Beatrice Lang
Electric fences are a great way to keep your animals within boundaries and also protect your fences from damage. While it may seem complicated, there are several methods to end an electric fence. The most effective way is the termination knot, which is durable and looks professional. This method is best used with hot wires on wooden posts. If you're using polywire fencing, you can splice the ends with crimping sleeves to create a strong, permanent connection. Alternatively, you can tie the ends securely, melt the polymer fibres, and twist the exposed metal wires together to prevent sparking. Remember, the shape of your fence line, whether it's a loop or a dead end, won't affect the effectiveness of the shock.
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What You'll Learn
Using a termination knot
Termination knots are a free and easy way to end a polywire electric fence. They are more durable and professional-looking than simply cutting the wire and tying it off to an insulator.
To tie a termination knot, start by cutting three feet of wire for every line of hot wire. Slide a "donut" insulator (a type of corner post insulator) onto each section of wire and crimp the ends together to form a hoop. Place the hoop on the post at the end of the fence and lock it in place with a fence staple.
Next, string the electric fence wire through the unoccupied channel of the donut insulator and twist it tight. Pull the wire to make the fence tight, then tie a termination knot to secure it. There are various ways to tie a termination knot, but one method is as follows: bring the wire over the standing wire and bend it away from you to form a horseshoe shape. Bring the working end up inside the loop you've made and lift it so it's in line with the post. Wrap the working end over the loop, in the direction of the standing wire, until it's straight down along the post. Make a crank handle and take three turns around the wire. Finish off by snapping off the wire by changing the direction of your cranking.
Finally, cut off any extra wire to prevent short circuits. You can also burn the end of the leftover wire after making the knot and tie it to the fence wire. This will expose the filaments, improving current conductivity.
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Tying to an insulator
Tying a polywire electric fence to an insulator is a straightforward process. Firstly, ensure you have the correct type of insulator for your post. For t-posts, you can simply clip the insulator onto the fence. For other post types, you will need to drill a hole for the insulator and twist it into place.
Once your insulator is in position, pass the polywire through the hole in the insulator and pull it tight. If using crimping sleeves, slide them over the polywire before inserting it into the insulator. You can then tie a knot in the polywire and burn the end of the wire, exposing the filaments to improve current conductivity. Finally, tie the knot to the fence wire.
Crimping sleeves are ideal for creating a smooth joint between fence wires and can be used to splice together two lengths of polywire. To do this, turn off the power to the fence and use a voltage tester to ensure the power is off. Then, wearing gloves, slide three crimping sleeves over one end of the polywire. Hold the sleeves in place and slide the second polywire through the open slots in the sleeves. Use a crimping tool to squeeze each sleeve tight, creating a strong connection. Test the strength of the joint by pulling on each end of the polywire. If it slips, use the crimping tool again.
While crimping sleeves are ideal for a strong, permanent joint, a termination knot is a free and easy DIY alternative. This method is best used with hot wires on a wooden post, although it can also be used with poly rope fencing. To create a termination knot, insert a 4-foot wire through the hole in the post insulator. Wrap the wire around the fence post and tie the ends together using a termination knot. Pass the wire through the other hole in the insulator and pull it tight.
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Using crimping sleeves
To end a polywire electric fence using crimping sleeves, first, cut the power to the fence and use a voltage tester to ensure the power is off. Then, wearing gloves, slide at least three crimping sleeves over one end of the polywire. Next, hold the sleeves on the first polywire and slide the second polywire through the open slots on the sleeves. Now, use a crimping tool to squeeze each sleeve tightly, creating a strong connection. You can test the strength of the sleeves by pulling on each end to see if the polywire slides out. If it does slip, use the crimping tool again. Finally, turn on the power to the fence and use the voltage tester to check the voltage levels on each side of the splice. If one side is significantly lower, you may need to redo the splice.
Crimping sleeves are also used to secure polywire to an end post on a fence line. To do this, insert the polywire you want to end into the corner post insulator's hole. Pull the polywire's end as much as possible to tighten the strand. Then, place the wire's end at the top or bottom of the fence wire. You will see some space between the wires and the insulator. Now, turn (or wind) the smaller wire around the fence wire once and pass it through the hole or space. Pull the wire's end as much as possible to tighten the knot. Finally, tightly twist the extra wire around the fence wire 5-6 times and terminate the extra wire using pliers or by rotating the excess wire in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction (not around the fence).
When using crimping sleeves, it is important to use the correct type of sleeve for the type of wire you are joining. For heavy metal wires, it is better to use two to three crimping sleeves to create a secure connection.
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Joining with a lighter
Joining two lengths of polywire to end an electric fence can be done in a few ways. One way is to use a lighter to burn the ends of the polywire, exposing the wires, and then joining the two sets of exposed wires by twisting them together. This creates a connection that is both physically and electrically sound. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Take both ends of the break in your electric fence wire and tie them together securely, leaving just over an inch (about 4 centimetres) of excess wire on both sides.
- Melt the polymer/plastic fibres with a lighter or small flame to expose the thin metal wires. Be careful not to overheat the thin wire, as they will melt if they get too hot.
- If you can't melt the polymer or plastic, you can separate the metal wires and plastic strands by hand by gently pulling and separating them a little at a time.
- Group all the metal strands together and twist them tightly into one secure solid strand. This will prevent arcing and sparking from wires that are close but not in full contact.
- You can also fold the metal wire group over on itself to prevent the pointy end from catching on anything.
It is important to note that while polywire is convenient for temporary fencing, it is not as conductive as high-quality insulated metal wire. For longer or permanent fences, galvanised fencing wire is recommended as polywire wires are too thin to carry an electrical charge over longer distances.
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Using a gate
If your polywire electric fence spans the entire perimeter of the pasture, you will need to include a gate. This gate can be located anywhere along the fence, provided it is not grounding out on anything.
When installing an electric fence gate, it is best to work with a single line of electric fencing. If you have multiple lines of electric fencing, each line will require its own gate handle. You can use any type of electric fencing or posts with a gate, along with insulators that suit your type of fence post. The insulator should be hooked onto the post without conducting the current into it. The only other piece you will need is an electric fence handle, which is usually plastic with metal on each end and a loaded spring inside. This spring maintains tension on the fence while also providing enough slack to open and close the gate.
After stringing the fence, wrap the electric fencing tightly around the insulator just before the gate opening. This will prevent the entire fence from slacking when the gate is opened. Continue the electric fencing across the length of the gate and cut it at the next post. Tie the spring handle to the end of the fence and test to see that the line is the proper length. Ensure that the line is not too short, or the gate will not close; likewise, avoid excessive line to prevent grounding out.
To connect the wire to the charger, cut back the plastic insulation to expose the wire, then twist or "braid" the wires together. Tie the wire to a gate handle and hang it on the hot wire on the other side of the gate. Alternatively, make a loop in the hot wire to provide an easy place for the hook on the handle to attach.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to end a polywire electric fence. One common method is to use a termination knot, which is durable and looks professional. This method is best used with hot wires on wooden posts. Alternatively, you can tie or clip the polywire to an electric insulator at the end of the fence.
A termination knot is a way to secure the end of an electric fence wire. To tie a termination knot, first, create a loop at the end of the fence post and secure it with a fence staple. Then, string the electric fence wire through the loop and twist it tightly back around itself.
If you need to join or repair a break in your polywire electric fence, you can use crimping sleeves to create a strong and permanent splice. First, turn off the power to the fence and use a voltage tester to ensure the power is off. Then, slide three crimping sleeves over one end of the polywire, and thread the second polywire through the open slots. Squeeze the sleeves tight with a crimping tool to create a strong connection. You can also use electric fence joiners like connection bolts, crimps, and clamps for a cleaner and more secure join.
