leccy fencing again

[Christmas_Kate]

okay, I have a couple of car batteries (will get a leisure battery at a later date), an energiser thingy, and a battery charger.

So, I'm hoping to tape off the bottom bit of the paddock, which is quite narrow with a wooden fence either side, hoping to run the fencing from one wooden fence to another.

So far, on my list I have : tape / rope (though i'm thinking tape as i can get wide stuff which should keep the escape artist in) and about 10 posts, oh, and a gate handle. Will I need insulators and an earth thingy?? If I do,can someone tell me where to put the insulators and what purpose they serve?

eta... yes, I am clueless lol.

 

[wildpinksalmon]

you will need plastic insulators to put on your post to run the electric tape through ( I personally prefer the rope its stronger) as the posts will earth the current, you can also get long insulator pegs which are great as the horse/pony wont be able to get as near to the fencing, which stops them rubbing against the posts and weakening (sp) them,

 

[MillionDollar]

Think you've got most of it, yes don't forget to earth it and make sure that NONE of the tape is touching anything that could earth it in the wrong place.

 

[wildpinksalmon]

oh and is your enegiser one that you stab into the ground? if it is then that is it earthed

 

[wildpinksalmon]

oops sorry did I read wrong thought she said she had an energiser

 

[Tia]

I use one of those metal dog corkscrew ties to earth my fence if I am moving the fence often as it is easy to unscrew out of the ground. I never earth off posts as they don't go far enough into the ground and this will weaken your zap. For permanent fencing I have 2 X 10ft ground spikes driven into the ground and I also run a ground-wire all the way around the field...but this is for large fields.

You'll only need insulators to tie to the fence posts at either end of the new paddock. Just tie them to the posts with baling twine and then attach the electric tape through the other hole on the insulators. If you are going to use a gate then you will need the Figure 8 screw-in end for it.

Insulators are to stop the zap being lost down the fence posts - and keep the circuit going.

I am assuming you are using poly posts? They are already insulated. If you are using wooden posts then you will need more insulators - the screw in ones are the best. The tape runs through the insulators.

One other thing you will need is a tester to make sure that your voltage is right and that the fence is pulsing.

Basically, the electic tape should touch nothing but plastic - as plastic is an insulator.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Think youve got everything covered except you could get a fence tester to make sure its working when youv'e set it up ( or you could just get unsuspecting OH or small child to test it for you

)
I have become quite an expert at the leccy fencing having to also keep a little one in so if you have any problems PM me!!!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

okay, do I need insulators for the plastic posts? or just the wooden ones?

 

[Christmas_Kate]

ahh, I see! thanks!

 

[Cahill]

on wooden posts i made a cheap thingy.cut yourself 6ins of old hosepipe,split it donw the side,fold in half and nail onto fence post so then you can thread tape through,and viola.bought ones are quite dear.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Some pics xxKatyxx for your info they may help.

A pic showing how i did the gate handles. ( the gate is now smaller as this was too wide )

A pic showing how i used the plastic poly posts and wooden posts with insulators ( although i now have another strand also as he has got bigger! )

And a pic showing the ends of the fence

If you need anymore let me know!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Oh that's fab! Now, at the end of the fence, if I have say 4 tapes, do i run one along to the end, down the post and back on itself to make the second strand to make a circuit? Then do the same with another strand to make the 3rd and 4th?

And is there any way I can attatch the insulators without damaging the posts? (it's quite new post and rail) .

 

[mrdarcy]

Sorry to butt in on this thread but it seemed daft to start a new one...

What tips does anyone have for keeping the tape threaded through the slot things on the plastic posts? Our field is extremely windy at times (we're on the side of the moors) and the damn tape keeps escaping... not all of it at once but it will pull free from the odd post and I'm forever dashing up and down the field threading it back in - all we do then is wrap the tape round the post but this reduces the efficiency of the circuit. The tape starts out as tense but always seems to slacken after a few days... Anyone experience the same problems?

 

[Tia]

Yep! That's why rope is FAR better. I never buy tape anymore because of this reason. The rope never comes out of the slots.

 

[mrdarcy]

I just worry that the rope isn't as visible... one of our horses is partially sighted (and an idiot to boot) and has been known to climb walls and run through post and rail fences if he's upset.

Electric fencing tape is the bane of my life though... I swear I start to dream about it this time of year

 

[Tia]

Ah well you can buy the fluorescent tape to tie onto the rope. Or you can cut up binbags and just tie them every 4ft in bows so that the horse can see it flapping. I've used the bright pink ties - I usually cut each one about 1ft long and then tie it around the rope and leave about 5inches hanging down on each end if I am fencing a less visible part of the field. I will do it if I am putting up fencing in an area where there isn't normally fencing. The flapping usually alerts them to it.

 

[Stinkbomb]

xxKatyxx... the only insulators any good really for the tapes are these Insulators 1 or these Insulators 2 i personally prefere the first as you can fasten the tape in so it doesnt lift out. Im affraid there isnt really any that doesnt require either nailing in the post or screwing in. At the end of the posts you can loop the first strand through to the second and the third through to the fourth as long as inbetween the strands it doesnt touch the posts. I find this better because if i ever need to move the fence i havent seperate pieces of tape everywhere. At the end of the posts you will need these type of insulators to provide tension in the tape End strainers and where you are to do you gate you will need these for the handles to attach to gate handle insulator
I hope this doesnt confuse you!!!!! It took me ages to work it all out. If you are having problems if poss take a picture of what stuff you have, where you want your fence and what it has to attach to and ill design something for you as cheap as poss!!!

edited to add if you are having 4 rows ( only two seperate strands if you loop them through like i have ) you will need one of these strand connector to make sure all strands are electrified. And if you understand all this well done as i have even confused myself!!!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
And is there any way I can attatch the insulators without damaging the posts? (it's quite new post and rail) .

[/ QUOTE ] I've successfully used baler twine to tie insulators to fencing posts (and I think Tia mentioned doing so in her post above). However if you have problems doing that, then the other option is to not use insulators and just use a plastic fencing post pushed in alongside the wooden post and then tie the plastic post to the wooden one with baler twine for stability.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Most of what you need to know is here:

http://www.electricfence-online.co.uk/ishop/1047/shopscr20.html#7

On wooden posts you must use insulators, some people say 'Wood doesn't conduct electricity so they're not needed' but wood does when it gets wet. If you want the power still to run through the fencing when the gate is open the yoiu will need lead out caple running underground, about 8", from gate post to gate post.....It's all explainend in the above link...with diagrams

 

[Honeypots]

I think everyone has covered everything. Just wanted to add that personally I would avoid tape. Use rope (more expensive) or wire. I use wire and have never had a problem with anything not seeing it. Make sure it is tensioned really well for shetties as they are good at getting underneath and rolling it over their backs. Also make sure he doesn't have a rug on when you put him out with it so he gets a good zap should he try it on. Plus, as I said before, if you have sheep in your field be aware that they don't tend to feel the zap and if its too low they may pull it down..

Oh..and make sure your electric runs in a circuit otherwise parts may not be live..

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Thankyou so much!!

I have just ordered all I need from Farmcare, who I found very cheap, and have got tape for now, and 3ft green posts etc. I phoned them for help on which of their products to buy and they couldnt have been more helpful, and have said the stuff will be here tomorrow.

Diet time Ginger!!!!

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