Molly Ayala
Electric fences are often used to contain dogs and other pets, and poly tape is a common material used in their construction. When setting up an electric fence, it is important to ensure that all wires are properly connected to maintain a charge. This can be done by splicing the poly tape, which is the process of joining two lengths of tape or wire together. Splicing may be necessary to extend the length of the fence or to repair breaks in the tape or wire. There are several ways to splice poly tape, including using a crimping sleeve splice or a poly tape splicer buckle.
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What You'll Learn
Using crimping sleeves
Crimping sleeves are cylindrical metallic pieces that are open at both ends. They are used to create a strong, permanent splice and are available in packs of 25. To splice electric fence poly tape using crimping sleeves, follow these steps:
Firstly, ensure you have the necessary tools and materials, including crimping sleeves, a crimping tool, gloves, and a voltage tester. Turn off the power to the fence and verify that the power is off using the voltage tester. This is an important safety precaution. Next, put on your gloves for protection and slide three crimping sleeves over one end of the poly tape. Hold the sleeves in place and slide the other end of the poly tape through the open slots on the sleeves.
Now, use your crimping tool to squeeze each sleeve tightly, creating a secure connection. Test the strength of the connection by pulling on each end of the poly tape. If it slides out, repeat the crimping process. Once you are satisfied with the strength of the splice, turn on the power to the fence and use the voltage tester to check the voltage levels on both sides of the splice. If there is a significant difference in voltage, the connection may need to be redone.
It is important to note that crimping sleeves provide superior wire-gripping and are designed to re-establish an electric connection between two pieces of poly tape. They are an essential component for creating a secure and safe connection, and at least three crimping sleeves should be used per splice.
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Joining poly tapes with knots
First, take both ends of the break in your poly tape and tie them together securely, leaving about 1-4 inches or 4 centimetres of excess tape on both sides. Then, melt the polymer or plastic fibres with a lighter or small flame to expose the thin metal wires. Be careful not to overheat the thin wires as they will melt if they get too hot.
Once the wires are exposed, separate the wires and twist them together to create a physical and electrical connection. You can use regular electric wire to splice the poly tape by pushing back the nylon parts and trimming away to expose the small wires. Twist these wires together and use electric wire to bridge the gap, ensuring an overlap of at least 6 inches for added strength.
Finally, you can tape over the spliced area or wrap it with a long piece of wire to hold it in place. You can also use electrical tape to ensure the knots stay together, although this is temporary as it degrades over time. For a more permanent solution, consider using crimping sleeves or electric fence connection bolts, clamps, or joiners.
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Using splicer buckles
When using splicer buckles, it is important to turn off the power to the fence before beginning any repairs or splicing. This is a safety precaution to avoid any accidents. You can use a voltage tester to ensure that the power is indeed off. Once confirmed, you can proceed with the splicing process.
The splicer buckles allow for quick and easy splicing of poly tapes. You can slide the poly tape ends into the buckle, ensuring a secure connection. Some splicer buckles, like the Zareba Large Poly Tape Splicer Buckles, are designed to splice together specific sizes of poly tapes, such as 1/2 inch and 1-inch poly tapes. These buckles are made from stainless steel, ensuring durability and maintaining the electrical connection between the spliced tapes.
It is worth noting that each splice in an electric fence will result in a slight drop in voltage across the fence line. Therefore, when transitioning from a bare wire fence to a poly fence, you may need to consider a stronger energizer to maintain adequate voltage levels. Additionally, splicer buckles offer a more secure and permanent connection compared to simply tying knots in the poly tape, which may cause arcing and power loss.
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Using connection bolts, crimps and clamps
To splice electric fence poly tape using connection bolts, crimps, and clamps, you can follow these steps:
First, prepare the poly tape by cutting and cleaning up any excess polymer fibres or sharp edges with side cutters, heavy scissors, or a knife. Be sure to leave about 4 centimetres of extra wire or tape on both sides of the break. Then, melt the polymer coating using a lighter or small flame to expose the thin metal wires inside. Alternatively, you can carefully separate the metal wires and plastic strands by hand.
Next, group all the metal strands together and twist them tightly into one secure solid strand. This will help prevent arcing and sparking, which can cause burns over time. Once the metal strands are secure, you can use connection bolts, crimps, or clamps to create a strong and secure join.
For connection bolts, simply screw the bolt into the hole provided on the electric fence post. Then, attach the poly tape to the bolt by feeding the tape through the eyelet or hole in the connector and tightening it securely. If you are using a clamp, squeeze the clamp closed around the poly tape, ensuring a tight grip.
If you are using crimps, slide the crimping sleeves over one end of the poly tape, and then slide the other end of the poly tape through the open slots on the sleeves. Use a crimping tool to squeeze each sleeve tight, creating a strong connection. Test the strength of the connection by pulling on each end to ensure the poly tape does not slide out.
By following these steps and using connection bolts, crimps, or clamps, you can securely splice electric fence poly tape, ensuring a strong and durable connection that reduces arcing and sparking.
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Extending the fence's length
To extend the length of an electric fence, you will need to splice poly tape. This process involves joining two lengths of poly tape together to increase the overall length of the fence. Here are the steps you can follow to achieve this:
First, turn off the power to the fence to ensure a safe working environment. Use a voltage tester to confirm that the power is indeed off before proceeding. This is an important safety precaution.
Next, you will need to prepare the poly tape for splicing. Take both ends of the poly tape and tie them together securely, leaving a small amount of excess tape on both sides, about 1 inch or 4 centimetres. This excess tape will be used to create the splice.
Now, you need to expose the metal wires within the poly tape. Carefully melt the polymer or plastic fibres using a lighter or small flame, being cautious not to overheat and melt the thin metal wires. Alternatively, you can separate the metal wires and plastic strands by hand, gently pulling them apart a little at a time.
Once the metal wires are exposed, group them together and twist them tightly into a single, solid strand. This step is crucial to prevent arcing and sparking, which can lead to power loss and burns on the poly tape. Ensure that all individual wires are in contact to establish a good electrical connection.
To create a strong and permanent splice, use a crimping sleeve splice. Slide three crimping sleeves over one end of the poly tape, then thread the other end of the poly tape through the open slots on the sleeves. Squeeze each sleeve tightly with a crimping tool to create a secure connection. Test the strength of the splice by pulling on each end, and adjust if necessary.
Finally, turn on the power to the fence and use the voltage tester to check the voltage levels on both sides of the splice. If there is a significant difference, the splice may need to be redone to ensure a good electrical connection.
By following these steps, you can effectively extend the length of your electric fence by splicing poly tape. This will allow you to protect and seal off larger areas securely.
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