Electric fencing questions

[J-BAR-S]

Hello. I'm looking to add 2 strands of hot wire to an existing 5 strand barb wire fence for cows calves and a bull. I will be using a Parmak 100 mile charger. I'm wanting to use black pin lock offset insulators. What size insulators should I use? 5.5" or bigger? My t posts are 10 ft apart. Do I need to put insulators on every post or how far apart? Also, what gauge wire and what kind? Aluminum or steel ? Thanks in advance

 

[JW IN VA]

12.5 ga hi-tensile would be your best.Aluminum wire I tried once was too easy to break.If you don't keep it hot,those offset insulators will break easily.Even hot,they still break more than the others.If you are using 12.5 gauge,you can get sleeve type insulators that go on each post.One 1.5" staple nd you are finished.

 

[M-5]

Every other post will be fine the shorter the insulator the better IMO. Don't skrimp on the tighteners if a long run between corners one on each end to keep it tight.

 

[J-BAR-S]

JW, Are you talking about the rubber sleeves for wood posts? I was thinkin of using the porcelain knobs for corners but I will look into the sleeves but I still need something for t posts.

Thanks M-5. What kind of tighteners would you suggest?

 

[Ol' 243]

I have a 5 strand barb wire fence with t post every 12 feet, I run one strand of hot about 20 inches off the ground just to remind every one to not push on or mess with the fence, I only use an insulator on every 3rd t post and a ceramic insulator on every wood post or corner post. Works good for me.

 

[Ebenezer]

JW, Are you talking about the rubber sleeves for wood posts? I was thinkin of using the porcelain knobs for corners but I will look into the sleeves but I still need something for t posts.

Thanks M-5. What kind of tighteners would you suggest?

Avoid porcelain and go with composite. Porcelain will be cracked, leaking voltage and you will never know it. Best end tubes have shorter life than composite end insulators per our supplier. Wood line posts: good tubes will be fine. Set T post about 1/4" back away from the wire when you drive, if you want t posts. When the insulator pops off with deer there is less direct short issue. I have learned to hate T posts with high deer population. We use braces, 4 fiberglass posts, 1 wood post, 4 fiberglass ... Much less to fix. Wish I had known prior.

 

[M-5]

You can get these most anywhere and they are very handy In line and I have used them on corners

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.htm ... gQodb-YG2g

 

[dun]

For just routine tightening I use Jakes Titgheners. For a real strain I use daisy wheel tighteners

 

[JW IN VA]

JW, Are you talking about the rubber sleeves for wood posts? I was thinkin of using the porcelain knobs for corners but I will look into the sleeves but I still need something for t posts.

Thanks M-5. What kind of tighteners would you suggest?

Avoid porcelain and go with composite. Porcelain will be cracked, leaking voltage and you will never know it. Best end tubes have shorter life than composite end insulators per our supplier. Wood line posts: good tubes will be fine. Set T post about 1/4" back away from the wire when you drive, if you want t posts. When the insulator pops off with deer there is less direct short issue. I have learned to hate T posts with high deer population. We use braces, 4 fiberglass posts, 1 wood post, 4 fiberglass ... Much less to fix. Wish I had known prior.

Thanks for telling me about the end posts.Sounds like composite is the better of the two.
The sleeves I was refering to are similar-just 4" long.

 

[dun]

You people dont; have hedge or cedars?

 

[J-BAR-S]

I have a 5 strand barb wire fence with t post every 12 feet, I run one strand of hot about 20 inches off the ground just to remind every one to not push on or mess with the fence, I only use an insulator on every 3rd t post and a ceramic insulator on every wood post or corner post. Works good for me.

Thanks. Yea I meant ceramic not porcelain

 

[J-BAR-S]

JW, Are you talking about the rubber sleeves for wood posts? I was thinkin of using the porcelain knobs for corners but I will look into the sleeves but I still need something for t posts.

Thanks M-5. What kind of tighteners would you suggest?

Avoid porcelain and go with composite. Porcelain will be cracked, leaking voltage and you will never know it. Best end tubes have shorter life than composite end insulators per our supplier. Wood line posts: good tubes will be fine. Set T post about 1/4" back away from the wire when you drive, if you want t posts. When the insulator pops off with deer there is less direct short issue. I have learned to hate T posts with high deer population. We use braces, 4 fiberglass posts, 1 wood post, 4 fiberglass ... Much less to fix. Wish I had known prior.

I meant to say ceramic, not sure if that makes a difference on cracking..I'm not sure what composite insulators you mean..do you have a link or picture? And t posts is what I already have for my barb wire so they will have to do..don't really want to run a whole other fence

 

[J-BAR-S]

You can get these most anywhere and they are very handy In line and I have used them on corners

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.htm ... gQodb-YG2g

Thanks again M-5 I will look into those

 

[J-BAR-S]

For just routine tightening I use Jakes Titgheners. For a real strain I use daisy wheel tighteners

I just ordered some of those for my barb wire. Forgive my ignorance but can you use them on electric wire too without shorting?

 

[dun]

For just routine tightening I use Jakes Titgheners. For a real strain I use daisy wheel tighteners

I just ordered some of those for my barb wire. Forgive my ignorance but can you use them on electric wire too without shorting?

As long as you don;t clip them on a steel post or to another grounded wire they work fine.

 

[Ebenezer]

https://pasturemgmt.com/show_produc...End Strain Insulator. Works great on HotCote!

 

[jerry27150]

why would you need 2 electric wires when you have 5 12.5 barbs, with post 10 foot apart. if wires are tight nothing should get through these. I only use 4 strands of good barb with posts 15 foot apart. if they push hard I may add 1 hot wire to earn their respect.

 

[Caustic Burno]

why would you need 2 electric wires when you have 5 12.5 barbs, with post 10 foot apart. if wires are tight nothing should get through these. I only use 4 strands of good barb with posts 15 foot apart. if they push hard I may add 1 hot wire to earn their respect.

I have five to seven strands and two hot I don't like working on fence.
The hots are hotter than the hinges to the gates of heII.

 

[J-BAR-S]

For just routine tightening I use Jakes Titgheners. For a real strain I use daisy wheel tighteners

I just ordered some of those for my barb wire. Forgive my ignorance but can you use them on electric wire too without shorting?

As long as you don;t clip them on a steel post or to another grounded wire they work fine.

Alright. Thanks dun

 

[J-BAR-S]

why would you need 2 electric wires when you have 5 12.5 barbs, with post 10 foot apart. if wires are tight nothing should get through these. I only use 4 strands of good barb with posts 15 foot apart. if they push hard I may add 1 hot wire to earn their respect.

I just want to preserve my fence and I would like a little extra security. I may try just 1 wire at first about 3 ft and see how it goes.