
Drivin
g staples that hold HT smooth
wires tight against the post
High-tensile wires need to be free
to move. This enables the total length
of wire to expand and contract as
temperatures change and when animals
or tree limbs hit the fence.
Spacing line posts in permanent
fences too far apart
Those who suggest long spacing
distances are describing straight HT
smooth-wire fences in flat open country
(not hilly country).
Much closer spacings are necessary for
uneven terrain and irregular fence lines.
Incorrect
Correct
Post
Mistakes
IncorrectProblem
Solution
Problem
Solution
Energized wires too close
to barbed wire
An animal (or human)
caught by the barbs could
receive multiple shocks before
getting away. This can kill.
To reduce risk, fences should
be either all barbed and
not energized or all smooth
strands with energized offsets.
Common voltmeter mistakes 1. Not buying a good one. I know we sell 5-light testers—but a true digital voltmeter (see p. 103) is more accurate and informative. 2. Not using it. Many folks wait for animals to tell them (by escaping) when the fence voltage is too low. 3. Allowing your tester or voltmeter to shock you. Don’t grab the ground probe while the tester is still on the fence (see right) . When you’ve finished testing the fence, remove tester from the electrified wire first. Then, and only then, pull the ground probe out of the soil. And do not pull out the ground probe by its wire.Poor knots
Square knots for electro-
plastic conductors (twine,
rope, polywire) often make
poor electrical contact.
A fisherman’s knot is more
reliable. Adding a brass
ferrule (included in net repair
kits) in the center enables
excellent electrical contact.
Too busy to check the fence
Though some fence designs are easier to maintain than
others, problems increase and effectiveness declines without
routine checking. Once animals lose their fear (by electrified
fences losing their pain-giving effect), it takes considerable
extra effort to retrain them.
Too few cut-out switches Cut-out switches (p. 137) allow you to disconnect sections of fence without turning off the entire fence. When looking for shorts in the fence, cut-out switches allow you to quickly determine which length of fence contains the problem.Fisherman’s knot
Exposing the public to “hot” fences Always put warning signs (p. 137) on energized wires so visitors know they will “hurt.” Place all conductive wires on the inside of permanent fences so “outsiders” can’t readily make contact with them.Problem:
Allowing clips to
come in contact
with grounded
wires and posts.
Solution:
Wrap the clip
back around an
electrified strand
on the netting to
hold it in place.
Grounding out on metal or wood
When netting touches a building (or any grounded object)
it can leak energy away, particularly if the building or post is
metal. To avoid this, install the net 2"–3" away from the building.
This will still keep out predators because the conductors are also
wrapped around the end posts of the netting.
14 COMMON FENCING MISTAKES
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Common Fencing Mistakes