Joining electric fence wire

[Bignor Farmer]

An Exciting thread for a Sunday morning but it’s raining and I’m already bored!

We do miles and miles of sheep electric fencing with our Rappa system and stranded wire and inevitably get lots of breaks to repair. Usually just snip the ends clean, connect 2 loops and flatten because it’s quick and easy but eventually they become loose, frayed and snag on the insulators which is really annoying.

Anyone got a better system? knot? crimps? solder?

 

[Jerry]

An Exciting thread for a Sunday morning but it’s raining and I’m already bored!

We do miles and miles of sheep electric fencing with our Rappa system and stranded wire and inevitably get lots of breaks to repair. Usually just snip the ends clean, connect 2 loops and flatten because it’s quick and easy but eventually they become loose, frayed and snag on the insulators which is really annoying.

Anyone got a better system? knot? crimps? solder?

reef knot pulled very tight. Then trim the loose ends very close to the knot.

 

[neilo]

reef knot pulled very tight. Then trim the loose ends very close to the knot.

^ this is what I was always told. The ‘figure of 8’ means you get more points of contact between the metal strands within the wire.

Each knot still makes for a voltage drop though, so I bin the wire & replace before we get many knots.
I get pee’d if I get a break anyway, as it usually means I didn’t put the fence up properly. Sheep don’t tend to break (or stretch, breaking the internal strands) the wire unless they are getting out.

 

[TheRanger]

^ this is what I was always told. The ‘figure of 8’ means you get more points of contact between the metal strands within the wire.

Each knot still makes for a voltage drop though, so I bin the wire & replace before we get many knots.
I get pee’d if I get a break anyway, as it usually means I didn’t put the fence up properly. Sheep don’t tend to break (or stretch, breaking the internal strands) the wire unless they are getting out.

Usually deer that cause breaks here

 

[Al R]

My Rappa system’s are mostly completely unbroken except 1-2 where someone cut them all
Meanwhile my wire on hand reels is cut every time it’s used, each 800m reel system must be cut at least 50 times in a year (a lot of 100m divisions splitting fields)
Using the gallagher turbo line 9 strand poly wire I don’t have any voltage drop at 300metre straight’s and there is a lot of knots (hundreds).
I think it’s called a reef knot, you need ends of 2” hanging off though incase serious tension goes on them, it doesn’t work so well on Rappa wire as it’s to thin and to much plastic in the wire compared to the 9 strand

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I do a 1½ reef knot - left over right twice, and right over left.

I like to tell myself that there is more connection but really it's because that's how I usually do it, so the ends stick out a different way and don't snag as much on thistles/posts on the way in

 

[LuckyEleven]

Not sure how well it runs through insulators but for conductivity youll not beat a double fishermans.

 

[Farmer dyke]

I always do reef knots and then braid the opposing wires in the strands of the other so they have better contact, as ive had wires burn through with only doing a reef knot.

 

[Sid]

Meanwhile my wire on hand reels is cut every time it’s used, each 800m reel system must be cut at least 50 times in a year (a lot of 100m divisions splitting fields)

Why would you cut it every time?

That's what the reel is for to keep it tight.

Know a dairy farmer that does the same. Every paddock split he cuts the wire then joins it again. What a mess and ball ache!

 

[yellowbelly]

This is how I do it.
Apparently it's called a Deering Knot. Maybe 'cos it's the same as a JD baler makes

If you can manage to wangle a bit of slack you can tie it while there's a fair bit of tension in the wire.
Anyhow it won't pull undone and it doesn't bother the Rappa when rolling it up.

 

[Al R]

Why would you cut it every time?

That's what the reel is for to keep it tight.

Know a dairy farmer that does the same. Every paddock split he cuts the wire then joins it again. What a mess and ball ache!

Because 9-12 reels are doing 12 different fields, often 2-3 fence moves in advance too so up to 36 different 100m average length’s around the place.

 

[Estate fencing.]

This is how I do it.
Apparently it's called a Deering Knot. Maybe 'cos it's the same as a JD baler makes
View attachment 994706
If you can manage to wangle a bit of slack you can tie it while there's a fair bit of tension in the wire.
Anyhow it won't pull undone and it doesn't bother the Rappa when rolling it up.

That’s what i do, usually when the game keepers cut the wire and tie it to barbed wire fence

 

[exmoor dave]

Not sure how well it runs through insulators but for conductivity youll not beat a double fishermans.
View attachment 994651

This
Then put a wrap of very fine copper or galv wire from one side of the knot to the other

 

[hendrebc]

I got fed up of knots snagging in things so now I splice them together. Takes some time and is a fiddle but very strong and doesn't snag on anything ever.

 

[Mc115reed]

I do a reef not then use the tails as a wire strap from the one that’s broken too the wire bellow or above when I’m wrapping up it can get a bit of a party until they’re covered over on the reel

 

[Al R]

I do a reef not then use the tails as a wire strap from the one that’s broken too the wire bellow or above when I’m wrapping up it can get a bit of a party until they’re covered over on the reel

2” tails I leave not 12” that would hurt the hands when winding in

 

[Mc115reed]

2” tails I leave not 12” that would hurt the hands when winding in

When I go fencing, I go fencing on a big shire horse with my cowboy hat on

 

[Estate fencing.]

That’s what i do, usually when the game keepers cut the wire and tie it to barbed wire fence

Just to prove me right the game keepers have done this this morning, there’s sheep in the field as well!

 

[DanM]

View attachment 994778Just to prove me right the game keepers have done this this morning, there’s sheep in the field as well!

I’d be having a quiet word with the gamekeeper, to enlighten him upon the error of his ways.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Any ideas on a cheap ways of rolling wire up , got no reels but miles of wire