How to Splice Electric Rope for a Wire Fence
Electric rope, also called poly wire, consists of synthetic, nonconductive filaments woven together with several very fine stainless steel wires. The wires carry the electric charge, while the white or brightly-colored synthetic filaments increase the diameter and, consequently, the visibility of the fence. Electric rope is more prone to breakage than metal wire of comparable diameter. When it snaps, splice it either by tying it into a knot or by using a double-post electric rope splicer.
Splicing With a Knot
-
Cut any frayed edges from the ends of the electric rope. Make sure the small, conductive wires haven't broken off, and extend right out to the newly cut ends.
-
Tie the two ends together in an offset knot. To make an offset knot, gather the two ends of the electric rope together, side by side, to form a 6-inch long tail. Tie the tail in a simple overhand knot by forming the tail into a loop, poking the end through the loop and pulling it tight. You should have at least a couple of inches left at the cut ends.
-
Tease the steel wires free from the synthetic fibers of both electric rope ends. Twist the wires from both rope ends together using your fingers or a pair of pliers. Twisting the wire ends together ensures a good electrical connection between the spliced electric ropes.
Splicing With a Double-Post Splicer
-
Cut the frayed edges from the ends of the electric rope. Ensure that the steel conducting wires are intact all the way to the ends.
-
Loop one end of the electric rope around one of the bolts in the bottom half of a double-post splicer and hold it in place with your fingers. Loop the other free end of the rope around the second bolt in the bottom half of the splicer.
-
Place the top half of the splicer over the loops so that the rope is clamped between the two halves. Line up the bolts in the bottom half of the splicer with the corresponding holes in the top half.
-
Tighten the bolts with an adjustable wrench to hold the electric rope tightly inside the splicer. Some splicers use large screws that can be tightened with a screwdriver, instead.
-
Cut off excess rope protruding from the splicer if desired. Don't cut it too close, though -- leaving an inch or so at the ends makes the splice more secure.
References
Tips
- You can also get single-post electric rope splicers that only have one bolt, not two. Single-post splicers are only safe to use if the electric rope is not under much tension, since they fail easily.
Warnings
- Make sure the electric fence is turned off before splicing the electric rope. Otherwise, you'll get an unpleasant shock.
Writer Bio
Based in central Missouri, Rachel Steffan has been writing since 2005. She has contributed to several online publications, specializing in sustainable agriculture, food, health and nutrition. Steffan holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Truman State University.
More Articles
