Electric Fence Blues

[Draftygirl]

Finally got the first pasture fence up, white lightning with cedar posts. I’m having a problem where the crappy TSC braid from the sacrifice yard ties in with it. I’ve had the fence man back out twice, the last time was this morning, and less than half an hour after he left the TSC braid was sparking again in the exact same place. It’s the bottom strand, so I’m wondering if the deep snow this past winter may have damaged it somehow? I have plenty of leftover braid (and white lightning for that matter) to try replacing it.

Why does it work fine for a little while though until right after he leaves? He has to travel from two counties away so I don’t want to keep bugging him.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Replace the “crappy TSC braid.”

[Draftygirl]

Thanks, I’ll try that when I have a spare minute but I’m wondering why the fence man didn’t suggest it.

[CHT]

What is he doing to fix it?

I am assuming this is new fencing? If not, it may just be that exposure to the sun and the cold has caused the wires to wear out and break. He may be twisting the wires to reattach them, but then they come apart again in the wind.

I definitely learned it is better to pay more and get longer lasting fence, vs the stuff you have to replace every spring!

[moving_to_dc]

There are contact clamps that are available and IME, work better than “tying” the thicker braided stuff.

Is he “tying” it or clamping it?

[Guilherme]

“Sparking wires” in braid almost always mean broken strands. Once strands break inside the braid material I think you’re pretty well out of luck. The only real fix is to replace the strand.

When wrapping wire around braid using a proper clamp is is a Good Idea. You can often achieve the same result, however, using aluminum foil. Wrap the section of braid where the connector will be a tight, double layer of foil. Then wrap the wire around the foil section tightly. This gives the best chance for a “clean” connection.

G.

[Draftygirl]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;8187169]
“Sparking wires” in braid almost always mean broken strands. Once strands break inside the braid material I think you’re pretty well out of luck. The only real fix is to replace the strand.

When wrapping wire around braid using a proper clamp is is a Good Idea. You can often achieve the same result, however, using aluminum foil. Wrap the section of braid where the connector will be a tight, double layer of foil. Then wrap the wire around the foil section tightly. This gives the best chance for a “clean” connection.

G.[/QUOTE]

This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for, thanks G.

CHT and moving to DC, he didn’t install the problem section so I’m not holding him accountable for it but would think instead of all the clamping and fiddling he did with it to no avail it would have occurred to him that the $hit simply needs replaced.

For now I unwound the bottom connection and that’s that till the weekend then will see if I can fix it myself with different material. I just brought my 2 mares home in February so fencing is a brand new adventure for me and I appreciate your help.

Thanks!