high tensile wire fence post spacing high tensile wire fence post spacing

For strictly cattle, a 4 or 5 wire perimeter fence is adequate. Different types of fences based on the material used are as follows. Alternatively, one could use wire and a strainer (see picture of a strainer later in this post). Started using the Bakaert 14 gauge high tensile barbed wire in place of the standard 12.5 gauge regular barbed wire. Well notify you every time we add new material. If youre already thinking about your gate posts, end post, deciding whether to use wooden posts or steel you might feel overwhelmed already! As you tension the wire, just watch the sag between line posts.you don't need to take all the sag out of it. All Right Reserved. If you stand straddling the wire while you start, it is easier to get the post in the ground straight. Above, Ethan is measuring and marking the Powerflex line posts. Use plenty of ground rods on the north side of a building or installed around a pond. Make sure the Gripple is not too close to the post, so you have room to pull the cable tight. In this 2:38 video, I describe how I set up a 5-strand hi-tensile fence using 12.5 gauge 180,000 psi hi-tensile wire. A good rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 3 feet or ground rod for each output joule of the charger. To do this we use a piece of 12.5 gauge hi-tensile wire to go around the post and into the insulator. - Inadequate energizer:I am an advocate of trying to have from 8 to 10 KV on my fence. Fence post spacing refers to the distance between each fence post used to support a fence. Base the strand height by visualizing where the animal's nose level is if it were to approach the fence with its head at its normal position while walking. Six to Seven inch round treated posts, just like those used with the high tensile fence, is optimal when installing woven wire fencing. These comments are based upon permanent fencing. You can use a ratchet in-line strainer or tightener to tension wires. Good ground rod clamps must be used. I would like to know more about the fibreglass posts. Ethans wife, Becca, followed us around with a camera and got some really great photos during the construction. High tensile fencing features steel made with a higher carbon content. They run cows, cow/calf pairs, bred heifers, stockers, a hair sheep flock, a goat herd, and Tamworth pigs. We used the CT4 open tap crimp sleeves to make the connections to the fence wires. On this fence we also added some wood posts for line posts where there were terrain changes and transitions in the fence. Spacing (feet) Woven Wire. The most recognized brand of farm fence, Red Brand is preferred by full-time farmers & ranchers, part-time enthusiasts and homeowners alike for its consistent quality and reliability. As shown above, all 7 wires are now tensioned. Fencing parameters. But if you go from 6KV down to 3KV in May, then you may have problems. Hi-tensile fence just springs right back up to its former position. We made a some templates to mark our wire spacings on the end posts (and for later use to drill the powerflex posts) and drove steeples in partially to hold the wire in place. July 14th in the corn belt is usually hot, but we got lucky with some fantastically cool weather. Check out this simple table to find your fences recommended spacing. He also prefers to stagger them, rather than lining them up vertically, for a more professional look. Now 2% doesn't sound like much, but it amounts to 27 feet in a quarter mile. Powerflex Posts can easily be field drilled and wire spacing located where you want them. Read More: What Color Light Helps You Sleep Well. If you use acetone to clean the post before painting, we have posts in the field with 20 years of use and paint is still holding tight. This run of fence was around 2000' long and had several transitions going around a curve in the road. And connect around the corner. After more than 20 years of testing we have found that posts five to six inches in diameter deliver by far the most value. Ratchets will also allow you to adjust wire tension for temperature changes. Some voltmeters also will show current which will additionally help you find shorts or faults that arise. I hope these general comments help you with working with hi-tensile wire. Spacing the posts 8 feet apart will require 660 posts. Diameter: 5-6 in. Youll also see the inexpensive replacement I use for the cotter keys that are normally sold with hi-tensile fencing. A total difference of 220 posts is significant when looking at cost of materials and labor. Notice that we do NOT wrap the cotter pins around the fence wire. For non-electrified wire, staples or clips will suffice. It's not hard to have 10,000 volts in early spring when the grass/vegetation load is low, but you need to be able to maintain good voltage in May & June when the vegetation load is heavy and wet. While, this may sound like a time consuming job, it really does go quite quickly. - Don't just assume everything is working:Yes, electric fences do need to be checked periodically. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! For short stretches of fence line (<600 feet), the in-line strainer and tension indicator spring, known as the friction center, can be placed anywhere. It is now ready to accept the line wire when it is pulled out. We used pre-made U-clips (stiffer than wire) to attach the wire, but high-tensile wire could also be used. Where turns are encountered, additional wire strainers will be installed for proper tension on fence. We attached the two wires to the back of an ATV to pull the wire out. Once you have attached your guide wires to both ends a tensioner is installed and the wire is tensioned up. There are a lot of good quality crimps, split bolts, taps, etc that do a good job for very little money. Establish Boundaries: Fences are also useful to establish the boundaries of your property. . Ive had this fence and a modified seven-wire version of it and found that unless I cleared the fence line with a weed whacker at least monthly during the growing season, I couldnt keep an adequate charge on the wires to keep sheep in. High tensile fencing has many benefits for controlling cattle & sheep. What about power outages or short-outs? Our top wire will be at 46" on the post. The amount of space between each strand also effects the height. What type of project do you have at hand? You can get by with ground off to t- posts or such things when it is wet out but when it gets dry it will fail to be enough. The fence is also to stop any unknown person from entering your property. The tensioner should be located near the center of the fence run, rather than at one end. You could be laying out a fence for crop protection, perimeter control, livestock or wildlife containment or exclusion. For barbed wire fences, the rule of thumb is one post per every 16.5 feet. This is not a problem at the ends where you may want to hand knot your wire to an insulatorbut on the fence wire that you are transmitting an electronic pulse you need a good connection on your jumpers. Of all of the various types of agricultural fencing I feel very strongly that 12.5 gauge hi-tensile fencing is the best choice you can make. If your fencing project crosses varied or difficult terrain or requires high rigidity for strength between post spacing's, Bekaert Solidlock fixed knot fence is your fencing solution.Constructed with solid vertical stay wires that increase strength, tolerate wider . Secure each tube with a fencing staple at the correct height. The next step was to set the corner and end posts. Once you have the right posts, its time to space them properly. What this fence design will not do even if its working well is provide protection from predators. For this fence, seven-foot long four-inch diameter posts were used (around $15 each), and the posts were put about three feet into the ground. I want to fence sheep on my own land. Thanks Staytuff, 2023 Stay Tuff Fence. Permanent Electric Fencing for Sheep. Put two more staples into the end or corner posts a couple of inches from the ground This makes it possible on level ground to put fence posts 40 to 50 feet apart. We recommend using 5 to 6 wires spaced to an overall height of 40" - 46." High-tensile or T-posts combined with aluminum or steel wire are both excellent fencing options for this purpose. Adding one more wire would cost $46.48 per quarter mile of fence (wire and U-clips). Brace wires They transfer the force between the posts of the brace. Once we have them all marked we can begin driving them. These unrollers were used. High-tensile wire is typically tensioned to approximately 200-250 pounds. High-tensile, difficult animals, rolling terrain. Typically high tensile wire comes in 4000 or 8000 foot rolls. But it is possible for animals to get through the high tensile wires if they are determined enough. 7-foot long 4-inch diameter treated wood posts $15 each, 7/8 Sunguard II fiberglass posts (Geotek) $9.40 each, Brace and anchor kit with cable and Gripple (Gripple) $18, Fencing staples $1.50/lb. Spacing will depend on the number of wires used. Wires can be run from the coil or roll using a payout spinner or, a multi-wire fencer, if running multiple strands. Check out our blog The Right Post: The Foundation for a Solid, Long-Lasting Fence to learn more about post possibilities. . We made a some templates to mark our wire spacings on the end posts (and for later use to drill the powerflex posts) and drove steeples in partially to hold the wire in place. How to fix it: In an electric-fencing system, Derynck reccomends fence post spacing 80-100 feet apart, or about 50 posts per mile. For example, if you have selected tensile steel fence posts, then the spacing of fence posts can be around every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and for high tensile barbed and smooth wire, it is maybe 20-30 feet. High tensile fence can have a single wire or can be equipped with up to a dozen or more wires depending on needs. The proper fence post spacing ensures that the fence remains upright, does not sag or lean, and can withstand the external forces acting upon it. Height. Jason recommends keeping each section of fence tied off separately instead of one continuous loop, so that if something breaks in a section, the wire will not be loose on the whole fence. This coil of hi-tensile wire is 4000' long and weighs around 100 pounds. Darker colors last longer. Our fiberglass corner posts dont require insulators when you electrify your fence. They also reduce future maintenance, as there are more points of contact for the fence to brace itself against impact. 5. I think if you have uneven terrain or significant coyote pressure, or live in a humid climate like the northeastern US, you will spend the life of this fence wishing you had built the more expensive woven wire. While this is a general criteria, it doesn't cover all scenarios. High tensile wire can be installed using fewer fence posts than low carbon fence High tensile: post spacing up to 16.5 feet vs low carbon: post spacing 8 to 10 feet Stronger - about twice the strength as low carbon wire for effectively controlling any type of livestock: horses, hogs, cattle, deer, sheep, goat, etc. Brace posts Hold end post in place, along with cross members. High tensile fence uses a special type of wire that does not break under high tension. By not installing your brace posts before the guide wire is up, you can align your brace post, so that the fence wire runs straight. Do not cut the cable off of the rolls of wire until after it is mounted on the unroller! On the other hand, spacing posts too far apart is detrimental to the life expectancy of fence structures, due to the loads placed on the fence during climate changes, weather events and from animal pressure. 35-48" Knot. off the ground. High-tensile electric fence is the most effective and economical fence that you can build on leased land and its what I put up after negotiating a 10 year lease on a farm that had no fencing. The three wire spacing will be 15, 15, and 18 inches, starting at the ground. See the Animal Selector section for recommendations by animal. This prevents you from scuffing off the paint during the installation process. Use a tension indicator spring to adjust each wire to the proper tension. __________________________________________. The wire dispenser (spinning jenny) is placed beyond the end post on a level surface. What kind of paint works best on the fiberglass? Fence Wire & Netting Shop All. bit. Attach 5 strands of galvanized wire to the rod and lace through . Here is another leg of the fence, in which we used the #SCT1 spring clip tensioners. Jason recommends putting the strainers on an end of the fence (or both ends), not the middle (ideally the end you can access the best) so you dont have to go to the middle of the fence to tighten it. High-tensile wire is strong but does have a memory. Wire should be strung on the inside of line posts and on the outside of curves. Very informative! In short, larger spacing saves the cost of material and labor but reduces strength and safety. Strainers can also be used to splice together two wires. Above, Ethan cleans out an augered post hole, supervised by Uncle Loren, Hanna, and yours truly holding the post. . Although most commonly used forcattle fencing, a high tensile fence is also used forsheep,horses, bison, and other exotic animals. Its good for sheep, pigs, goats and cattle, and prevents deer from getting caught in it. Powerflex composite posts are an option. Corners and ends wouldnt be adequate. Step 14. This will give you the minimum height of post required to establish a T post fence. The post spacing is adjusted accordingly as well. If youre looking for a fence that is a physical barrier rather than just a psychological barrier, the woven wire is the best choice. Generally, post spacing will range from 20' to 50', depending upon slope and lay of the land. Fence wire for goats should be closely-spaced, starting low to the ground and placed high enough to prevent jumping over the fence. The bottom wire is not permantly electrified. The yellow terminal is a low output terminal, which he may use around the house, with 3 small children present. The fence will remain tight, and even spring back into place after being hit with a brute force. This fence has the ability to stop a car skidding towards the fence without breaking . See the following table which will help you to find Fence Post Spacing. Most More rolling terrain is not so favorable and a 40 to 60 feet spacing is more realistic. This also decreases future maintenance, as there are more points of contact for the fence to brace itself against impact. So, don't over tension hi-tensile wire. The Recommended T-post Fence Spacing is 8 12 feet. Having an extra set of hands to hold the brace in place while you hammer is very helpful as well! The spacing of the 4 strand fence will be 12, 12, 12, and 12 inches, starting at the ground. It is optimal for strength and is also the most attractive from a design standpoint. The spacing of the post directly affects the cost of the fence. See the following table which will help you to find Fence Post Spacing. Post Spacing. Do you have a fence installation project at hand? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. How Often Do You Need to Replace Fence Posts? The X6i also comes with a remote control to allow him to turn the energizer off or on anywhere on the farm. If fence posts are too close together, the fence could be too ridged and not allow the wire to have the flex and give to absorb an impact. Many homeowners want some distance from outside space to inside space. Electric Fences. The electric wire also prevents cattle from constantly pushing against the wires and wearing them down. Also if the wire is rusty, the rust itself creates resistance. Jason said this can happen if the wire is already tight when you start tightening the strainer. The rods should be spaced a minimum of 10 feet apart in an area of permanent moisture. If it is a very short run than its ok to mount the tensioner at the end. In case of an ice storm or power outage, he could always run it off of a battery. Be sure to tamp the soil well on the inside edge of the deadman as you fill it back in. When it comes to horses it does have a high risk of injury. Strands of Wire Again, this will vary according to your fence type. Safety:One of the essential reasons for installing a fence isto protectpeople and animals.2. Never use a 6" spacing for goats - they will push their heads through the opening and get stuck in the fence. To prevent the post from pulling out of the ground, fencing staples can be put in on the bottom of the post, angled upward. The lower wires are spaced at 6? Drive staples at upward angles for downhill grades and downward angles for uphill grades. For this fence the bottom wire is 6? On the other side of the gate, a loop was made using high-tensile wire to hook the gate handle into. What is shown is a high-tensile wire system that is wrapped twice around the posts and tightened with a fence strainer. Post spacing is another important aspect to consider, for hog applications we recommend 12' to 20' depending on the wire choice. Here are a few tips that I am hopeful will help you with your hi-tensile fencing endeavors. I have done this many times with customers and invariably we will find an old piece of wire neatly hidden that is shorting out the new fence. In the second case if you are using 12-foot spacing, then it requires 220 posts. Total height of fence = depth of fence in ground (3-1/2) + Height of top wire (4 feet) + 6 inches extra. Ethan & Rebecca's farm is located near Knoxville, Iowa. Wood Posts Shop All . See instructions on attaching wire below. It is an important aspect of fence installation as it determines the strength, stability, and durability of the fence. Since 1889 Red Brand has been standing guard with premium, 100% American-made fence products. I met Ethan Book in cyper-space nearly a year ago on his blog while checking links and search engine results for "powerflex posts". This spacing is suitable for most types of fence work, such as wood, vinyl, and chain link fences. Attach the insulator tubes and wire on the second corner, before you walk (or drive) back to the first corner. For an angle greater than 90 degrees (or a slight curve), a deadman brace can be put in. So, how far apart should line posts be set? But, Ethan will be bringing in several different types of livestock in the future and he may want to electrify some of these ground wires in the future. So, here is a pictoral story of a 7 strand hi-tensile electric fence with wood corners and Powerflex line posts. Feeding Hay to Improve Your Land Part 5, Base Your Grazing Decisions on Five Principles of Pasture Management, Considering some Grazing Changes This Year? The wire puts a lot of strain on the posts so it is important to brace the ends or corners by placing two fence posts in the ground eight feet apart and four feet into the ground. Just install a C2L long crimp sleeve, leaving a foot of wire on each side, then hand wrap the ends. For further fence building instructions and to see pictures from a 2015 fence building field day. There were some interesting comments about fencing going on his blog at the time. This spreads the legs of the staple, increasing holding power. They also direct market grass-fed beef, lamb and pork. Stronger and more durable than traditional low carbon wire. As you grow with your system, you will begin learning what to look for with your voltage and should problems arise, you will be able to quickly resolve it. The closely spaced fence posts provide additional strength and safety. Dont miss a thing. Before you run the wire through your insulator tubes (should already be on the post), put a strainer and a Gripple on, plus a short insulator tube for the bottom wire (to insulate where it runs against the brace post). A horizontal pole is then run between these two posts, reinforced by a diagonal wire that holds the brace system together. The posts drill quite easily. The old long duration chargers did, but the newer more powerful ones with short pulse duration do not. The posts, and how you attach the wire, and maintain them is also a critical part of this fencing system. For example, to fence the perimeter of a 40-acre square parcel (1/4 mile on each side), you would have four corners, one gate (placed at a corner), and four 1/4-mile sections of line fence, for a total of $2377.50. The top wire shall be at least 2 inches below top of wooden post and 1 inch below the top of steel post. Cattle Bison. We have pulled the top wire in the picture above and working on the next one down which will be a ground wire. So, if we follow the above thumb rule, then the fence post can be spaced apart 8 to 12 ft. For a durable and robust fence, it should have five steel T-post to one wooden post. So, if you are using post spacing around 8 feet apart will require 330 posts. Coyotes and domestic dogs can clear a 42 inch fence without breaking stride. They alternate with the top and bottom being electrified. I dont know about the standards for other states, but this construction would not meet the requirements for cost share from the Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Hampshire. The high tensile wire itself is engineered with tremendous strength. High tensile fence has quickly become the most popular agricultural fence here in the East. Before i left we installed 3 each 6 foot ground rods at the energizer, then at a few hundred feet away we drove in 4 more 6 foot ground rods for his lightning protection. Is the peace of mind you get with woven wire worth the extra expense for a perimeter fence on owned land? With hi-tensile, you cut off the tree and your done. This ability to customize to fit a range of needs is one reason this type of fence is so popular. Store Hours - Mon - Fri: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. This resource only survives with your assistance. Run the brace cable through the staples and attach using a Gripple, then tighten using a Gripple tool (shown) or by hand. USA This strainer had to be re-done because the wire broke when we initially tried to tighten it. For these types of fence materials, a spacing of 12 to 15 feet between fence posts is recommended as a thumb rule. Electrified wire will require insulators for fastening to posts. The fence is used for various purposes such as setting a boundary and keeping animals in or out, to make your place private so no one can enter it. It's a must have with electric fencing you need to know what the voltage is. High-tensile wire is typically tensioned to approximately 200-250 pounds. The only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. The problem that Greg described having young deer get caught in the top wire has happened to me once in 30 years with 48 and 54 inch perimeter fences. ), 25 Cobblestone Drive This fence costs (same assumptions as above) $0.38 per linear foot of fence plus the cost of corners and gates. Since its fencing season well be sharing more how-to tips over the next few weeks. To do more than two strands, the unrollers can just be lined up side by side, far enough apart to not tangle the wires. The amount of weight needed to tension wire will depend on the type of wire chosen. The primary benefit of tighter spacing is added security. This spacing can be used for any type of fence work. Sunguard treated Fiberglass is an option.Sucker rod composite posts are and option. Tighten bottom wire and make sure the wire is running straight. Field fencing is not a one-size-fits-all product. The 60 inch high anti-deer fences, 48 to 54 inch high cattle or horse fences, and 42 inch high sheep fences are all examples good six-wire electric fence variations.