2016 Premier Fence

Fisherman’s knot

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COMMON FENCING MISTAKES 115

Driving 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. Post Mistakes

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. 99)

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 time and effort

to retrain them.

Too few cut-out switches Cut-out switches (p. 141) 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. Exposing the public to “hot” fences Always put warning signs (p. 141) 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.

Common Fencing Mistakes

Incorrect

Problem

Solution

Problem

Solution

Incorrect

Correct