There are several different types of portable electric fence wires, tapes and braids - frequently called &#;conductors&#;. Knowing which one to choose can be a bit tricky - especially for those new to electric fencing.
Here we take you through the different types of conductors available to help you make the right choice for your farm:
Poly Wire
The most common portable/temporary fence &#;conductor&#; is Poly Wire. Poly Wire is made of plastic strands and embedded thin metal wires used to carry electrical current from a Fence Energizer. The individual strands of plastic and wire are typically twisted tightly together to form a single wire.
Poly Wire lacks the strength of steel wire fencing but it won't rust and is more visible to animals. Wires less than 3mm in diameter are popular for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, while larger 5mm diameter versions are suitable for horses due to improved visibility.
As it&#;s available on a reel, it provides a convenient option for temporary fencing solutions, such as strip grazing, and also offers a cost-effective option for subdividing pastures.
Poly Tape
Poly Tape threads individual strands of plastic and wire together creating what appears to be a highly visible ribbon. Tape is strong, can withstand all weather conditions, and won&#;t rust. White tape is more visible against green vegetation or brown landscape, whereas brown or green tape is more visible against a snow background.
Electric poly tape is available in different widths with each width being better suited for different applications. Because of its enhanced visibility and superior strength, the thicker tape is recommended for perimeter fences, but it&#;s not the best solution in areas that experience strong winds &#; in these situations, Poly Braid would make a better choice for perimeter fencing.
If exposed to a windy area a thinner Tape provides is better suited as their thinner width provides less resistance to winds, and thus are less inclined to suffer wind damage.
Poly Braid
Poly Braid is a superior construction than Poly Wire, and is less likely to be damaged by the wind and ice than Poly Tape.
Poly Braid consists of individual strands of plastic and wire that are braided together to form a tight weave making it more durable, and less prone to tangles and overstretching. Poly Braid comes in various diameters (thickness).
High Tensile Wire Fencing
High Tensile Wire is suitable for permanent fences over a large area. However, as wire fences don&#;t give like a Poly Tape or Poly Braid fence, high tensile wire fencing isn&#;t suitable for fast-moving animals, such as horses, who could succumb to serious injury if they run into the wire at speed.
High-tensile wire is available in two options: galvanized steel and aluminum. Both are strong, hard-wearing, and low maintenance, and are a good choice for constructing perimeter fences to contain slow animals. Galvanized steel offers an economic solution that will effectively carry an electric charge long distances. Aluminum offers superior conducting capabilities &#; four times as much as galvanized steel however, it tends to be more expensive than steel wire.
Turbo wire
Turbo products come in the same wire, tape and braided construction previously described for Poly - with one major difference. Turbo products have 9 strands of conductive metals including copper which make them up to 48x&#;s more conductive than Poly products which only have 6 strands of stainless steel. This means with Turbo, your voltage will stay strong and carry a &#;shock&#; further down your fence line than Poly products. Long temporary fences (over 200m) should always be constructed from Turbo products to ensure maximum livestock control.
Equine Fencing
If you own horses Equine Fence Wire is the safest, most effective electric fence for your horse. This long life, high tension fence uses specially designed wire coating to reduce risk of injury.
Turbo Braid can be used as a low tension semi-permanent fence alternative to Equine Fence Wire. Braid is designed not to tangle or overstretch and is easy to install.
A semi-permanent Tape fence is highly visible, simple to construct and will last years, making this type of fence an economical and popular choice for horse owners.
Did you know?
All our cables &#; like the Heavy Duty Leadout Cable, the Equine Fence Wire and the Double Insulated Soft Cable - are made in our factory in New Zealand and come with a 10 year warranty.
Fence wire, supported by tension, is stretched between reinforced posts located at ends, corners and at intervals in between long stretches to form an enclosure or exclosure. You will use smaller posts in between to ensure fence wires are kept spaced and upright.
There are several types of fence wires you can use, depending on the purpose of the fence and the animal being controlled. For a permanent perimeter fence, steel or aluminum wire can be used as your fence wire.
If desired, you can electrify fence wire with the use of a fence charger. Fence wire conducts the electric charge from the fence charger around the length of the fence.
There are many wire types available too. Your selection, as well as number of wires and spacing, will depend on the type of fence, the type of animal you are containing and how long the fence will stay in place.
NOTE: When purchasing wire for your electric fence system, remember the lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. Most electric fences use 14 or 17 gauge wire depending on the length of the fence and what animal is being contained or repelled.
Woven wire is identified by the wire "knots" wrapped around each intersecting wire giving its "woven" appearance. Woven wire is more costly to purchase and install than basic wire, but is safer and less expensive than wood, pipe, or other fencing materials. When combined with one or more strands of barbed wire and/or electric wire at the top and possibly another at the bottom, woven wire is an effective means of containing pigs, sheep or goats.
Features and Benefits
Safely contains many species of livestock
Less expensive than wood, pipe fencing
Ideal Uses
Permanent fencing
Perimeter fencing
NOTE: Woven wire with large openings (a.k.a. sheep fence) can be potentially hazardous to wild animals and horses. In this case, a variation of woven wire called "field fence" with smaller, narrower openings at the bottom and wider openings at the top should be used.
Galvanized steel wire will last the lifetime of the fence and is the most commonly used wire.
Features and Benefits
Steel wire is a basic, economic wire
Carries charge long distance w/ extensions
Can use with any type of charger
Ideal Uses
Semi-permanent fencing
Permanent fencing
Perimeter fencing
Note: Steel wire can be used with any type of charger and when connected properly to like wire extensions, this wire can carry a charge for very long distances.
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Aluminum wire is the best for carrying a charge. Aluminum conducts electricity four times better than steel wire. While it will cost more, aluminum wire does not rust like un-galvanized steel wire.
Features and Benefits
Long-lasting
Permanent fencing
Lifetime warranty, will not rust
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Sunshine Fencing.
Ideal Uses
Carries charge 4x better than steel
Perimeter fencing
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High-tensile electric fencing wire is an excellent choice for not only safely containing most species of livestock, including exotic species, but it is also effective at keeping predators out.
High-tensile fence wire can be used as a simple barrier or electrified for greater effectiveness. Fencing systems made from high-tensile fencing wire are affordable and long-lasting, over 40 years. Another benefit of high-tensile wire fencing is its low maintenance. High-tensile wire is most often 12 or 12.5 gauge galvanized steel and will state that it is for high-tensile systems on its packaging.
Features and Benefits
Affordable and low maintenance
Safely contain most species of livestock
Effective at keeping predators out
Ideal Uses
Simple barrier or electrified for greater efficiency
Permanent fencing
Perimeter fencing
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Barbed wire is a steel fencing constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the wire strand. It is used commonly to construct inexpensive fences and was the first wire technology capable of containing livestock.
Barbed wire is made in a variety of styles. Typical strand variations include two to five strands. Barbed wire fencing is simple to construct and quick to erect, even by novice fencers, requiring only fence posts, wire and a device, such as staples, to attach the wire to the post.
Features and Benefits
Inexpensive, simple
Quick, simple to erect
Ideal Uses
Security fencing
Perimeter fencing
NOTE: Precautions to protect against injury (due to the barbs) should be adopted when handling barbed wire fencing. Make sure you wear protective clothes, gloves, and boots to prevent bodily harm. In addition, barbed wire is not a recommended livestock fencing option. Barbed wire is dangerous and likely to damage animals that come into contact with it.
Poly fencing is commonly used for temporary fencing and includes polywire, polyrope (or braid), and polytape. Constructed of a combination of metal and plastic filaments, poly fencing consists of small wire strands which serve as the conductors. Woven together with polyethylene, this design produces tape, wire, and rope versions. Polytape will have more conductors woven into it versus polyrope or polywire due to its larger surface area.
When considering which poly fencing material might work best for your needs, be sure to consider the type of metal from which the conductors are made. Aluminum stretches easily and can look sloppy over time. Stainless steel wire is a much better conductor option and will allow wires to stay tensioned and have a long life. Copper is the third best electrical conductor next to silver and gold and is 70 times more conductive than stainless steel.
General characteristics which set poly fencing apart from wire include:
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Polytape provides greater visibility than polywire or polyrope and is often used for horse fencing. Reinforced, rip-stop edges also help protect the tape from wear and tear. The open weave design allows wind to pass through, reducing wear and increasing the longevity of the fence line.
Splicing poly tape is easy using specially designed splicer buckles. Use a poly tape tensioner to maintain tape tension as needed. For best results, energize poly tape fence lines with a low impedance fence charger. Polytape should not be used with a continuous output charger.
Features and Benefits
Highly visible to animals
Lightweight
Wind passes through, low wear & tear
Convenient to install and repair
Will not rust
Ideal Uses
Excellent for horses
Temporary fencing
Rotational grazing
Equine fence kits
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Polywire is a good fence choice since it is more visible than traditional metal wire, lightweight and installs easily. Polywire is easily tightened, spliced, repaired and rewound. Use a poly wire tightener to maintain wire tension as needed.
Polywire can be re-used again and again making it a convenient wire for temporary, strip or rotational grazing and pet control. Polywire should not be used with continuous output chargers.
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Polyrope (or braid) is another excellent high visibility choice for your fence line. It is stronger than polywire, with stainless steel strands woven through the rope. The steel strands ensure maximum electrical energy is carried through the fence line at all times. Use a splicer to maintain a good connection. Most polyropes are about 1/4 inch in diameter.
Features and Benefits
More visible than traditional wire
Lightweight, convenient to use
Easier to install, repair, and splice than metal wire
Will not rust, resistant to breaking and stretching
Ideal Uses
Horse fencing
Temporary and rotational grazing
Controlled grazing
Note: For best results, use a low impedance fence charger to energize polywire and polyrope fences. Polyrope should not be used with continuous output chargers.
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For more information, please visit Electric Galvanized Barbed Wire Fence Custom.