaping / repair companies that will charge you an arm & a leg if you allow them the wiggle room to choose a contractor to their liking. They can also opt to put up the uggliest fence ever or make it 4 meters high so most of your garden is shaded.

All in all you are far better off putting a fence up yourself. Your time & effort (even with the help of legal insurance) are better spend on positive things.


Uh, why do you always do this? As I said, the legal document that tells me what I can and cannot do on my land clearly states that I am responsible for maintaining certain boundaries in good repair and tells me who owns the other boundary. I am sure they have a similar document. My first stop is probably the local authority, then moving on, it ends with my version of the fence :)
The reason I do 'this' is because I'm afraid you are not going to have it your way if you walk down your planned route. First you start with a half baked plan to annoy the neighbours, now you want to stir up a whole lot of trouble which can easely go the wrong way. The landlord-neighbour very likely knows their way around in these legal matters; you won't be the first going against them. The landlord may even have friends at the local authorities. There are so many ways you can lose this. Even on a technicality like not filing a legal paper in time or leaving things from your claim which you can't add later and thus need to pay extra for an appeal.

You may think you are in the right but you really need to take 100 steps back and look at the situation from the other side. As you already wrote above: you are not willing to put up a fence yourself (keeping boundaries in good repair) so you are already not adhering to what is stipulated in your land ownership papers. How can you expect someone else to do what you are not doing? Second point is that you didn't pull your neighbour's land ownership papers from the registry so you really don't know what their obligations are; by your own admission that is a guess at this point. Maybe they don't have any obligation to put up a boundary at all. You simply don't know for sure until you have it in writing. And even then it might well be that they have some kind of exemption granted by the local authorities that your neighbour has kept quiet about but it may show up in court. Sh!t like that happens.

I don't want to attack you here, just show you some logical reasoning. I have dealt with legal issues myself and it is super important not to lose track of what is sensible or not AND have all the possible information you can get your hands on. Find similar cases and study their outcome. Find other cases against your neighbouring land owner and study their outcome. Understand how the reasoning behind the outcomes works -learn to think like how a lawyer / judge interprets laws-; it may be different to what you expect. OTOH getting stuck in an 'I'm right' tunnel vision is really bad because it blindsides you in the worst possible way.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Nusa on March 29, 2022, 06:33:22 am
My question would be exactly what does "maintaining certain boundaries in good repair" actually mean in UK law. I have a sneaking suspicion that the phrase may not require fencing at all, unless there are additional words that specify that. And even if the words are there, is the nature of the fence specified? Would a few 3-foot stakes and a roll of plastic fence qualify?
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Gyro on March 29, 2022, 09:20:26 am
True. There's nothing in the UK that says that a boundary fence has to be a 6ft wooden one - a low plastic or wire mesh fence would be entirely acceptable, in fact, quite common in some areas and almost universal for Council houses.

Front gardens in the UK often don't have a fence at all (in fact often specified in the Covenants attached to the Deeds) in 'open plan' areas. The property line is sometimes marked by a flower bed, or just sighting from the line of the rear garden fence. Sometimes there is just a lawn crossing the front boundary, with considerate neighbours alternately mowing their neighbour's half and less considerate neighbours letting their half grow long or leaving a neatly mown straight line to make the point that the other side needs cutting.

Front and rear garden boundaries can also be marked by hedges, bushes, or in extreme and contentious cases, very fast growing, untrimmed, Leylandii Conifers! [Edit: these often combined with an entangled wire fence, marking the actual line].
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2022, 06:06:17 pm
My question would be exactly what does "maintaining certain boundaries in good repair" actually mean in UK law. I have a sneaking suspicion that the phrase may not require fencing at all, unless there are additional words that specify that. And even if the words are there, is the nature of the fence specified? Would a few 3-foot stakes and a roll of plastic fence qualify?

No the deeds actually state that the boundaries be them a fence or hedge must be maintained. It makes it quite clear that a divider of some sort is required.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Gyro on March 29, 2022, 06:31:53 pm
Oh yes, there must clearly be a maintained boundary, but as Nusa implies, they could satisfy that by just erecting a 3ft wire fence - not necessarily the outcome that you would wish (it depends how chatty you are). It's fairly noticeable that t'folks up North tend to have 4ft wooden fences so they can lean on them and chat, but they're friendlier up there!

If you wanted greater privacy than that, then you would have to pay for and erect a higher solid wooden fence on your side of the boundary.
Title: Re: Ideas for a fake electric fence
Post by: Simon on March 29, 2022, 07:34:11 pm
Oh yes, there must clearly be a maintained boundary, but as Nusa implies, they could satisfy that by just erecting a 3ft wire fence - not necessarily the outcome that you would wish (it depends how chatty you are). It's fairly noticeable that t'folks up North tend to have 4ft wooden fences so they can lean on them and chat, but they're friendlier up there!

If you wanted greater privacy than that, then you would have to pay for and erect a higher solid wooden fence on your side of the boundary.

All I want is a boundary that stops people just walking into my garden from the road. I will never have privacy as I am the lowest land level in the area so 2 foot off that 4foot fence are not there anyway.